This case of Queensbury literally gripped my imagination because it seemed to touch on something every parent has to worry about. A mother, Kayla Stone, taped a Board of Education meeting for the Queensbury Union Free School District. Her partner, Brian, spoke about an incident in the girls’ locker room involving their daughter. She stated that their daughter felt uncomfortable with a transgender girl who was born male using the girls’ locker room for gym and using the girls’ bathroom in a way that was unsettling for the girls.
Kayla had previously posted on Facebook that parents had talked about this matter in the previous meeting as well. They said that this same student used the girls’ bathroom with the door wide open while tending to urination, which made the girls very uncomfortable. Instead of acknowledging the real issue, the school responded by telling the parents that it would create a separate, safe place where the girls could change and use the restroom. It felt bizarre to me when I read that part. I am not, anyway, a parent. But I would consider it an injustice to grant the girls a separate corner instead of working to rectify the main issue.
Kayla stated that this demonstrates how the school prioritizes the feelings of one student above the privacy of the girls. She commented that the school cares more about the boy who calls himself a girl than about the safety of their own daughters.
She further explained that Brian had made a very proper speech for the next meeting because their daughter has been at the same school for three years, and she is evidently the one affected. Yet, when he went to speak, the board stopped him. They said he cannot tell, since he does not live in the district, even though his daughter actually attends that school. Kayla explained further that Brian is a caring father, uncle, and coach who only wanted to stand up for his daughter and the other girls facing such issues.
After the meeting ended, they were out in the parking lot calming their daughter down, who was crying because she felt like the school did not care about her safety. Having gone to a school where bathroom privacy was among the most significant issues, I completely relate to why a kid would feel so upset.
Kayla asked people online to circulate the video she captured so that more people would become aware of what had transpired. She went on to say that parents want to protect their children, while the school seems more focused on feelings and money. Many supported Kayla and Brian. One comment noted that while they had not known Brian long, it was apparent how much he loved his daughter and how much heart he put into coaching other girls. They said he never backs down.
However, not everyone agreed with them. A woman named Kylie Noelle posted her own version on Facebook. She said the video shows a man who does not live in the district and that comments are allowed only from district residents. Kylie went on to say that a lot of what was said in the video was hearsay and personal bias. She lamented the fact that many people have put so much energy into pushing away transgender kids.
She further stated in her notes that there was no real proof of any danger and that all this talk only serves to spread fear and harm to transgender students. She invited anyone supporting transgender kids to join the next board meeting on January 12 at Queensbury High School. She stated that every student deserves to feel safe and comfortable in school. She did not want the decision of how something that concerns everybody in the community is to be made by just a few.
At the end of her post, she stated that her comments are open and her post is public. She went on to state that she is a resident of the district and is active in school matters.
Reading both sides honestly reminded me of times in school when students argued about bathroom rules, too. Even then, people felt confused and emotional. Privacy is essential for everyone, and schools need to handle things with common sense. I feel like the parents of Queensbury want their kids to feel safe, and the school should be working hard to communicate clearly so the community doesn’t remain silent in the face of discontent like this. You may also be interested in: My Son Who Loved Football Got Run Over By A Repeat DUI Driver In Chicago And Cops Only Gave Her A Ticket
