Residents flood public forum urging committee to retain Title IX protections and resist book‑ban requests

Dozens of residents, students, current and former teachers, medical professionals and elected officials used the March 11 public forum to urge the Chariho School Committee to preserve nondiscrimination and inclusion policies — including Title IX protections and current library media practices — and to resist efforts to remove protections for transgender and gender‑nonconforming students.

Speakers included alumni, parents, medical professionals and current and former teachers who described personal and professional experience of harm when school policies are weakened. Several parents and clinicians told the committee that discrimination and bullying had measurable health consequences: they cited elevated rates of anxiety, depression and suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth and asked committee members to…