St. Paul Public Schools announced earlier this year that the board was considering a gender inclusion policy that aims to make schools safer for transgender and gender nonconforming students. Last month, the board heard testimony from staff, students, and parents that was unanimously in support of the policy, and on Tuesday evening several parents and students spoke in support at the second of three hearings on the policy.

The policy has four key points:

1. Respect all students’ gender identity and gender expression by honoring the right of students to be identified and addressed by their preferred name and pronoun.
2. Prohibit, within academic programming, the separation of students based upon gender unless it serves as a compelling pedagogical (instructional) tool.
3. Permit all students to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity including, but not limited to, intramural and interscholastic athletics.
4. Provide all students access to facilities that best align with students’ gender identity.

With one exception, Tuesday night’s testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the policy.

Jess, a student, told the board, “This gender inclusion policy is something I feel would just make people feel safe in the schools… more students will want to go to school.” Jess added, “I want to be myself but it’s hard when safety isn’t an option for me,” and if the policy is implemented “we can all be safe together.”

Siren, a student, urged the board to approve the policy. “All I can really think to say is that I hope you are in support of it. I would not wish the awkwardness i’ve had to feel… on any other person.”

Siren noted the current problems in the district, even in schools that are supportive of LGBT students. “Having the classroom split into boys and girls and having to stand in the middle because you’re not sure what side to go to” is problematic Siren said.

Lots of folks sporting their vote yes for #genderinclusion stickers! #spps pic.twitter.com/R5n4clDyqU

— Sabrina (@SabbaDabba) February 17, 2015

Heather, the parent of a transgender students, told the board, “Transgender students face many difficulties but school should not be one of them.” She said that even though her daughter “experienced great support in our schools” it “may not happen in every school.”

She also asked the board to consider allowing students to have their preferred name stored in school systems since legal name changes for youth can be very difficult.

Phil Duran of OutFront Minnesota, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, told the board that the organization supports the policy

“Promoting such respect and inclusion can change and indeed save lives,” he told the board adding that “we applaud the district staff and leadership.” He said if the board adopts the policy, St. Paul Public School should remain flexible in its implementation.

Ramon, the father of a transgender student, told the board, “We are not asking for much just a little acceptance and to be treated with dignity.” He said his family’s experience in his child’s school “has been awesome” and hopes that the policy can make that true across St. Paul Public Schools. “I am very confident that in the end common sense, love and respect will prevail in the gender inclusion policy.”

One testifier, however, changed the tone of the meeting that had been up to that point supportive of transgender students.

Timothy Kinley addressed the board. “I have a child who at age 2 came out and self identified as a horse and during that time was also self identifying as a cat a dog. She settled on the idea that she was a horse and so we let her go ahead with that. She said her name should be Mr. Ed. Who was I to say any different, because that’s what she thought she was?”

He then made an unusual request of the board. “I would appreciate the school accommodating her name as Mr. Ed and also having bathrooms for other animals so that they could feel comfortable.”

A member of the board interrupted him saying his comments were inappropriate to which Kinley said, “Point of order. Don’t we have free speech here?

He was allowed to continue for a few more seconds. “What I would like the board to do is to act like men and women” and reject the gender inclusion policy. He added that at his church “200 men who have come out of the homosexual lifestyle.”

Kinley is no stranger to anti-LGBT speech. His public access television show frequently hosts anti-LGBT guests, most recently Michele Lentz of the Minnesota Child Protection League where the two railed against the Minnesota State High School League’s transgender inclusive high school athletics policy. In 2014, he screened a bizarre video produced by Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, a Republican from Glencoe that claimed HIV was transmitted in sweat, and that the HIV virus was “created” when two men have sex.

Kinley was cut-off abruptly when his time expired, and no more testimony was taken.

A few minutes later, Board Chair Mary Doran said, “To the transgender students here tonight, I personally apologize for you having to sit through that. That kind of speech is not something this board or the superintendent condones.”

First Lutheran Church on St. Paul’s east side echoed that sentiment during the meeting:

https://twitter.com/EastSideFirst/status/567843583509721088

The policy will be voted on at the board’s March meeting where it is expected to pass.