The above picture depicts students at Red Lion Area Senior High School in Pennsylvania showing their support for one of their peers named, Issak. Issak, a transgender male, is asking the school to use his male name at graduation, currently, the school is refusing. To read the others struggles Issak has had with his school click here. 

This article looks at states that have protections for transgender high school athletes. I was amazed to see my state is one of them, especially since I work hard to stay on top of policies. I hope others may find this article useful.

-Ryan

Dispute on Transgender Rights Unfolds at a Colorado School

Interesting article that explores transgender students’ rights and access to restrooms. Coy’s parents were told she could no longer use the girl’s restroom due to the following rationale “A letter from a lawyer for the Fountain-Fort Carson school district explained that “as Coy grows older and his male genitals develop along with the rest of his body, at least some parents and students are likely to become uncomfortable with his continued use of the girls’ restroom.”

I am not sure what happens in this town’s restrooms, but I’m pretty sure no one is going around flashing their genitalia to other people in the restroom. To use this rationale is absurd and downright disrespectful to transgender people. In a society that is already unjustly fair to people who are transgender (like myself), it makes me extremely frustrated, angry and hurt to be portrayed as sexual offenders. It is even worse when we see this message being sent to children like Coy who are being the most authentic people they know how to be. 

We need to continue to challenge this type of thinking and language. We need to continue to use the courts to break down these inequalities and we need to continue to build shields to protect our humanity when an ignorant world attacks our core being. 

-Ryan

I am currently preparing a professional training for both medical and mental health staff at Northwest Missouri State University. I use the above slide to begin the discussion and the realization that it is not impossible to offer trans-inclusive services on campus. The great thing about this slide is each time I do a training I need to update it, and each time I update it the numbers rise dramatically. I’m grateful for the Transgender Law and Policy Institute for providing these numbers and the schools that are correlated to them. 

This Friday at 7 pm, join me and the students of Northwest Missouri State University for my popular presentation FTM: Scouting the Unknown. 

If you attend Rutgers University - Camden. I will be sharing my transition story and speaking on the topics of sexuality and gender on March 28th from 5 to 7 pm with a meet and greet and book signing after! 

Not a Rutgers-Camden Student? Here is a list of other Universities  I’ll be visiting/speaking at this spring:

• Northwest Missouri State University - March 15
• University of New England - March 27
• Iowa’s Safe School Coalition LGBTQ Youth Conference - April 3
• Virginia Tech - April 4
• University of South Dakota - April 9
• Drake University - April 16
• Equality Forum, Philadelphia - May 2

You can find out more on my website!

Coy is a 6-year-old transgender girl who had to leave her school in Colorado because they wouldn’t let her use the girl’s restroom. She is now home-schooled and her parents are trying to fight with the school to allow her the same rights as other students. Currently, the school has turned down mediation, which means this will most likely go to the courts. 

I support her family and so wanted to post this image and link from GLAAD. Check it out and who your support for Coy and her family. This support will send a message to other schools and hopefully create support for other transgender youth and families across the nation.

-Ryan

I am extremely honored and excited to be one of the chosen panelist at the Equality Forum, Global LGBT Summit on May 2nd in Philadelphia. 

My appearance will start at 8:30 pm and go to 9:45. The event is FREE and open to the public. 

Click here for more information.