The Mesa Public Schools governing board is considering a policy that would require parental consent for employees to refer to a student by their preferred pronoun if it differs from their biological sex.
More than 80 people signed up to speak at this week’s governing board meeting and many expressed concerns about the policy.
It requires any employee to notify parents in writing immediately when they find out that a student is requesting to be identified as a gender other than their biological sex.
Parent Lindsay Hillam said her student performs better in classes where teachers use the preferred pronouns.
“In the class that my child is misgendered in, he hates that class," Hillam said. "He does not want to engage and it is difficult to get him to go. Please do not change this policy and encourage our staff to use these names and pronouns.”
Gabe Hagen is a business owner in Mesa who employs some of the district’s students. He said he was forcibly outed when he was 16.
“I came home to my family who beat me in the basement," Hagen said. "This is the reality you are trying to enact through policy, so I beg you, I beg of you please listen to these students. Please treat them with respect.”
Board member Sharon Benson requested the policy. She said over time, courts have ruled that parents are the best caretakers for their children unless proven to be unfit.
“That is not our call to make as teachers," Benson said. "If a parent has not been deemed to be unfit, it is not our call in a classroom to make that determination.”
Other board members were concerned about the policy’s wording. They decided to seek outside legal counsel before proceeding with any changes.
