California became the first state on Oct. 6, 2021, to approve Assembly Bill 245, the Affirming Transgender and Nonbinary Student’s Names in College Bill, banning public colleges from deadnaming transgender and non-binary students on school records. Deadnaming occurs when a transgender or non-binary person is referred to by the name they used prior to transitioning. This bill will prevent official documents such as diplomas and transcripts from using a deadname and instead will support the LGBTQ+ community on campus. 

As a result of this new bill, I urge Staples High school to become more aware of the transgender and non-binary community within the school, and implement more inclusive practices into the environment.

Not only is deadnaming extremely disrespectful and ignorant, but it can also out individuals without their consent. While I identify as a cisgendered female who uses she/her pronouns and does not have to go through the fear of being misidentified, it is shocking to me that this bill has not been made a requirement for all schools nationwide. While I applaud California for being the first state to make progress in creating a more inclusive school environment for students, it shows how far Connecticut and even Staples High School still has to come.

Only a handful of my teachers asked how students wanted to be referred to in class on the first day of school and  even fewer asked for students’ pronouns. They simply assumed. 

Although I am not directly impacted by the lack of empathy to the LGBTQ+ community at Staples, some of my classmates may very well be. Students should not have to fear misidentifying their peers, as everyone should be able to get the opportunity to disclose preferred names and pronouns publicly, if they so choose.

Staples may be making a larger effort to create a safe space for all students through events like Pride Day, but needs to improve the day-to-day aspects of being an inclusive community. Whether it is asking for pronouns at the beginning of the year, incorporating more transgender and non-binary history and figures into class discussions or allowing students to identify with a name different than on their school record, Staples can facilitate a more comfortable and safe environment for all.