Protecting Transgender Students: A Resource for Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians play a critical role in ensuring that all students have access to safe and respectful learning environments that they need to succeed. This environment is particularly acute for transgender/non-binary students in the state Texas, many of whom face discrimination and are at risk for poor educational and health outcomes in environments that do not recognize their gender identity and expression. Here are some recommendations to help K-12 students:

• Implement comprehensive school anti-bullying/harassment policies;
• Support Gay-Straight Alliances;
• Provide professional development for school staff on LGBTQ student issues; and
• Increase student access to LGBTQ-inclusive curricular resources

If you do not feel like you are getting the support you need from your student’s school, what are your next steps?

• First speak with head principal
• Set up time to speak with the superintendent in person
• Begin speaking with like-minded parents
• Attend a PTO/PTA meeting
• Look up scheduled school board meetings and attend
• File a complaint to the Office of Civil Rights at the Texas Education Agency
  • The following person has been designated to handle complaints and inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy in public schools:

Darrell McKnight, Correspondence Management Communications Division
Phone: (512) 463-9290, FAX: (512) 475-3665
Email: generalinquiry@tea.texas.gov

• Do you want to check if legal support is the next step? Please note, Equality Texas does not endorse any of these organizations, although we have worked in collaboration with each of them on other issues.
  • ACLU of Texas
  • Lambda Legal Texas
  • National Center for Lesbian Rights
• Are you interested in messaging and storytelling training from Equality Texas staff? What other support are you looking for from EQTX? Please fill out this form and someone will reply to you within 24 hours.

On behalf of all transgender students in Texas, thank you for your commitment to ensuring that all students have a safe and respectful learning environment. Please contact Lou Weaver, transgender programs coordinator, at lou.weaver@equalitytexas.org with any questions about the information in this resource or for assistance in updating your school’s policies to help affirm transgender youth.

Download a copy of this information in .PDF format which also includes K-12 School Resources for Supporting LGBTQ Students.