1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that allows cisgender students to intentionally misgender their transgender peers in schools across Michigan and neighboring states. This decision is a significant setback for transgender student rights and creates an unsafe learning environment for some of our most vulnerable youth. The court's ruling, which struck down an Ohio school board's policy prohibiting deliberate misgendering, argues that such behavior does not 'materially and substantially' disrupt school activities. However, this ignores the well-documented harmful effects of misgendering on transgender students' mental health and academic performance. By introducing the concept of 'biological pronouns,' the court has effectively sanctioned discrimination against transgender students while paradoxically preventing them from misgendering their cisgender peers in return. This ruling stems from a case brought by Parents Defending Education, a far-right organization opposing transgender rights and inclusive curricula. Their success in the 6th Circuit Court sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to increased bullying and harassment of transgender students in Michigan schools. As your constituent, I urge you to take immediate action to protect transgender students in our state. We need legislation that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in educational settings and overrides this harmful court decision. Our state should be a leader in ensuring all students, regardless of their gender identity, can learn in a safe and respectful environment. Please work with your colleagues to draft and support bills that safeguard the rights of transgender students. This could include measures to mandate respect for students' chosen names and pronouns, provide comprehensive training for school staff on LGBTQ+ issues, and establish clear anti-bullying policies that specifically address gender identity-based harassment. The well-being of Michigan's students is at stake. We must act swiftly to counter this ruling and reaffirm our commitment to equality and inclusion in our schools. I look forward to hearing about the steps you will take to address this urgent issue and protect our transgender youth.