There is a numerous amount of students at Live Oak High School who identify as transgender and go by different names than they were assigned at birth, as well as many kids who just generally choose to be called something else — whether that be a middle name, shortening of their first name, or an easier pronunciation. Today at school I, as well as many other students, requested that teachers call me by a different name than what I was given at birth because obviously, I am transgender. I was alarmed in one of my classes when I was informed by my teacher that the principal of our school sent out an e-mail that informed teachers that they are not allowed to refer to us by our preferred name and/or pronouns. Asking another previous teacher, I learned that this policy was because a handful of parents had complained to the school about their children and others being referred to with the correct name that they prefer to be called. 

This policy is incredibly harmful to the trans youth that attend LOHS. It is a direct attack on us, as it is a result of parents’ lack of respect for their and other children. There will no doubt be exceptions for the cisgender students who go by middle names or other types of names, and it will only affect us. A number of teachers already disagree with this policy and are concerned about the effect it will have on our wellbeing. Without it, we already face enough trouble from faculty and other students alike, physically and verbally. Teachers have picked on and teased my friends for requesting to go by another name, ridiculed people in front of whole classes, and more. There is no doubt that this will impact our mental health (which, statistically, is already at a low because of the area and society we live in) and there will likely be an increase in students’ harmful behaviors as a result.

Instead of focusing on the health and wellbeing of an already highly-impacted group of students due to waves of anti-trans legislation, maybe Live Oak High School should focus on fixing their drug and vandal problem first — because it is obvious which is the bigger issue and what hurts students more.