Twenty parents filled the school board room Monday, Oct. 10 to continue sharing their concerns, feelings and opinions about gender neutral bathrooms in the high school on both sides of the issue.

The original proposal for “clearly defined” bathrooms was first submitted by Jeff Miller, board member, at the August School Board meeting.

The proposal requests clear definitions for male and female bathrooms and locker rooms with only the assigned gender permitted to use the facilities.

The proposal also states that any student who requests to be addressed by a different pronoun than the one assigned at birth has to have their parents or guardians notified of the request.

LGBTQ groups and the Kansas ACLU have voiced their concerns repeatedly that they fear the damage this will cause to students mental and physical health by not being able to use a bathroom they feel more comfortable with then the one they were assigned at at birth.

Elizabeth Fiedler, Gardner Edgerton High School Senior, said the difference between the two sides is that they want transgender kids to survive.

“Show kids you love them no matter what,”she said. “What you’re spewing up here is not welcoming. If they die think about if you had done enough to protect them.”

Fiedler said the school board was prioritizing lawsuits over lies.

“We should not have rights to privacy and expression stripped from them,”she said.

Devon Bettis, Gardner Edgerton High School Senior, said they had met with board members.

“I didn’t truly realize how much hatred and bigotry are on the board,”they said.“The policy says safety should come first. Watch students get kicked out of their house, disappear and chaos ensue. Students lives are in your hands. You adults need to step up to the plate and be more accepting.”

Joshua Johnson, a Gardner Edgerton High School Social Studies teacher, said he was a product of the Gardner Edgerton school district and proof of a high quality education but the recent events and discussions had uneased him.

“You are chasing phantom problems instead of concrete ones,”he said.

Christina Hodges, a parent of a high school student, said she wanted the students and LGBTQ community to know they were loved and supported.

“This generation of kids is impressive,”she said. “You’re able to see people as people.”

Teachers spoke out stating they were uncomfortable “outting” a student.

Hannah Binkley, student, said how the board had approached the policy was hurtful and damaging to students and didn’t address the harassment and bullying that would worsen from it.

“We are treated like people in costumes instead of real people,”she said.

Larissa Briscoe Gardner Edgerton High School, Junior, at said what the school board was doing was discrimination.

“It seems to me you don’t care about teen suicide,”she said. “You keep ignoring it. Monkey see, monkey do little kids will start hating too.”

Dr. Brian Huff, superintendent, said they had received a lot of input from the community and met with the high school student council.