(Lambda Legal: Gary, Indiana) — Late yesterday the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana denied Gary high school’s motion to dismiss a case brought by transgender former student Kevin  “K.K.” Logan, a feminine male who was barred from prom because he wore a dress.

“We are thrilled that K.K. Logan will have a day in court, and that the school’s discriminatory policies can be challenged,” said Jim Madigan, Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office in Chicago.

The court held that Logan may challenge the dress code policy as a violation of the First Amendment rights of all Gary students.

In December 2007, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of K.K. Logan challenging a Gary School Corporation policy barring clothing that advertises sexual orientation or indicates that a student’s gender is different from the student’s sex. Logan argues that the policy violates students’ First Amendment freedom of expression.  Logan also claims that his exclusion from prom constitutes discrimination on the basis of gender.  West Side High School filed a motion to dismiss the case in February 2008 leading to today’s ruling.

Students and teachers knew that K.K. Logan was gay for years.  During his senior year, Logan attended West Side High expressing a deeply rooted femininity in his appearance and demeanor. At school, Logan wore makeup, accessories and clothing typically associated with girls his age.

However, on May 19, 2006, Principal Diane Rouse stretched her arms across the door of the senior prom, blocking Logan’s entrance because Logan was wearing a dress. Classmates and friends rallied to Logan’s defense to no avail—even though a female student was allowed to attend dressed in a tuxedo.

Principal Rouse enforced a Gary School Corporation policy that forbids any clothing or accessories that “advertise sexual orientation” or “portray the wearer as a person of the opposite gender.”

The case will proceed to trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

The case is Logan vs. Gary Community School Corporation et al.

Jim Madigan, Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office in Chicago and Cole Thaler, Lambda Legal’s Transgender Rights Attorney are handling the case with co-counsel from the law firm of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in Chicago.

Related Story

Video of K.K Logan and Family Interviewed

• Amazing presentations, panel discussions and interactive forums where parents can explore the issues related to raising children who do not fit into society’s current expectations of gender.
• Excellent childcare for our gender variant kids and their siblings to play together while the parents attend workshops.
• Two picnic lunches for families to meet, socialize, and share experiences.
• Workshops for teens and older children throughout the weekend.

The Summit will feature workshops and events such as the Gender Theory Institute, the 12th Annual National Gender Lobby Day, and screenings of exciting new documentaries. Join other academics and activists in discussions about gender stereotypes, gender and race in hip-hop, the emerging US human rights movements, and the love-hate relationship between feminism and queer theory.

Also, this Summit is an opportunity for youth to receive advanced training to start a GenderYOUTH chapter or affiliate an existing campus or community organization with the GenderYOUTH Network to end gender-based violence and discrimination.

The Summit scholarship application can be found at http://www.gpac.org/youth/summit/index.html. Scholarship deadlines are March 1st and April 2nd .

You can also apply for group rates at http://www.gpac.org/youth/summit/grouprates.html. The bigger the group, the bigger the discount J!

Register for the 2007 GenderYOUTH Leadership Summit and connect with other youth to share ideas, pool resources, and take action!

ALL are welcome!

Join PFLAG Bloomington for a program about the experiences of parents of transgender children. Two Moms of transgender children will talk about their children and the impact on their families.

http://www.geocities.com/pflagbloomington/

pflag@indiana.edu

Even though this booklet is primarily geared to parents with young children, several of the issues it addresses pertain to older children as well. Every parent, teacher, social worker… anyone who works with children should read.

If You Are Concerned About Your Child’s Gender Behaviors: A Parent guide

Table of Contents:
Defining Gender-Variance
Commonly Seen Behaviors
Why Gender-Variance Occurs
What to Expect in the Future
Child’s View of Himself
Can it be Changed?
How to Help
Pitfalls to Avoid
Dealing With My Feelings
Seeking Professional Help

Some pearls of wisdom inside:

Question traditional assumptions.
Do not automatically accept traditional assumptions about social gender roles and sexual orientation. Learn to separate society’s judgments from the love you have for your child. Do not let other people’s critical opinions of what is right and wrong come between you and your child.

Examine your feelings and learn to accept your child.
You and other family members may feel uncomfortable and ashamed of your child’s interests and behaviors. This is common early on. Take time to figure out where your feelings are coming from. You may have to adjust your dreams of how you expected parenting and your family to be.

They also sponsor a support group and online email list for parents.

To download the booklet or to schedule a phone interview to join the email list, visit their website at:

http://www.dcchildrens.com/gendervariance

Stigma from above – Indiana Daily Student – Stigma from above

Indiana Daily Student – This spring, Kevin Logan, a high school senior from Gary, eagerly anticipated prom night, that special night that so many high schoolers look forward to each year. [Google (Trans)]