New policy in Eugene OR schools helps transgender students

Eugene, Ore. (AP) — Schools in Eugene will now be required to accommodate transgender and gender non-conforming students thanks to a policy unanimously passed by the Eugene School Board.

The Eugene Register-Guardreports that the new policy will require the district to develop guidelines and training for school employees on how to support such students, such as by asking which pronouns or name the students prefer.

Many students urged the board to pass the policy, including Churchill High School's Gay Straight Alliance President Storm Williams.

The 17-year-old transgender man says some teachers at the southwest Eugene high school have not been accepting of his and other students' gender identification.

Williams changed his name last summer but says teachers still use female pronouns to refer to him.

The district will also provide gender-neutral bathrooms in new buildings.

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Information from: The Register-Guard, Eugene, OR.

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The Gayly – May 24, 2015 @ 12:05pm.