Michigan Howell Public School District has halted implementing the recent federal directive allowing transgender students to access bathrooms of their choice when a father stopped sending his three sons to school after one of his sons were embarrassed by sharing bathroom with a girl.
Matt Stewart told WXYZ-TV that his son informed him that "there was a girl in the bathroom with him and the other kids in his class."
He said that there was an adult staff member in the bathroom, who instructed the transgender student to "look at the wall [and] don't look" and other boys were instructed to "stand closer to the urinals."
"My children are having to choose between embarrassment and intimidation," Stewart told WDIV-TV.
Stewart called the school and asked why parents were not given any notice regarding the recent directive from the Obama administration, and why inputs from parents were not requested. He said he did not like the answers provided by the school, and considered other options including change of school and homeschooling.
"As parents, we decided we were not going to force our children to make the decision between confusion, humiliation, and embarrassment," said Stewart.
After he contacted the school, the board asked his son if he could use a single-use bathroom.
"Our son was initially confused and he talked about this in a manner where he almost felt as if he was doing something wrong," Stewart said.
Southwest Elementary School sent a letter to the parents which said that the transgender restroom use was "a new and rapidly developing area of law."
"Howell Public Schools intends to comply with its legal obligations in this, as well as all other, respects. Measures will, therefore, be implemented consistent with this guidance in a way which ensures the safety, privacy, and dignity of all involved," the letter continued.
The board has ceased implementation of the federal order till more feedback about the issue is collected from all the participating interests.
"At this time, we do not currently have any students using a restroom other than that designated for their biological gender, or requesting to do so. In light of this, we are pausing on the federal guidance issued to all school districts across the nation in a joint letter on transgender students issued by the Department of Justice and Department of Education on May 13, 2016, while we work to provide opportunities in the coming weeks to gather feedback on this matter," Howell Public School said in a statement.
"This feedback will further inform the board of education as they engage in a thoughtful approach to shape policies, practices, and guidelines consistent with legal requirements. Like districts across the state and country, Howell Public Schools and its board of education are staying apprised of the changing federal, state, and local dynamics relating to this matter."
