ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Some parents and students voiced their mixed opinions about an unofficial bathroom policy in the Pine Richland School District during a school board meeting Monday evening.
Since North Carolina passed a law requiring people to use the bathroom that corresponds with their birth gender, public restrooms have been sparking conversation and controversy across the country as a new symbol of transgender rights.%
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Pennsylvania has no such law, but a practice similar to North Carolina’s controversial law has garnered mixed reaction in the Pine Richland School District.
The district has been navigating the seemingly hot button issue of transgender bathroom use and how to adopt a policy to address it.
The district doesn't have an actual policy, but rather it has been following a practice that school leaders have said is in line with federal and state law.
Students have the option of using bathrooms of the sex they identify with. District officials have also said students can choose to use private facilities.
However, a near majority of parents who spoke at Monday’s meeting were opposed to the current practice, fearing privacy and safety issues were not being taken into serious consideration.
The district laid out plans Monday night to continue dialogue on the subject, but the school board had no official comment. They’re set to meet again Thursday for an informational session on the topic.