澳彩开奖

As a student at La Feria High School in Texas, Jeydon Loredo looked forward to his senior portrait appearing in the yearbook.

A major milestone in life would be summed up in one image: Jeydon in a crisp tuxedo with his hair neatly combed. As time passes, this may be the only image his classmates have to remember him by.

That鈥檚 why Jeydon, a transgender student, was upset to learn from the school district鈥檚 superintendent that his photo would not appear in the yearbook because it supposedly violated 鈥渃ommunity standards.鈥� Jeydon, while he grew up female, is now a young man. He is transgender, meaning that his gender identity is different from what he was assigned at birth. 聽District Superintendent Rey Villarreal told his mother that Jeydon鈥檚 photograph would be included only if he wore stereotypically feminine attire, such as a drape or blouse.

鈥淚鈥檝e lived here my whole life, and I鈥檝e grown up with the kids here,鈥� Jeydon said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen those in my community go through troubles, and denying my tuxedo photo would be a way for the district to forget me and everything I鈥檝e brought to this community. The yearbook is for the students, not the faculty or the administration. It is a way for us to remember each other.鈥�

The 澳彩开奖 is defending Jeydon鈥檚 rights, demanding that the district allow the photo to be published or face a federal lawsuit. The demand comes after the 澳彩开奖 and the offered a guidance letter in an attempt to address this situation absent litigation. The 澳彩开奖鈥檚 demand letter聽was sent to district officials today, two days after the school board refused to take action on an appeal by Jeydon.

鈥淭his is not Jeydon acting out,鈥� said Jeydon鈥檚 mother, Stella M. Loredo. 鈥淗e is a man, who was lucky enough to grow up in La Feria. Denying him the tuxedo photo is a slap in the face to me, to him, and to a community that should respect all students.鈥�

Jeydon has been a model student at La Feria High School. He has never been called to the principal鈥檚 office nor had any disciplinary issue. After he was photographed in a tuxedo for the yearbook, school district officials instructed the photography studio to withhold the photo.

That鈥檚 when the superintendent told Jeydon鈥檚 mother that the photograph would offend the 鈥渃ommunity standards鈥� of the small Texas town near the Mexican border. The superintendent said that if Jeydon had a problem with the decision he could 鈥渁ppeal it to the school board.鈥�

Before this week鈥檚 board meeting, the 澳彩开奖 and the Human Rights Campaign urged the board to support Jeydon鈥檚 rights in a letter citing the legal and scientific basis for such a decision. Though Jeydon was assigned a female gender at birth, his gender identity 鈥� his internal sense of gender 鈥� is male.

Every major medical and mental health organization in the country recognizes that gender identity is distinct from biology. The fact that Jeydon was raised a girl does not make his male gender any less real. Courts have held that it may be a violation of civil rights laws to refuse to allow even a female student who identifies as female to wear a tuxedo in a yearbook photo. Yet, the superintendent has refused to even refer to Jeydon by his male name in written communication with the student despite the student鈥檚 request to be referred to as Jeydon Loredo in all written communication.

The 澳彩开奖鈥檚 demand letter describes how refusing to include the photograph violates the student鈥檚 freedom of expression, which is protected by the First Amendment. It also violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14^th Amendment, which protects the student from discrimination, as well as Title IX, which bars discrimination on the basis of sex by any education program receiving federal money. Refusing to publish the photograph would even violate the school district鈥檚 own anti-discrimination policies.

At the recent school board meeting, Jeydon, represented by legal counsel, spoke about his desire to have the photo included in the yearbook.

鈥淧lease allow my community to remember me, and to remember me the way I truly am, in the clothes that reflect me: Jeydon Laredo,鈥� he asked the board.

Alesdair Ittelson, an 澳彩开奖 staff attorney, explained the district鈥檚 legal obligations to the board.

鈥淎s school board members, you don鈥檛 get to decide whether transgender students receive the same rights as students who are not transgender,鈥� Ittelson said. 鈥淵ou must treat Jeydon equally and with the respect he deserves.聽The fact is, you must allow the tuxedo photo in the yearbook in order to remain in compliance with the law.鈥�

The board went into closed session, but no decision was made.

鈥淭his denial reminds us that outdated stereotypes concerning sex and gender still serve as an excuse for schools to deny students their rights,鈥� said 澳彩开奖 President Richard Cohen. 鈥淭he 澳彩开奖 is working in communities across the South to fight these battles, and is delighted to join with the Human Rights Campaign to protect young people who are victims of discrimination.鈥�