Draped in rainbow flags and holding signs, students from several area high schools stood outside Katy ISD headquarters for three afternoons in over 100-degree heat to protest the new “gender fluidity” policy approved by the KISD Board of Trustees at its August 28^th meeting.

Between 20 and 25 students participated in the protest each afternoon, which started around 3:30 p.m. and continued for about two hours.  The students stood along FM 1463, chanting and displaying their signs and encouraging passing motorists to honk in support of their cause.

At intervals, the students chanted in unison: “We’re here!  We’re queer! And we won’t disappear!”

Organizer Jasey Mouton, a student at Katy High School, said that she created the event in order to help people affected by the district’s new policy and to give them a place to share their frustrations.

Participant Kadence Carter from Mayde Creek High School, who prefers the pronouns “he/him,” said, “This is not as simple as it seems.” Carter was one of the speakers during the public comments portion of the August 28^th school board meeting, prior to the vote being taken on the policy.

“This could take a big step into transgender genocide,” he said.  Carter said that he had already been affected by the new policy, which requires that he be called by the name on his birth certificate rather than the name he prefers.  Carter added that he was thinking of dropping out of KISD because of the policy and its ramifications, and instead finishing his education with a GED from an online school.

Alastair Parker of Cinco Ranch High School also reported already being affected by the new policy, citing an increase in bullying by other students.  “I’ve been called a slur three or four times today in the school hallways, and that’s never happened before,” Parker said.  “It’s important for everyone to come out to things like this and support us.  A lot of people from my school don’t feel safe coming to an event like this.”

Duckie Frederickson expressed concerns that the new policy would lead to increased homelessness, suicides and cases of abuse among local LGBTQ students, as well as low self-esteem and other mental health issues.

Katy ISD’s police were onsite to ensure the students’ safety, protestors said.  One student reported that “bullies from Katy High School” had come to the protest on Thursday to try to threaten and intimidate the participants, but that Katy ISD police asked the boys to leave and that they did so.

The “gender fluidity” policy requires that students be addressed by pronouns corresponding to the sex assigned on their birth certificates, rather than pronouns preferred by the student, unless the parent gives written permission.  However, teachers and staff do not have to comply with use of the requested pronouns if they choose not to use them, even if the parent has given permission.  Per the policy, parents must also be notified by district personnel if the student has requested being addressed by different pronouns.

The policy also requires that students used the restrooms which are assigned to the biological sex assigned at birth; transgender students are prohibited from competing in sports on a team not corresponding to the biological sex assigned at birth.

The policy also restricts district employees from teaching gender fluidity in the classroom or using instructional materials that relate to gender fluidity.