Democrats at a crowded Capitol hearing argued provisions in a GOP bill prohibiting school staff from referring to students by their preferred name and pronouns without parental permission would allow school boards to stand in the way of legal name changes.
Wisconsin law allows anyone 14 years or older to legally change their name without parental consent.
Under AB 103, principals would initially determine a student’s name and pronouns used in school. If a student requested to change their name or pronouns used at school, school boards would have to give each parent the opportunity to weigh in. Documentation showing a legal name change would also need to be provided.
Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, who chairs the LGBTQ+ Caucus, testified against the bill at yesterday’s hearing. He said it would allow school districts to reject legal name changes even if legal documentation is submitted, and put districts on a “collision course” if parents disagree on the issue.
“It is incredibly clear that this bill is aimed at making it harder for transgender and nonbinary youth to have their names and pronouns updated, even after they’ve taken the time to go to court, even if they have a supportive parent who has been with them through that process,” Spreitzer said. “But to also be clear — not all parents are supportive. I wish they were.”
Bill author Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, said the bill seeks to ensure parents know what is going on in their children’s lives.
“Set aside whether or not you think a child should change their name or socially transition at school age,” Dittrich said. “You know, in our schools we don’t allow our kids to take a Tylenol without permission from parents, we don’t allow them to go on a field trip without permission from parents, we don’t allow their pictures to be shared without permission from parents. A major life choice — and transitioning and changing your name is a major life choice — is something parents should be involved in.”
Dittrich told the committee she had not consulted anyone in the transgender community because “this is a parents’ rights bill.”
The committee was also to hear testimony on Dittrich’s bill to ban transgender women and girls from participating in the sport that matches their gender identity in K-12 schools, universities and tech colleges.
Dems and Gov. Tony Evers have blasted the legislation as discriminatory. Evers vetoed both bills last session, and has vowed to “veto any bill that makes Wisconsin a less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming place for LGBTQ people and kids.”
State Superintendent Jill Underly tied yesterday’s hearing to Trump administration actions, calling it a “distraction from the real issue: a massive disinvestment in public education and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education to facilitate that goal.”
“Federal funds put teachers in classrooms to keep class sizes small, provide schools with resources to improve academic outcomes, and ensure essential support and services to help students with disabilities succeed,” Underly said. “The loss of federal funding will be catastrophic to every single school district and every community in Wisconsin.”
