Back to School: Small Towns Making a Big Stand for Trans Students
Terri Tuttle-Neely and Jaimie Lynn are both moms who live in Grass Lake, Michigan. When you live in a town as small as Grass Lake, everybody knows your name. It’s what makes towns like Grass Lake the kind of place where many would want to raise a family.
Grass Lake is also more diverse than anyone thought. Terri and Jaimie are both moms to young transgender kids. What makes Grass Lake exceptional is that its school board recently decided to allow transgender children to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity.
What always strikes me about school board meetings like the one recently held in Grass Lake is the passion of the community — and how our goals are the same. We all want our children to grow up in a world where they can learn and live peacefully and productively.
What also strikes me is the level of uncertainty some people have over what will happen if schools are inclusive toward transgender kids. It underscores the importance of guidance and education not only in our schools, but also in our communities.
