Help us stop Forced Outing in WV

There is less than two weeks left of the WV legislative session this year, and our lawmakers are determined to harm transgender youth as much as they can with the time remaining.

We just learned that Senate Bill 154, the Forced Outing bill, is on the agenda for the House Education Committee’s 1 p.m. meeting tomorrow. 

We don’t have a moment to lose. Can you email members of the House Education Committee right now and tell them to vote no on SB 154?

Senate Bill 154 will create a life-threatening situation for transgender teens who live with unsupportive families. It essentially forces teachers to spy on their students, determine if a student may be transgender, and report that to the student’s family. And if teachers decide not to follow this law?

They will be fired.

Proponents of this bill say that parents should be allowed to direct the medical and mental health care their children receive. We agree. But using a nickname or a different pronoun in class is not health care. Comparing a nickname to a prescription drug is ludicrous.

Our lawmakers need to let teachers do their job, and that means teachers shouldn’t be forced to spy and report on transgender students. They need the freedom to make sure all students, no matter how they identify, feel safe and supported at school. This bill makes that job impossible.

By forcing teachers to out every single one of their transgender students, teachers will lose valuable and necessary trust with their students. Transgender students face higher rates of bullying and harassment, and without a trusted adult to report this harassment to, they will suffer even more.

Yours in Fairness,

Andrew Schneider
Executive Director