A Republican state lawmaker has used her public platform to target a transgender music teacher at a Wake County elementary school. Rep. Erin Paré posted on Facebook calling out the teacher's hiring, described their gender expression as a potential threat to students without explaining how, and floated legislation that would require public school employees to wear what she considers "gender-appropriate" attire. She named no misconduct. The post has since been taken down.

The Wake County Public School System already has a professional dress and appearance policy. It requires employees to dress "in a manner and have an appearance that is appropriate and professional in light of the environment in which they work," and gives administrators the authority to enforce it. The district also prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. District officials have stated publicly that dress codes cannot be enforced in ways that discriminate against protected classes.

That policy should protect this teacher. But the district has not publicly said so.

A sitting lawmaker used her office to single out a private employee by their gender identity, call their presence a threat to children, and propose legislation aimed at pushing trans educators out of public schools. The district's silence in the face of that is itself a message. Wake County Schools can, and should, do better.

State Rep. Julia Greenfield said it well: educators should be judged by their professionalism, qualifications, and how they treat students, not by their gender identity.

Sign this petition to demand Wake County Public Schools issue a public statement defending their transgender teacher, affirming that their non-discrimination policy applies, and making clear that no employee will be targeted for their gender identity.