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Equity: Lawmaker Wants Transgender Students To Use Separate Changing Areas

State Rep. Tom Morrison, a Palatine Republican
Office of State Rep. Tom Morrison
State Rep. Tom Morrison, a Palatine Republican

Legislation sponsored by a Northwest suburban lawmaker would require school boards to tell students they could only use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their sex. Males with males. Females with females.

Republican Rep. Tom Morrison of Palatine says he sponsored the legislation to create an “objective standard."

State Rep. Tom Morrison, a Palatine Republican
Credit Office of State Rep. Tom Morrison
State Rep. Tom Morrison, a Palatine Republican

"The vast majority of students are minors, and so it is appropriate that if they’re in school,  we need to make sure that we ensure their privacy within those changing areas.”

But Mike Ziri, policy director of Equality Illinois, says the measure would violate the rights of transgender students.  

Mike Ziri, policy director of Equality Illinois
Credit Equality Illinois
Mike Ziri, policy director of Equality Illinois

"It sends a message to the transgender students that, in a place where they should be able to develop and grow, and be welcomed and affirmed for who they are, they’re not.  Their dignity is challenged by this bill."  

The issue came to the forefront late last year when a high school in Morrison’s district was accused of violating the civil rights of a transgender student.

Copyright 2016 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Maureen Foertsch McKinney is the NPR Illinois News Editor and a lead editor of Illinois Issues' feature articles, working with freelance writers, and is curator of the Equity blog. Maureen joined the staff in 1998 as projects editor. Previously, she worked at three Illinois daily newspapers, most recently the suburban Chicago-based Daily Herald, where she served stints as an education reporter and copy editor. She graduated in 1985 with a bachelor's in journalism. She also has a master's degree in English from the University of Illinois at Springfield.