Reject AZ SB1166, protect transgender students' rights

AZ SB1166 is an alarming proposal that threatens the rights and wellbeing of transgender students in Arizona's public schools. The bill would mandate that schools notify parents if an employee uses a name or pronoun that affirms a student's gender identity, undermining these students' privacy and autonomy. Even more concerningly, the bill allows school staff to refuse to use a transgender student's affirmed name and pronouns based on the employee's personal religious or moral beliefs. This institutionalizes discrimination against transgender youth within the education system. Transgender students already face immense challenges and elevated risks of depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Denying them the basic dignity of being recognized by their name and pronouns, and forcing their gender identity to be disclosed against their will, will only compound these harms. The rights of transgender students to equal educational access, privacy, and freedom from discrimination are protected under federal law. AZ SB1166 flagrantly violates these protections. The detrimental impacts this law would have on Arizona's transgender youth cannot be overstated. It is imperative that elected representatives take action to oppose this discriminatory proposal and uphold the rights, mental health, and human dignity of this vulnerable population of students. Urgent steps must be taken to prevent this egregious bill from advancing and protect these students from sanctioned prejudice within their schools.