TRANSGENDER STUDENT OVERCOMES BULLYING, GRADUATES WITH HELP FROM SLC

Southern Legal Counsel’s work on behalf of a transgender Marion County high school student paid off this spring when she was able to walk in her graduation ceremony after bullying and a lack of support from school staff pushed her out of school.

“She never imagined she’d be able to catch up and graduate with her high school diploma,” said Simone Chriss, director of SLC’s Transgender Rights Initiative.

Chriss helped Angela (name changed to protect student's privacy) enroll in Florida Virtual School (FLVS) so that she could complete her studies in a safe environment. In order to ensure Angela had access to the supports necessary to be successful, Chriss also helped her obtain a comprehensive 504 Plan related to emotional support and guidance. As part of her advocacy, Chriss educated the school district ESE staff on how to affirm transgender students, the diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and the supports and accommodations that some transgender students need to thrive and succeed academically and emotionally.

Given the disproportionate rates of discrimination faced by transgender individuals whose IDs do not reflect their gender identity, Chriss helped Angela obtain a court-ordered legal name change and update her name and gender marker on her government-issued identification documents. She now has accurate identification documents, including her Social Security record, Florida driver’s license, Florida birth certificate, and school records, which is critical to obtaining housing, employment, and meaningful participation in society.

“After Angela made several unsuccessful attempts at completing courses through FLVS, we worked with the ESE Coordinator for Marion County and the ESE Specialist for FLVS to ensure her 504 accommodations were being implemented adequately, as the supports in place for students like Angela can be be particularly difficult to implement in a virtual learning environment without face-to-face contact between teachers and students,” Chriss said. “Once the proper supports were in place, she was able to put in the hard work and dedication to finish her high school credits.”

SLC then helped Angela transfer back to brick-and-mortar school in time for her to walk in her graduation ceremony in May. Chriss had the honor of attending the graduation ceremony to witness the culmination of years worth of advocacy, and to see Angela achieve one of her many dreams.  

“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Chriss said. “She is now better equipped for success and economic stability, as she has both a high school diploma and authentic, accurate legal identification documents that reflect her affirmed name and gender.”

Since Angela’s graduation, SLC has been helping her obtain low-income housing and access to gender-affirming medical care.