The district may allow students to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity.
MONTVALE -- Pascack Valley Regional High School District has proposed allowing students to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity, The Record reported.
A crowd of more than 100 people debated the issue Tuesday night at Pascack Hills High School.
The policy would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, allow transgender students to participate in physical education classes and sports, as well as provide access to restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity.
N.J. transgender teens share their stories
Many schools have established gender-neutral restrooms. Some bathrooms at Rowan University have signs welcoming anyone to use them regardless of "gender identity or expression."
Questions of transgender identity have drawn worldwide attention since former Olympian Bruce Jenner came out as a trans woman, and the Amazon comedy Transparent, about an older father coming out as a trans woman, won several accolades.
Many transgender teens face issues communicating their gender identity to their family and friends, Alex S. Strauss, a Marlton psychiatrist, told NJ Advance Media. They face bullying in school and online.
Pascack Valley school officials plan to introduce the policy next week and vote on it the following week.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.