Transgender student in Iowa told to use different restroom
STUDENT WHO’S BEEN TOLD TO STAY AWAY. ANDR:EW FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, ETHAN STUCKER HAS USED THE MEN’S RESTROOM HERE AT SPIRIT LAKE HIGH SCHO.OL BUT EARLIER THIS WEEK, HE WAS CALLED IN AND TOLD THAT SWA GOING TO CHANGE. STUCKER IS A SENIOR WHO HAS SPENT ALL HIS HIGH SCHOOL YESAR AT SPIRIT LAKE. HE IDENTIFIES AS TRANSGENDER AND HAS USED THE CORRESPONDING RESTROOM FOR MORE THAN A YREA AND A HALF. BUT HE SAYS SOMETHING CHANGED SUDDENLY THIS WEEK. >> THE SCHOOL HAS ALLODWE TRANSGENDER STUDENTS TO USE THE BATHROOM THAT THEY IDENTIFY WITH, OR AT LEAST ME, FOR ETH PAST COUPLE YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, A COUPLE DAYS AGO I WAS CALLED , INTO THE OFFICE TO TALK TO THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, AND THEY SAID, IF I CONTINUE TO USE THE BATHROOMS, THAT I WILL BE DISCIPLINED FOR THAT. ANDREW: JENNIFER LARSON SAYS SHE’S TRIED TO GET AN EXPLANATION ABOUT HER SON FROM SCHOOL OFFICLSIA, BUT THE MOST SHE GOT WAS THAT SOMEONE OR SOME PEOPLE WERE UPSET. >> I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THEER WAS ANY ISSUE PRIOR TO THEM CALLING ETN.HA AND AFTER THE FACT, ETHAN CLEDAL ME FROM SCHOOL AND HE WAS CRYING AND VERY UPSET. ANDREW: SCHOOL OFFICISAL DECLINED OUR INTERVIEW REQUESTS, BUTHT EY DID PROVIDE THIS STATEMENT. IT READS, WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CURRENT REGULATIONS AND ARE SENSITIVE TO BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO PROVEID MULTIPLE RESTROOM FACILITIES, ATTEMPTING TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH POSITIONS ON THE ISSUE SO ALL OUR STUDENTS FEEL EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY SAFE. LARSON SAYS SHE WANTS MOND ARE SAYS THE LAW IS NOT WRITTEN FOR COMFORT LEVEL. >>MFORT LEVEL. THEY MADE THE CHANGE WITH ETHAN LIKE THAT. NO CONTACT. THEY NEVER CALLED ME OR SAID ANYTHING TO ME. IT WAS JUST DONE. ANDREW: BUT SINCE BEING TOLD MONDAY HE’D NEED TO USED A SEPARATE RESTROOM, STUCKER HAS NOT. >> AND I DON’T PLAN TO. BECAUSE I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE TREATED THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER MALE STUDENT IN THERE. ANDREW: IN SPIRIT LAKE, AN
Transgender student in Iowa told to use different restroom
A transgender student at Spirit Lake High School has been ordered to stop using the men’s restroom or face possible disciplinary action. The sudden decision this week brought to an end more than one and a half years Ethan Stucker was allowed to use those restrooms in the school building. “It really upset me,” Stucker told KCCI. “And I had no idea that that was coming, so it really caught me off guard.”He and his mother, Jennifer Larson, said the change came out of the blue and without explanation. “I was not aware that there was any issue prior to them calling Ethan,” Larson said. “And after the fact Ethan called me from school and he was crying and very upset.”School officials declined interviews and conversations about the situation. Superintendent David Smith sent the following statement:”We are investigating the current regulations and are sensitive to both sides of the issue. We have and continue to provide multiple restroom facilities attempting to accommodate both positions on the issue so all our students feel emotionally and physically safe.”Larson said the decision is unacceptable and that the family is considering its options. “There was a concern that somebody felt uncomfortable,” she said. “And that’s not how the law is written, for comfort level.”Despite being told to use a separate restroom, Stucker has refused. “And I don’t plan to,” he said. “Because I have every right to be treated the same as every other male student in there.”
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa —
A transgender student at Spirit Lake High School has been ordered to stop using the men’s restroom or face possible disciplinary action.
The sudden decision this week brought to an end more than one and a half years Ethan Stucker was allowed to use those restrooms in the school building.
“It really upset me,” Stucker told KCCI. “And I had no idea that that was coming, so it really caught me off guard.”
He and his mother, Jennifer Larson, said the change came out of the blue and without explanation.
“I was not aware that there was any issue prior to them calling Ethan,” Larson said. “And after the fact Ethan called me from school and he was crying and very upset.”
School officials declined interviews and conversations about the situation.
Superintendent David Smith sent the following statement:
“We are investigating the current regulations and are sensitive to both sides of the issue. We have and continue to provide multiple restroom facilities attempting to accommodate both positions on the issue so all our students feel emotionally and physically safe.”
Larson said the decision is unacceptable and that the family is considering its options.
“There was a concern that somebody felt uncomfortable,” she said. “And that’s not how the law is written, for comfort level.”
Despite being told to use a separate restroom, Stucker has refused.
“And I don’t plan to,” he said. “Because I have every right to be treated the same as every other male student in there.”
