A new bill is currently under review in the Capital regarding how Colorado schools should address students who wish to be called differently than their legal name. This non-legal name bill was a result of the Youth Advisory Council Review Committee, and will require public and charter schools to use a student’s preferred name upon the student’s request. The bill aims to give these schools the discernment needed to adhere to non-discrimination law and provide a legal definition which clarifies gender expression, specifically preferred names. Schools will be expected to have written documentation for how this will be facilitated.
The original bill proposed a task force be provided to help schools build their policies around preferred names. However, the task force is expected to be amended from the proposal raising concerns about parental and local community exclusion. A local high schooler, K, commented on their hopes for the bill as they headed to the Capital themselves. “I think that it’ll add a step into the process of making sure youth are protected when they are asking for teachers to correctly use their name.”
Hopefully other states will follow suit and increase national support for the LBGTQ+ community through the basic necessity of allowing queer youth to be properly addressed. Students should feel supported and seen in their schools. Self-naming can be vital to a person’s identity, and educators should make sure to be respectful and affirming. This proposal is a step towards adding inclusivity into an area in which comfort and safety are needed to thrive.
