SODUS, N.Y. -- Two parents spoke at a school board meeting Tuesday night in Sodus about a male-born transgender student who is now allowed to use the girls locker room.
By federal and state law, the district is required to allow this student to use the locker room or bathroom of the gender they identify with. Superintendent Martin Cox said the district continues to support this student and following the law, and is working with service agencies to educate people in community on diversity and gender identity, which will take place at a community meeting in two weeks.
Supporting her daughter at the meeting was Jennifer Surridge.
"My daughter is doing really well, she is a strong courageous girl and I am very proud of her," Surridge said.
Surridge tells Time Warner Cable News that her daughter, who's 11 years old and in the 6th grade, wanted her to come so she could speak up for herself, but she preferred to keep her home. Tuesday was a day of celebration, as her daughter got her named officially changed.
Another parent, Debbie Galek, spoke out, saying that she's concerned about kids becoming more and more sexualized.
"They are already very curious about parts on their body and other peoples parts on their bodies," Galek said. "I don't want my child changing in front of someone they've known as a boy for over a year."
Surridge said the transition for her daughter has been smooth and she's received a lot of support from her peers and the school, and cautions people to think of how they'd react.
"What if this was your child? If your child came to you and said I'm gay, a lesbian, I'm in the wrong body? If you don't support them and their feelings you raise the risk of suicide or self-harm and nobody wants their child to go through that," Surridge said.