Responding to Talbot County Public Schools Non-Discrimination Policy Changes

February 21, 2018

Talbot County Public Schools Board of Education

12 Magnolia Street

Easton, MD 21601

Dear TCPS Board of Education,

It has come to our attention that Talbot County Public Schools are in the process of revising and presenting the First Reader revision of the Non-Discrimination Policy 1.2 at the upcoming Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. Upon our review of the proposed changes PFLAG Mid-Shore has significant concerns regarding the deletion of “gender” and “sexual orientation” as groups that are identified as protected from discrimination in Talbot County Public Schools.

PFLAG advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students on federal, state and local legislation, regulations and school district policies.  We advise that policies and practices protect everyone from bullying, including cyber bullying, harassment, and discrimination. PFLAG Mid-shore strongly advises school administrators and the Board of Education to create and implement comprehensive, inclusive policies and practices to end bullying, harassment, and discrimination of LGBTQ students.  We would like to see TCPS create a healthy, safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. By eliminating “gender” and “sexual orientation” from your Non-Discrimination Policy 1.2 you are creating a more dangerous environment for our LGBTQ students, teachers, and staff in Talbot County Public Schools.

At a minimum, we urge Talbot County Public Schools to reinstate “gender” and “sexual orientation” into the Non-Discrimination Policy 1.2 so that everyone can learn, grow, and succeed in a community that is safe and free of discrimination. We also encourage you to review other regional non-discrimination policies which include a more specific and inclusive language to reinforce and clarify intentions to not discriminate.

Sincerely,

PFLAG MID-SHORE MD

President: L. Claire Hansen

Treasurer: Linda Dutton

Secretary: Barbi Bedell

PFLAG Mid-Shore * 914 Gateway Drive Chestertown, MD 21620 * (301) 938-0868  pflagchestertown@gmail.com * http://www.pflagchestertown.com/