California school district implements measures to protect students without violating transgender laws, including bathroom monitors and removal of urinals.

California School District Considers Solutions to Transgender Bathroom Access

TEMPLETON, Calif.—In the small town of Templeton, California, the local school district is grappling with how to protect the safety and privacy of students while complying with the state’s transgender bathroom access law. The district is considering various measures, including new privacy stalls, the removal of urinals, and even the elimination of locker rooms.

Templeton Unified School District superintendent Aaron Asplund proposed a variety of potential solutions to the conundrum during a special school board meeting this week. His ideas drew from an hours-long debate that saw local parents shout one another down, exchange insults, and, in some cases, break into tears.

Personal Stories Highlight the Impact

During the meeting, parents shared personal stories that shed light on the challenges faced by students. One mother spoke about her eighth-grade son, who had become anxious and withdrawn after being assigned a locker in an aisle with girls who identified as male. Another parent shared the story of a boy who stopped using the restrooms at his high school to avoid uncomfortable encounters with a female classmate who identified as male.

The emotional turmoil in Templeton reflects the clash between Democratic mandates for transgender inclusion and the concerns of students and parents who value their comfort and local values. School bathroom access laws, similar to California’s, may inadvertently create more division than inclusion.

California’s Transgender Bathroom Access Law

California’s law requires schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. Since its enactment in 2014, the number of U.S. teenagers identifying as transgender has nearly doubled. The Templeton school district convened a meeting to address concerns about transgender students using facilities designated for the opposite sex.

Heated Debate and Differing Perspectives

The meeting in Templeton was marked by passionate arguments from both sides. Parents and community members expressed concerns about safety and invoked their Christian beliefs, while LGBT activists and supporters emphasized the importance of inclusivity. The debate often turned contentious, with some dismissing opposing views as ignorant or hateful.

Amidst the tension, one resident called for unity and urged the community to find solutions rather than attacking each other. Another parent suggested following the example of a neighboring district that provided a separate changing room for a transgender student.

Proposed Solutions

Superintendent Asplund presented several proposals to address the privacy and safety concerns of all students. For locker rooms, he suggested installing partitioned stalls in the general changing area to allow students to undress privately. Other options included individual, fully private changing rooms or allowing students to wear their regular clothes during physical education classes.

To address privacy concerns in restrooms, Asplund proposed opening single-person facilities, removing urinals from boys’ restrooms and replacing them with stalls, or employing monitors to prevent inappropriate behavior. The district also considered the possibility of transitioning to gender-neutral restrooms preemptively.

Broader Impact and Legal Challenges

While California leads the way in advancing gender ideology in schools, other blue states face similar pressures. Lawsuits have been filed in Wisconsin and Oklahoma, with students challenging policies related to transgender restroom and locker room access. The Biden administration’s pending Title IX rule would further compel schools to accommodate transgender students.