Get a load of this.

Cumberland Valley School District came to an undivided decision to exclude the protection of transgender students and staff from their non-discrimination policies. The policy only protects students based on their biological sex, nationality, race, color and disability, and not their sexual identity.

Daniel Simmons-Ritchie, a journalist for PennLive, said that many parents are outraged by these altercations because of the school board’s refusal to discuss any of the issues that transgender students may face. The board members didn’t take into consideration the dangers of bullying that can further lead to self-consciousness among the students. Luckily, some parents were able to convince the board to include sexual orientation protection in the policies.

In today’s society, gender identity has become widely accepted and glorified because of celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner. However, bullying is an issue that still hasn’t been fully conquered. Bullying can severely take a toll on a person’s image. They are constantly being judged by the way they dress or look. Ultimately, this damages a person’s ego to a point where they no longer feel relevant.

The students at Cumberland Valley High School who aren’t protected, can become more prone to getting bullied, consequently leading to suicidal thoughts, depression or many other mental illnesses.

Discrimination is clearly a controversial topic whether it’s of class, nationality, gender, and in this case, gender identity. It all comes down to equality. Cumberland Valley School District is obviously still stuck in the past, not understanding the important of acceptance. Today, it shouldn’t matter what someone’s sexual role or preference is because after all, we’re only human.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer and are not representative of The Slate or its staff as a whole.

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