Ashton Lee’s Testimony Before State Senate Education Committee On AB 1266

October 24, 2013 ·

Ashton Lee in a transgender youth who attends California’s Manteca High School. Back on June 12th, he testified before the California State Senate Education Committee on the School Success and Opportunity Act (AB 1266).

I believe it’s important to document the harm trans youth when they’re not supported and accommodated in our state’s public schools .So with that thought in mind, here is the text of Ashton Lee’s testimony:

Hello members of the Senate Education Committee. My name is Ashton Lee, and I’m a 16-year-old transgender boy for Manteca High School. Transgender means I was assigned female at birth but I identify as male.

My school separates 10th grade boys into core or team sports, and 10th grade girls into fundamentals of dance or aerobics. I’ve been systematically placed in a class of all girls.

Every day, going to that class I’m reminded that I’m different. I leave feeling alone and devastated, making it extremely hard to focus on my other classes. I’ve had two desperate attempts to change my schedule, and get out of the class, but my school was unwilling to change my schedule.

When I came out as transgender, it felt amazing to finally realize, embrace, and live as my true self. For years I hid who I really am from everyone because I just wanted to fit in — and it made me miserable.

It feels equally devastating for my school to deny my identity and try so hard to make me live as someone I’m not.

The worst part is I don’t have any choice. No options. Gym class is required for graduation, and I’m not allowed to participate in it as myself. And, if I don’t go I won’t be able to graduate high school. But, if I do go I’m forced to lie about who I truly am.

I’m falling behind in my other classes because I feel so alone and stigmatized.

I’ve got two years left of high school. I’ll put this simply: I, and the many other transgender youth in California NEED the School Success and Opportunity Act. Other districts in California allow transgender students to fully participate in schools as themselves, and they’ve only had success with the policy…no problems have arisen.

Students like me are struggling daily — our education and health at risk. And, there is no reason that should be happening. Pleased vote ‘yes’ on AB 1266, and help make our schools places where everyone can succeed.

Thank you for your time.

But, there is a reason why trans youth may continue to needlessly suffer. It’s people like the executive director of the Pacific Justice Institute, Brad Dacus, who is using the signature drive to put AB 1266 up for referendum. And weeks after the Pacific Justice’s press release their debunked initial story that a trans girl was harassing other girls, it’s still be reported as new news by the American Family Association’s OneNewsNow.

And, of course, OneNewsNow, which appears to have just rewrote the Pacific Justice Institute’s second press release, repeated the belief that transgender activists are in “damage control mode” “because they know how explosive and damaging to their cause this story is.”

No one in conservative media is reporting what trans youth, such as Ashton Lee, say about AB 1266 — it just doesn’t fit their “bathroom bill” meme where trans females are portrayed as predatory monsters. And disgustingly in the Pacific Justice Institute’s attempt to demonize trans youth in general, the Pacific Justice Institute’s adult Brad Dacus is attacking a 16-year-old trans minor to spread a debunked tall tail in support of their attempt to repeal AB 1266.


Related:
* GSA‘s essay by Christine Lee, Ashton Lee’s mother, entitled Standing With My Son

In category:Uncategorized
Next Post

TLC's Masen Davis: What Happens Next With AB 1266

A brief video filmed in early November, 2013, with Masen Davis of the Transgender Law Center. In this video he discusses what we can expect in the next few days regarding AB 1216: the School Success and Opportunity Act. For…
Read
Previous Post

VICTORY in Texas: Activism Works!

The transadvocate recently reported on the efforts of the Texas radical right to derail a proposed LGBT non-discrimination policy in San Antonio. As noted, the proposed ordinance wasn't asking anything more of San Antonio's adults than what has been asked…
Read
Random Post

Clear Channel Eats Crow

Here’s the text of the Clear Channel apology letter: We would like to apologize for remarks made on KTBZ that has caused distress to people in the Houston Transgender Community. We addressed the insensitivity of both content presented on air…
Read
Random Post

TERFs & Trans Healthcare

While there are many who feel that morality must be built into law, I believe that the elimination of transsexualism is not best achieved by legislation prohibiting transsexual treatment and surgery but rather by legislation that limits it and by…
Read
Random Post

Trans Exclusionists: It's Your Turn

Today's guest Transadvocate is polerin. Her bio on Twitter states: "Trans woman, radical lefty, wannabe cartoonist, geek, phreakNIC director, web developer, person. Will eat for food, and rock your face off. Or on. On is good." Inspired by the TERF’s…
Read
Random Post

May Flowers and ENDA’s Showers

I pulled a couple of well versed legal minds in to shed more light on the shared space concerns: "It's problematic for employees who have transitioned prior to employment. As I read it, it means that shower or locker rooms…
Read

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.