Transgender Bathroom Battle Begins In Fort Worth ISD
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Texas' Lt. Governor came to the Fort Worth Independent School District Tuesday and slammed the district's policy on who can use what bathrooms.
Fort Worth ISD says students can use the bathroom for the gender they identify with.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the job of a superintendent is not social engineering but preparing students to succeed and says Dr. Kent Scribner should resign if he doesn't reverse course.
During a news conference a half an hour before the regularly scheduled school board meeting, Patrick said the district's bathroom policy "was not well thought out" and that Superintendent Scribner should have come to community to discuss it before implementing it.
"I stand ready to protect all students from harassment and bullying but I do not support this. It will bring chaos to school day," said Patrick.
He says the superintendent needs to "rescind these guidelines, rescind his policy, and I believe he needs to step down."
Before Patrick arrived, Equality Texas holds news conference. Former Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns said, "A bully like Patrick can't go unchallenged. I want school kids to know their school board, admin and teachers will stand by them."
Burns says the Lieutenant Governor did not come to town to solve problems but to cause them. Sees personal political gain in trying to tear us apart.
Burns says Patrick came to "pick up cheap political points by demeaning value of our kids."
Burns says FWISD students are doing just fine and he's proud of work Dr. Scribner and school board have been doing.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price issues statement of support of FWISD Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner:
"Over the past 24 hours, we have seen a large volume of commentary and input from inside and outside our community on the recent implementation of guidelines pertaining to transgendered students in Fort Worth ISD. While I respect the passion on this particular issue and drastically differing opinions, I strongly believe this is a local issue that needs to be focused on the safety, inclusion and education of all 86,000 FWISD students. I trust our school board and Dr. Scribner will listen closely to the citizens of Fort Worth at tonight's board meeting, and bring clarity and focus back to the education of Fort Worth's future leaders."
Here are Fort Worth ISD's transgender guidelines:
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