Panel OKs bill to restrict student pronouns used in Arizona schools

PHOENIX — State lawmakers took the first steps Wednesday to denying students the right to be referred to by a pronoun that matches their gender identity.

Senate Bill 1001, approved by the Republican-led Senate Education Committee on a 4-3 party line vote, also would put into law that teachers and other school employees may refer to a student by only his or her given name or a nickname “commonly associated with the student’s name of record.’’

Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who wrote the measure, said it would be OK to refer to someone named John as Jack.

“You just can’t call ‘John’ ‘Jane,’” he said.

The legislation does contain an exception in cases where parents first give written permission, whether for a different pronoun or a name to address the child. Kavanagh said that should take care of cases where parents are aware of and approve of a child’s gender identify.

Kavanagh said this isn’t about discriminating against transgender children. Instead, he said, it ensures that parents know when a child may have “gender dysphoria’’ where the gender they identify with differs from the gender assigned at birth.

“The parents have a right to know about serious problems their children may be having,’’ Kavanagh argued, saying such problems could lead to suicide.

That’s fine for children who have a loving relationship with their parents, said Paul Bixler, a member of Liberty School District’s board. But he said this legislation fails to understand reality.

“There continues to come before this Legislature efforts to either force a child to disclose their deepest, darkest secret to a person, maybe even a parent, whose reaction a child cannot predict, trust — or even fears,’’ Bixler said

Erica Keppler, who testified against the bill, said SB1001 is based on another flaw.

“No one commits suicide because they are gender dysphoric,’’ she said. “They do it because family and society won’t accept them or allow them to live as their true selves. Making schools even more hostile environments for trans youth only promotes the problem the senator claims it will help.’’

Kavanagh brushed aside concerns that notifying a parent of gender identity could put the student in danger of abuse or being thrown out of the house.

“That’s a very cynical view of the American family,’’ Kavanagh said.

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Still, he said, if there is such a danger, then a parent could be contacted by a school counselor or the Department of Child Safety. And if a child simply doesn’t want a parent notified, Kavanagh said, the answer is simple: He or she has to live with the pronoun and the name they were given at birth.

David Trujillo, a 15-year-old transgender student born and raised in Tucson, told lawmakers that sometimes it is the support of teachers and friends that helps.

“I know personally that, for me, my teachers and classmates supporting me in the classroom has positively impacted my performance in school,’’ he said.

But Heather Rooks, a member of the Peoria Unified School District board, said measures like this are important.

“Why are we so focused on the sexualization of these kids?’’ she asked. “We need to focus on the academics right now.’’

Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, said something is lost in the discussion of the rights of students to be addressed the way they want.

“You’re not talking about the other students who don’t, and the other students who actually are being forced in the classroom to use pronouns that they don’t understand, that they don’t feel comfortable using,’’ she said. “And then they’re getting punished for not using them.’’

One provision in Kavanagh’s bill could create problems even for supporters.

It says teachers and school employees with religious objections can’t be forced to use a student’s preferred pronoun, even in situations where the parents have given permission.

Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, who voted for the legislation, said he believes the wishes of the parents should always win out. And he said he may not vote for the measure when it next goes to the full Senate unless that provision is removed.

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