Transgender procedure passes after influx of comment

    A divisive topic pushed the community on two sides of the fence and left the school board shouldering a controversial decision at the March 25 school board meeting. Procedure 3211 - regarding transgender students, restroom and locker room accessibility - was approved last night with a 4 to 1 vote. There was a build up to the vote in the form of opinions voiced from students, members of the community and parents in the Cascade High School auditorium.
    "As somebody who has an actual stake in this, we all do, but I have a very personal stake in this - it effects my direct life every single day. I have to walk in those doors every day and I'm scared. And I know if this passes, I'm not going to feel scared anymore and it's really going to help me" Sarah Pinneo,who also goes by Quinn, said.
    During the comment period, there was a variety of community participation across the spectrum, both in favor and against.
    References to faith occurred, a ripple of acceptance was apparent in the crowd and concern of safety was echoed for most who stepped up to the microphone regardless of whether they opposed or were for the procedure passing.
    "I urge you to vote no. My heart goes out to those who struggle with their sexuality. The truth is that these procedures would put our daughters at increased risk because they would run cover for young deviant men to abuse the system and walk into our daughters private space for sexual predation," said Todd McDevitt. "Boys and girls are unique. Feelings and laws do not change these truths."
    The many that trickled down to the microphone to voice their support of the procedure shared a common theme in their timed opportunity to share. Most expressed that the restroom accessibility for transgender students isn't just as simple as restroom accessibility, but about making transgender students feel safe in their environment.
    "We know the suicide attempt rate among the transgender community is 41 times the general population. One of the things we can do is provide them a safe and welcoming environment. I think that speaks to not only being a legal but a life saving and medically important intervention so I applaud the school district," said Dr. Tony Butruille.
    Some who opposed the vote weaved safety of children, particularly of female students, into their stance. Others used their faith as a platform for their argument, using scripture from the Bible to magnify their case. The common baseline for the opposition was the concern fermenting due to invasion of privacy.
    "I'm here to speak in opposition to the procedures being proposed. This stems from my conviction that all of us, including every student, as Psalm 139 tells us, is fearfully and wonderfully made by God. And that God created us, all of us, with a gender that corresponds to a biological sex," said Jay Dirkse. "Even if you don't share that conviction, my main objection I think applies regardless, the concern about safety and privacy."
    Despite differing opinions being spouted, the crowd remained tolerant of the comments that were shared and the school board remained neutral throughout the presentation. Superintendent Bill Motsenbocker stressed that his suggestion to pass the procedure is less to do with personal opinions and everything to do with abiding by the law.
    "It's my job to protect the board and to protect the district. We'll have a lawsuit going (if the school board decided to oppose the procedure) and end up spending $50,000 to $100,000 of your tax money to fight this and probably lose," said Motsenbocker.
    After the final comment, the school board moved to pass the procedure. School board member, Carrie Sorensen, addressed the community to express how the decision is being made and what it means for the district.
    "We have a decision to make and we are entrusted to be wise with your money and we are also instructed to have the best interests of all our students in mind. Regardless of what the board choses, I do have the utmost belief that if the board does pass this procedure then we will do everything in our power to make sure all students feel comfortable and safe," said Sorensen.