CCSD gender diversity discussion draws crowd
Hundreds speak on plan to craft policy; officials urge action
A new venue and a later starting time did little to quell concerns about the Clark County School District’s plan to craft a policy relating to students with “gender diverse identities” as public comment went late into the night Thursday.
Community members on both sides of the issue crammed into the Clark County Commission chambers, a larger venue than the School Board meeting room, as the board was set to discuss and vote on the topic again.
The board also pushed the meeting’s start time to 6 p.m. to allow for more community members to attend. District officials estimated more than 200 members of the public signed up to speak on the topic.
But while some parents appreciated the move to a large venue, it didn’t negate issues with the overall plan.
“What we’re asking is we take a step back,” parent Erin Phillips said. “This process has been really tainted. It’s caused a lot of divisiveness and distrust.” Some board members accused others of stalling on the issue. Elected officials, including County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani and state GENDER
Sen. David Parks, urged action on the issue.
“We can’t sit on this. The time has already passed us,” said Assemblyman Nelson Araujo, a Democrat running for secretary of state. “It is our responsibility as elected officials to always stand up for what is right.”
And Dan Reynolds, a Clark County School District graduate and member of Imagine Dragons, wrote a letter of support for the creation of a policy, read by Trustee President Deanna Wright.
“Our LGBTQ youth need us. They need to know they are safe at school,” he wrote.
The board was still listening to comments as of 10 p.m. and had not