Investigation at CKSD over 2 gender t-shirts

Superintendent Erin Prince of the Central Kitsap School District has announced an outside investigation “to consider all information” after a number of students wore t-shirts stating, “There are only two genders,” at the end of the school year.

Students began wearing the t-shirts in early June, coinciding with the district-wide promotion and recognition of Pride Month. It is unclear how many students sported the shirt, namely within the walls of Klahowya Secondary School, but it was enough to prompt serious community discussion as well as the investigation, Prince said.

“While students have the constitutional rights to express their opinions, we must also ensure safe and secure welcoming learning environments for all of our students,” she said at the CKSD regular board meeting June 28. “Students were allowed to wear the t-shirt to school, and we also have heard from many of the community that the wearing of the shirts has been impactful.”

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CKSD is not the only district to have these t-shirts pop up in recent years, starting several debates regarding free speech in classrooms. Most recently in national headlines, a 12-year-old Massachusetts student claims he was removed from school for wearing a similar t-shirt.

Kitsap County communities are debating if the issue is freedom of speech and religion or if it’s hate speech against the LGBTQIA+ community.

Voices from both sides made their cases in a two-hour-long period of public comment at the meeting. Those in favor of banning the t-shirts took no shortcuts in calling the “two gender” message discriminatory, leaving some such as Deb Montez to speak for those who felt they couldn’t.

“This latest tsunami of hate around gender identity and also the celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community is something I simply refuse to allow to continue without speaking out in support of all people,” she said. “This completely unfounded fear around having students express their own identities in their daily lives is based on a lack of knowledge regarding differences, also called ignorance.”

Marlaina Simmons added: “No child should have to walk into school and see a shirt that claims that they either do not exist or that they’re wrong. I can agree to disagree on many things. I cannot agree to disagree on hate.”

Some went even further to say that those making the shirts or supporting the message had blood on their hands and that the shirt threatens innocent lives every day.

On the other side, those in favor applauded the students while cautioning the board to not set a double standard.

“I would like to congratulate those students,” said James Bromley, one of the attendees wearing a t-shirt, “for their initiative, their critical thinking and their courage to express what is just a fact.”

Even some in the homosexual community agreed. Alex Chrostowski, Washington chapter leader for Gays Against Groomers, said the shirt did nothing to discriminate against the LGBTQIA+ community, and it is just a statement of belief. “We ask and expect that when next year arrives, you will treat all of your students equally and will respect their individual rights, viewpoints and beliefs,” she said. “Any policy must be transparent and equitable in its application to students of all backgrounds.”

Board president Drayton Jackson addresses the audience prior to public comment.

Board president Drayton Jackson addresses the audience prior to public comment.