Anti-trans student activists warmly received in North Smithfield

Among those enthusiastically applauding was Joe Sivigny, who is currently running for a seat on the North Smithfield Town Council.

On Tuesday, August 20, the North Smithfield School Committee heard testimony from four people, including Robert Chiaradio from Westerly and Melissa and Estelle Bubble from Woonsocket, asking them to abandon the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)’s Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Transitioning Student policy. [If you want to hear what these speakers said, check out their testimony from the August 14 West Warwick School Committee.] After each speaker, 14 people of the almost 40 people in attendance enthusiastically applauded. Among those enthusiastically applauding was Joe Sivigny, who is currently running for a seat on the North Smithfield Town Council. [For more on Sivigny and his effort to ban books, see: School book removal policies and procedures adopted] It's important to know who you are voting for.

There was a smaller number of people in attendance who clapped for the one person to speak in defense of the current trans student policy, Professor Wendy Becker. Here is her testimony:

“I'm the Associate Professor of Social Work at Rhode Island College where I teach clinical practice and social policy, including a class on sexual orientation and gender identity. I was also a middle school social worker for many years and the executive director of Youth Pride, a statewide organization for LGBTQ youth.

“I'm here to support the RIDE guidance for the treatment of trans students. As you likely know, there's a national campaign to target LGBTQ people and trans people in particular. Some engage in message-tested parental rights and child protection talking points with rhetoric that is misleading and harmful to children. They are not protecting children as children are not in danger. There have been no instances in our schools in the seven years since implementing the RIDE guidelines.

“They are not increasing parental rights. They're simply centering their viewpoint - views that are opposed by many parents and opposed by all respected mental health and medical organizations for children and adults, including the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.

“Those of us who care about the education of our children must not accommodate these parents who want to impose their views on others. Let me be clear: education catering to transphobia and seeking to discriminate against trans students is not only morally wrong and illegal, it's harmful to students' wellbeing.

“Transgender students already face enormous challenges. Studies show they are disproportionately affected by bullying, harassment, and discrimination in schools. Over 80% of LGBTQ students report feeling unsafe at school. This takes a devastating toll, contributing to higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, truancy, and suicide.

“It's important for me to say that transgender youth experience difficulties not because of their gender identity and expression, but because of transphobia. This isn't about who they are - this is about who we are. So we need to do all that we can. We must create safe and inclusive environments and reject policies rooted in transphobia. By doing so, we comply with state and federal law and we uphold the core values of education: equity, respect, and compassion.

“When transgender students are affirmed and supported in their identities, their mental health, attendance, and academic performance all improve.

“Federal and state law and RIDE guidelines have been enacted based on years of evidence-based practice. As a school committee, please follow the law and let facts and research guide your decisions. Do not allow personal prejudices to create public policy.”