Lambda Legal Applauds New Chicago Public Schools Guidelines for Transgender Students, Staff and Adults

Today, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced new guidelines aimed at providing a more inclusive and welcoming environment for transgender students, employees and adults, including specific language establishing that transgender people have equal access to the facilities that correspond to their gender identity.

Christopher Clark, Counsel and LGBTQ Youth and Schools Program Strategist at Lambda Legal, issued the following statement commending the CPS guidelines:

This is a great step toward a truly equal and inclusive public school system for transgender students in Chicago. Chicago is the third largest school district in the country so today’s actions are significant.

At a time when we are seeing attacks on the most vulnerable members of our community, Chicago is instead taking steps to protect and affirm transgender people.

The guidelines establish that transgender students have equal access to the same educational opportunities as their peers by ensuring equal access to school facilities, providing administrative support specifically for transgender students, and protecting the privacy of transgender individuals within CPS.

The guidelines create similar affirming policies for transgender employees and volunteers. We pledge to continue working with CPS to make Chicago schools the standard for inclusiveness, respect and equal opportunity for transgender students.

Lambda Legal worked with CPS to develop the new guidelines, along with the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, Mikva Challenge and the Lurie Children’s Gender and Sex Development Program.

Read the press release.