Recently, Dr. Brennan Asplen- the Superintendent of  the Sarasota County School District passed new guidelines without a board vote regarding students pronouns and LGBTQ+ students. These new guidelines require that all staff members must notify a parent/guardian if they are told that a child is gay or if they'd like to use a different name or pronoun. These guidelines will impact 42,000 students ranging from 62 schools. This is not okay. Students should not be outed to their parents about their sexual preferences or identity preferences through the school system. Sexual preference and gender identity have absolutely nothing to do with the school district. Creating guidelines like these will only make students feel more uncomfortable and scared to show who they really are. School is supposed to be an open, positive and comfortable place for students where they learn- not a negative space where you are being monitored or judged by staff regarding your gender or identity preferences. There is a potential harm to outing kids to their parents especially if they are not supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Please help us and sign this petition to get the attention of the Sarasota County District School Board and to potentially overturn these new harmful guidelines.