Republican lawmakers’ latest legislative push, Assembly Bill 103, would require Wisconsin teachers to alert parents if a student asks to be referred to by different pronouns or names than are listed on their legal documents.
Republican State Rep. Barbara Dittrich, the bill’s primary sponsor, argues that the bill serves to keep parents more informed about what is going on in the classroom. In reality, it is taking away school as a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth in the state and forcing transgender youth to come out before they are ready to do so on their own terms.
The bill would ensure that if a student were to ask their teacher to refer to them by a different name or different pronouns, the teacher would then be required by state law to inform the parents.
Most importantly, teachers would have to get parents’ permission before using the preferred name or pronouns. This aspect certifies this bill is not solely about pronouns or fostering a parent-child connection but instead is about governmental control over young bodies and identities.
Dittrich claims parents have a right to know what is going on with their children, which makes sense to an extent. But, not when the knowledge will put the child in danger — a clear and obvious consequence of the bill. Dittrich further backed the bill through a religious lens, arguing that God gave parents the right to have access to all information regarding their children, according to The Cap Times.
This raises the question of whether or not it is acceptable to infuse religion into educational policy to defend homophobia at the institutional level. For many LGBTQIA+ students, school is one of the only safe spaces they have and this bill would turn that safe space into yet another surveillance zone where youth cannot express themselves freely.
The classroom should be a place where students can confide in trusted teachers and gain adult insight on how to navigate difficult conversations regarding their home lives. This bill would make it so kids can no longer turn to their teachers for advice on accepting themselves, finding community and coming out without involving their parents in the conversation.
Jill Gurtner, the principal at Clark Street Community School, a charter high school in Middleton, is one of many educators expressing concern regarding the bill. Gurtner explained that everyone has questions and concerns about their identities and who they are when they are young, according to The Cap Times. She said people should have the freedom to process these thoughts in the company of a trusted adult before they are ready to go to their parents.
The bill now rests in the hands of the State Senate Committee on Education after being approved by Republicans in the State Assembly on March 20.
If passed through the senate, the bill will most likely be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has promised never to pass legislation that serves as an attack on LGBTQIA+ youth, according to The Cap Times. Republicans will be challenged to override a veto, especially considering the state Legislature existing without a two-thirds supermajority.
Despite this difficulty, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) claims the bill is useful because of public opinion in favor of it, essentially encouraging hate toward LGBTQIA+ youth from the public. His claims further prove this bill isn’t focused on policy change but instead aimed at spreading anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric in Wisconsin.
There are an immeasurable number of kids across the state of Wisconsin with homophobic or broadly unaccepting families whom it would be unsafe or uncomfortable for them to come out to. This bill would effectively “out” every child who felt safe enough to confide in their teachers.
Statistics show that referring to someone with their preferred name and pronouns results in a drop in suicide rates and an increase in feelings of trust, respect and belonging, according to the National Education Association. When students feel respected in the classroom, it allows them to engage more in learning because they are in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Misgendering and other forms of gender invalidation can trigger things like dysphoria, anxiety and PTSD, which can lead to depression, hyper-vigilance, impaired social functioning, suicide and disordered eating, according to the National Institute of Health. If students are being misgendered by their peers and administrators, focusing on education becomes increasingly difficult.
While this bill most likely will not be passed, its progress thus far is concerning enough to spark a serious conversation about the acceptance of LGBTQIA+ youth in schools. All children should have the autonomy to identify how they want to in the classroom, especially when they don’t have the freedom to do so at home.
