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Residents and advocates urge District 49 to reconsider trans bathroom policy as critics decry rushed process
Summary
Dozens of public commenters, including trans students, teachers and advocacy groups, told the District 49 board that policy JBAA (a trans bathroom/sports policy) was rushed and harms students; speakers urged officials to stop attacking trans youth and to allow fuller public input.
Dozens of community members and student representatives used the board’s public‑comment period to oppose policy JBAA, a measure tied to bathroom and transgender student access. Ollie Glessner, advocacy director at Inside Out Youth Services, told the board the policy is “illegal, harmful, and based on pure myth” and said leadership had moved to vote without adequate community notice. “Stop attacking trans students. Let them live for goodness sake,” Glessner said.
Several speakers backed that assessment. Devin Chetron, who identified as a transgender woman, said the board’s leaders were “cowards” for limiting public input and accused some members of aligning with outside funding channels that promote anti‑trans measures. Sam Mayfield, a former student, cited research from the Williams Institute at UCLA that he said finds no evidence allowing transgender people to use facilities matching their identity increases safety risks.
Teachers and staff also warned of harms. Eleanor Skelton, a secondary English teacher, described student trauma and cited recent state actions in other states as part of a broader national trend. “Policy JBAA is harmful to students, teachers, and visitors,” she said, and suggested teachers and district staff were preparing to protect vulnerable students.
Board members and the superintendent responded during the meeting with procedural clarifications: the board president said public comment opportunities were scheduled (including Sept. 11) and that typical policy processes include first and second readings. The superintendent noted the board had conducted prior discussion and that some members had been open to hearing perspectives before moving forward.
What happens next: Community members urged filing complaints and pursuing legal action; one speaker referenced Bread and Roses Law in Denver as a resource. Board members did not take final action during public comment; several board members later reiterated the procedural timeline for policy consideration and signaled additional discussion items could return to future meetings.
