The School District of Philadelphia approved a new set of guidelines Thursday night that will allow boys who identify as girls to use girls’ restrooms and force their peers to refer to them with female pronouns and otherwise treat them as girls.
The new guidelines also open the door to allowing boys who identify as girls to play on girls’ sports teams. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission passed the new guidelines without allowing any comment or input from the public, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“It’s really important for us to acknowledge and respect all children and how they identify themselves,” Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said.
Under the new policy, “Students may access locker rooms and restrooms that correspond to their gender identity. Students who desire more privacy may be provided with access to a single-stall restroom or alternative changing area,” according to a release from the school district. “No student will be required to use a single-stall restroom.”
The press release implies that the school district is prepared to coerce students into referring to each other by their chosen gender name or pronouns.
“Students may be addressed by names and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity in interactions with other students and staff, and written records, including class rosters, report cards, letters from the school or District, and photo ID,” the release states.
“Schools should use gender-neutral language in communication with all students and families, regardless of a student’s gender-identity,” the policy states.
Commission member Bill Green told the Inquirer that he wholeheartedly supports the Obama administration’s Title IX directive that orders all school districts to allow transgender students to use the restroom of their choice.
“It’s good federal policy to force school districts across the country to put in place policies that respect people’s dignity,” Green said.