MichiganRadio

Students support transgender classmate for homecoming king ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Students say Oak Reed received the most votes and should be honored as homecoming king.

Administrators say Reed was ineligible because he is officially enrolled as a female.

Jay Kaplan is an attorney for the ACLU. He says most schools in Michigan do not have non-discrimination policies that address the issue of gender identity.

"The school has done other things. They've allowed him to wear a male tux for his band uniform, wear a male robe and cape for graduation and the school uses male pronouns. It sounds like they have shown some sensitivity. The idea that because this person was not biologically born male excludes him, that's somewhat problematic."

State civil rights laws don't address gender identity but several school districts across Michigan have policies that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender expression.

Kaplan says it is unclear whether the school has broken any nondiscrimination laws.

"This certainly raises some concerns. I think the school district needs to look at the decision that they made because there is nothing in Michigan that legally defines what a person's gender is. There are certainly transgender adults who present themselves according to their gender identity and they are treated and regarded according to their gender identity."

The ACLU is considering taking up the case pending Reed's approval.


LINKS:
Oak is my King facebook group started by students of Mona Shores High School.

Mona Shores Public Schools nondiscrimination policy.

Statement from Superintendent Terry Babbitt regarding Mona Shores High School Homecoming 2010.

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