Gorham School Department has policy to keep gender identity of students hidden from parents

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to the Gorham School Department seeking any guidance on transgender issues. The district provided PDE with a policy titled “Gorham School Department Transgender Guidelines.” This policy explicitly makes it clear that the gender identity of students can be hidden from parents.

The policy states that if parents do not know about their child’s preferred gender identity to “ensure student has access to trained school personnel (counselor/social worker) to process this with.” The policy then states: “School personnel is under no obligation to share this information with the parent/guardian (similar to sexual orientation).”

District staff are mandated to “address the student by using the student’s preferred name/pronoun.” Students are also allowed to use the restrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities that match their preferred gender identity.

The district also provided PDE with a resolution titled “In Support of LGBTQ+ Students and Staff in the Gorham Schools” that was adopted on January 18, 2023. This resolution states: “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Committee directs the policy committee to review and revise its policies with an inclusive perspective towards the use of gender neutral and culturally responsive terms. We believe the use of these terms are necessary to align our policies to the core values of the Gorham School Department and to protect students and staff from discrimination in all protected classes.”