Dionne Malikowski, the transgender Colorado student suspended from Fort Collins High School for using the women’s restroom, has transferred schools—hopefully to one that will allow her to use the women’s restroom instead of forcing her to use a far-off faculty toilet. The Denver Post has called Fort Collins’ behavior “shameful” and a violation of the state’s civil rights statutes. Perhaps she should have stayed and sued instead?
Where’s Colorado’s LGBT legal group when you need ’em?
Cam
How many years are we going to have to keep hearing about these idiotic schools? My god, the kid just wants to use the bathroom and is obviously not going to use the mensroom.
It would be fascinating to hear the school explain just what they thought would happen if this student used the women’s bathroom in school.
The “Bathroom”, ugh, the same stupid word used to strike fear into right wingers when DADT was being discussed.
Alice
The sad thing is, even if the student were to use the men’s bathroom, a problem would probably occur in that situation too! Alot of young teenage boys today are very aggressive towards the LGBTQ community, mostly towards those of the male gender partaking in the community. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear violent physical or verbal attacks towards the transgendered student. Schools need to quit suspending people who do absolutely no harm, and start realising that THIS is reality, there will always be transgenders and gays and lesbians, etc in this world and there is nothing you can do to stop them because they are BORN THIS WAY. Ignorant people do not seem to comprehend this fact.
Brandi
Who wrote this article?
Did they seriously say that she should “of” sued?
Go back to first grade.
Ian
In the hyper-evangelical-crazy-world that is Colorado, “separate but equal” is just fine. They won’t get away with it for long.
Daddles
I’m kind of appalled that queerty would use the headline ‘Easy Out?’
Trans students can return to the school that suspended them and face further suspensions, they can transfer though not really eliminate the chance for harassment (not to mention being outed by the news before you arrive at the new school), or they can drop out and deal with crippling poverty.
There is no easy out.
Henry
@Ian: Ahem. There is no such thing as hyper-evangelical. Evangelical is evangelical, and evangelicals hate alternative sexual identities. They only believe in a single identity, “in Christ,” which is really the lack of identity, and anyone who isn’t in Christ can go fuck themselves. The very few (let me repeat that: very few) who don’t hate trannies, will never recognize that their theology is inherently anti-trans, inherently anti-trans because the Bible is anti-trans.
Por Supuesto
@Brandi: as a someone who speaks English as a second language, I can’t stand this “should of” crap lol… I’m not picky with proofreading on blogs but come on guys, we foreign people would never be allowed to get a student visa in this country if we wrote “should of”
SHOULD HAVE, cazzo LOL
Ian
@Henry: No arguments from me. I guess I should have left out one of the hyphens. Redo: hyper evangelical-crazy-world. 🙂
David Gervais
First, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one to notice the frequency of grammatical errors people post around the net. A note to all: your ? you’re and then ? than.
I have found an old academic paper that is still relevant.
The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female Are Not Enough
By Anne Fausto-Sterling
The Sciences March/April 1993, p. 20-24
http://frank.mtsu.edu/~phollowa/5sexes.html
It’s just one page, but it’s interesting and dense with info.
Jason
@Henry: Please don’t use the word “trannies.” It’s not just an abbreviation, it’s actually a derogatory term no less offensive than “fag.” Believe me, I’m transsexual, and every time I see the word, particularly in what is supposed to be a pro-LGBT context, it hits me like a slap in the face.
chuck
How many decades did it take the Oxford Old English Dictionary to final admit that “ain’t” is actually a word? And for those commenting on grammar…contractions such as “I’m” were considered faux for centuries. This is the difference between English and French. English is constantly adding and adopting vocabulary and usage while French is considered just a little more modern than classical Latin.
PilateError
As usual, Queerty distorts a story- the transgender students were asked to use the faculty toilet of the gender they identify with for their own personal safety; however, with passed warning, both students continued to use the student restrooms again, stating the faculty toilets were too far when they really needed to use the restroom. Regardless their argument, they were suspended for 3 days each. I’m shocked conservative Ft. Collins did anything for the protection of the transgender students; yet, I can see the validity of the teens’ argument. I think the suspension is a bit harsh, but I can see the concern for both student’s safety in a hidden area, like a bathroom.
Jerry
The first link, “suspended from…” doesn’t go anywhere.
Kathy
I think it’s strange she can use the staff room. What if a staff member forces himself on her? Is there more than one toilet? Is it a staff room for women?
R.A.
This is why people get out of education.
Everyone’s a critic.
Shannon1981
@R.A.: Everyone’s a critic? It is the job of the school administration to protect and reasonably accommodate ALL students- not just the ones they like or agree with.
DenverBarbie
@Ian: You are thinking of Colorado Springs, which in no way speaks for the rest of the state.
Colorado was the second state to give women the vote, the first to liberalize abortion way back when, and the third to overturn sodomy laws. Though we have “defense of marriage” laws on the books, we are also one of the (still very few states) that protects gay, lesbian, AND trans individuals from discrimination. In addition to anti-trans discrim laws, we also have a law that states that it is not illegal to walk into a bathroom designated for the “opposite sex.” Anyone can legally choose the bathroom they feel safest in without suffering any sort of action. (Which is part of the reason this school is in violation of state law.) We also have one of the nation’s largest pride celebrations here in Denver, have become a bit of a drag mecca, and have a thriving gay nightlife scene. Celebrities who have kicked it in our bars and clubs recently include most of the RuPaul’s Drag Race Contestants and Adam Lambert.
Oh yeah, and we are also home to several out politicians- Jared Polis, Pat Steadman, etc. And we have a lesbian (a chicana lesbian!) on our court.
As far as this young lady goes, I was initially upset to see that she did not stay and fight; but being 16 is difficult for everyone, and perhaps she is better off transferring to a more affirming school that will just let her be a 16. Not 16 and caught up in highly publicized court battles.
DenverBarbie
Wow, ignore the typos! Queerty, I’d like an edit option!
missanthrope
@Kathy:
Haven’t you heard? When it’s comes to bathrooms the safety of trans people are the last priority. People are more concerned with imaginary rapists who are somehow magically foiled by “men” and “women” signs on bathroom doors.
Ian
@DenverBarbie: True true. I stand corrected. I think sometimes the loudest voices coming out of CO Springs distort the general perception. I’ve spent a lot of time in Boulder and surrounding area and it’s far from crazy-evangelical.
btseven
The link works just fine…