A Deerfield middle school has been thrust into the middle of the national transgender locker room debate after a mother said her Shepherd Middle School child was forced by administrators to change in front of a biological boy.
Mother Nicole Georgas appeared on Fox News and claimed her daughter and several of her classmates were forced by school officials at Deerfield Public School District 109 and Shepherd Middle School in the 400 block of Grove Place in Deerfield to change in a locker room in front of the student who is biologically a boy.
However, school officials said on their website that the Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits all public school districts from discriminating on the basis of sex, including gender identity, and mandates that students must be permitted access to the locker room and bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.
Georgas told Fox News that her daughter was one of several girls who did not approve of changing in front of the boy.
“My daughter and all of her PE … fellow girls… they wanted their locker room back,” Georgas said. “They originally decided on their own they were not going to be changing in front of this student.”
Georgas continued the girls decided on their own to protest by refusing to wear their required P.E. clothes that day. The next day, Georgas said, school administrators first attempted to find out who started the “protest.” Then, Georgas said, school and district administrators and teachers went into the locker room and made the girls change into their P.E. clothes in front of the other student.
“I asked the teachers why was this happening, no one is giving me any kind of a response,” Georgas said. “The only suggestion they had was to move my daughter into a different PE class.”
On the district website, officials said in a statement the district is “sensitive to the privacy needs of all of our middle school students and ensure that no student is required to change into a gym uniform for physical education class in front of others. ”
“When both our middle schools were renovated in 2017, we added five private changing stations within each locker room that are available to all students.” the statement reads. “All students also have multiple options to change in a private location separate from the locker room if they wish.”
Georgas told Fox News she told school officials her daughter would not move to another class, but that she would not be changing into P.E. clothes for the rest of the year because “that locker room is for them (girls).”
“This sets such a dangerous precedent for girls everywhere by allowing men into safe spaces,” Georgas said. “My biggest concern is that an adult biological man who hasn’t transitioned can freely access women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, putting their safety and privacy at risk.”
Georgas said she has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, Georgas said on Fox News.
The Deerfield administration said in their statement that Deerfield Public Schools District 109 complies with state law and they are “united with our leaders and educators on this issue and have a shared commitment to upholding the law.”
“The District and the Board call upon all of those expressing concerns or perspectives on this issue with our staff and educators to do so in a respectful and civil manner,” the statement reads. “We are glad to work with families to address any individual concerns and determine appropriate next steps to support your child’s well-being and participation.”