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BREAKING: Edison school board keeps policy protecting trans youth
Pressure from rights groups convinced Edison board members to change their minds about repealing the policy.
Tehsin Pala
October 31, 2024
Community members at the meeting hold up posters as an individual wearing a mask, supporting the policy's repeal, records them. (Photo by Tehsin Pala)
EDISON, N.J.—The Edison Board of Education has voted to keep Policy 5756, which protects transgender and gender-nonconforming students from being outed to their parents without consent.
In the seven-hour marathon meeting on Oct. 29, the board heard comments from more than 40 people, including parents of LGBTQ+ students, mental health practitioners, lawyers, and representatives from organizations including Desi Rainbow, Shiv’s Third Eye, AAPI NJ, and Garden State Equality.
Many speakers were Indian American residents of Edison who emphasized the importance of the policy for South Asian transgender and gender-nonconforming youth who may not feel safe at home due to conservative family values.
“Whether you, be it members of the board or other parents in our community, like it or not, kids including AAPI youth struggle with identity,” said Sona Baker, an Indian American parent who lives in Edison. “These fears, particularly when children feel alone, can lead to concerning outcomes.”
A smaller number of people attended the meeting to oppose the policy and support repeal.
“Children’s brains are not developed until they are 25. How many people have grown up and have disagreed with their parents—and we should make a policy for that?” said Cindy Mah, an Asian American parent in Edison who called the policy “anti-parent.”
Initially, the board’s vote was split 5-3. Tuesday’s meeting included a second vote, as required by board rules. In the second vote, Board Members Biral Patel and Christopher Lugo shifted their stance to uphold the policy.
Reached via email, Biral said he changed his vote because, “The number of people who spoke against repealing clearly outnumbered those speaking for repealing the policy.”
Tehsin Pala is the associate editor of Central Desi.
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