Damian Garcia, a transgender student at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, N.M., is demanding the right to dress in black, as will other male students at the graduation ceremony, instead of in white, the color designated to be worn by female students.
Isaak Wolfe, in Red Lion, Pa., is fighting to have his adopted name read at the graduation ceremony, rather than his former name.
In both cases, support for these transgender youth from their parents as well as from other students has been overwhelming. On the other hand, the response of the school officials has been inflexible, bigoted and insensitive.
On May 20, students supporting Garcia’s right to wear the clothes of his choice gathered to protest in front of St. Pius X High School. “I just want to walk in my black robe, nice and proud and have that memory to look back on with my family and friends,” said Garcia in a television interview.
Damian Garcia’s father, Luis Garcia, spoke strongly in support of his son. “I look at him and I call him my son,” he stated. “That’s how he wishes to be acknowledged, as a male. All you want in life is to see your kids happy and healthy. You never want to see them suffer or being ridiculed or be made fun of.”
Tens of thousands sign petition
An online petition has gained tens of thousands signatures in support of Garcia, and will be given to the school administration to demand they support his choice to wear a black robe.
Damian Garcia considers himself to be a man, and made it clear that he will not be humiliated by having to wear a white robe. He has announced that he will stay away from the ceremony if school officials do not change their minds. He explained that he does not want the controversy to distract from the ceremony for his peers at school. “Graduation is in two days,” he said. “I don’t have plans to do anything else. I just want everyone else to have a good graduation.”
The school officials did not relent, and Garcia skipped the graduation.
In Pennsylvania, in a case similar to that of Damian Garcia, support is strong for Isaac Wolfe to hear his adopted name of choice read aloud at his graduation ceremony.
“Reading my male name at graduation wouldn’t hurt anyone,” he said, “but they know that reading my female name only serves to hurt me more.” Wolfe, who was born a female named Sierra Stambaugh has identified as a male for more than two years. Wolfe stated, “Obviously, it’s more important to them to push around an 18-year-old than it is to make the school a safe space for its students.”
At a special hearing held at Red Lion Area High School in York County, Wolfe stated his case. He handed over a petition with 2,000 signatures and was joined by a packed room of supporters wearing stickers that read, “His name is Isaak.”
His mother, April Billet-Barcley, spoke strongly and lovingly of her son as did many students and friends
In both cases, which have received wide attention nationally and a strong outpouring of solidarity, the young supporters and the families of the two transgender students have stood up for what is just. Without exception, polls show that a vast majority of young people are strongly in favor of equality for all. Meanwhile, more and more poor and working people have come to support the struggle for equality for transgender youth.
Decades of militant and mass fighting in the streets, schools and work places is winning a great sea change of support as millions of people reject the bigotry, hate and violence of the past and embrace the principles of equality for all.
