The Sun-Times recently covered the controversy over a transgender student using the appropriate school locker room in Deerfield. I’m the mother of two teenage children, a son and a daughter, both of whom attend public high school and neither of whom are transgender. I worry about a lot of things when it comes to my kids, but the mere existence of a transgender student — even a transgender student in the locker room — isn’t one of the things I worry about. I’m pretty sure transgender students, like most students, are just trying to make it through the day and live their lives.
By all accounts, the Deerfield student who has lodged a federal complaint against her transgender peer was given multiple opportunities to change in private, as any student should be allowed to do. But that means she was not actually forced to change anywhere, or change in front of anyone, and her safety was never put at risk.
I wonder why there hasn’t been more discussion of what the trans student has been going through. What must it feel like to be so unwanted by a fellow classmate, viewed as so dangerous, that your classmate runs out of the locker room (and makes a federal complaint about it!) rather than share space with you?
Marta Garczarczyk, Arlington Heights
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Not a fan of bathroom, locker room use aligned with gender identity
I read the opinion of American Civil Liberties Union representative Edwin Yohnka regarding school bathroom and changing room policies and who is allowed inside to use them.
Mr. Yohnka is of the opinion that these facilities should be used by any individual who identifies as a certain gender regardless of their biological gender. And that’s fine for his kids and his school.
But many parents disagree, so to put it bluntly for Mr Yohnka: Our kids, our schools, our tax dollars. Our opinions matter, our kids matter, and to any politician listening, our votes count.
Tony LaMantia, Logan Square
GOP hypocrisy
I’m puzzled by the lack of consistency among Republicans. Why aren’t they gathering in large crowds, shaking their fists and chanting “Lock him up!?” about Pete Hegseth?
Richard Wetzel, Old Town
No more editorials? No big deal
You’ve published so many moaning letters about the decision to eliminate editorials. To me, it’s a “so what?” I agree with the well-known saying about opinions: Everyone has one. I would appreciate it if the Sun-Times would devote its resources to more substantive matters.
One thing that could help make our lives and country better: Publish a weekly list of legislation and other decisions made by our governments — local, state and federal — with information on how to contact our representatives. Such readily acquired information would simplify readers becoming participating citizens (and remove many excuses for passiveness). People who are involved in the world love newspapers.
Muriel Balla, Kenwood