Atherton OKs transgender student bathroom policy

In just 21 minutes on Thursday, the Atherton High School school-based decision making council ended weeks of discussion and debate on how transgendered students are treated by passing a policy that allows students to use the restroom and locker room of their sexual identity.

Atherton principal Thomas Aberli said the council, which voted 8-1 in support of the policy at a special meeting, took a stand on the issue that will last for "this administration and all further administrations."

"I hope other schools are paying attention to this issue," Aberli said.

Henry Brousseau, a transgender student who will be a junior at Louisville Collegiate School this fall, said he and his mother were paying attention to the outcome at Atherton.

His mother spoke in support of the new policy at the Tuesday council meeting when it was first read, and he said it's heartwarming that she stood up for transgender rights in Louisville.

He said they hope the action taken at Atherton will push Jefferson County Public Schools to take an official stand on the issue.

Atherton previously passed a nondiscrimination policy, which bars discrimination based on a range of factors, including age, race or sexual orientation — but goes a step beyond a similar districtwide policy by also including gender identity.

The current JCPS policy allows individual schools to set their own policies on the use of facilities.

The Los Angeles Unified School District Revised Model adapted by Atherton is the first of its kind in the district.

Reporter Michael McKay can be reached at (502) 582-4653. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelMcKay716