Durango School District's recent “LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion” resolution raises serious concerns about student safety and privacy. While the district states it will maintain at least one single-stall, all-gender restroom in every facility, it also explicitly allows students to use multi-stall restrooms that match their self-reported gender identity regardless of their biological sex.
This means a biological male can use the girls’ restroom if he identifies as female, with no requirement for medical transition or parental notification. While the intent is to support inclusivity, the policy ignores a critical reality: bathrooms are private spaces, and not every student will feel safe or comfortable under these rules.
We have seen nationwide examples of these policies being exploited, from voyeurism to harassment, putting girls in particular at risk. No policy should trade safety and privacy for politics. A far more balanced approach would be to limit multi-stall restrooms to biological sex while ensuring private, single-stall facilities are available for any student who requests them.
This resolution is not just about equality; it’s about common sense. Every child deserves to feel safe at school. That should be our first priority.
Ryan Patterson
Durango
