A group of Esperanza High School students led a protest Wednesday against a state law allowing students to choose a bathroom based on what gender they identify with, stemming from one student at the school who they say was born male but identifies as female.
Esperanza junior Lesley Ledesma led the walkout after she encountered a classmate using the female restroom.
“When I asked, `why are you in this bathroom? I was told, `I am trans, I identify as a girl,”’ Ledesma said.
The student added, “I was immediately alarmed not because I wanted to disrespect anyone’s identity but because I was suddenly uncertain about my own privacy and safety in a space I had always trusted.”
The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District issued a statement saying the protest was “peaceful, and thanks to our law enforcement partners at the Anaheim Police Department, students remained safe, and morning drop-off went smoothly.”
District officials said they are “committed to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for every student. The district upholds mutual respect as a core value and affirms the principles of free speech and expression as rights extended to all students and members of the community.”
Sonja Shaw, a candidate for state superintendent, and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Trustee Leandra Blades attended a news conference following Wednesday’s student protest.
“What this is about is the safety of our people,” Blades said. “Our females do not feel safe in the bathrooms. Our females do not feel safe on the athletic field. They don’t feel safe. And so what is the state of California doing? They’re violating Title IX.”
Ledesma said she did not wish to attack the transgender community.
“Let me be absolutely clear: I am not here to attack anyone,” the student said. “I do not wish harm on those who see things differently or anyone in the transgender community. I truly believe every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves love, dignity, and respect. But I also believe that females deserve to feel safe and comfortable in private spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms. Respect must go both ways.”
Does the narrative change when lesbians are in the same bathroom with females? Just because you may be same gender and the other person, doesn’t mean they are safe or unsafe. It’s individual behaviors and tendencies.
What the naysayers are really saying is that all males or trans persons are evil and will make the “girls” bathrooms unsafe. They are claiming that all persons identifying as female will keep the bathrooms safe, like no female might be dangerous.
Give me a friggin’ break. More education is needed in this area.
I agree, I do not want to go in t he same bathroom as a man identifying as a woman, yet has all the features of a hairy man. That does not feel safe for me.
Just so I get this straight. The trans student didn’t initiate the conversation, didn’t enter the same stall as this person, didn’t record anything, was minding their own business and this girl Lesley is the one who feels unsafe? This isn’t Lesley’s own private bathroom, this is a public restroom. Did she not feel her privacy was violated when other girls used the same restroom? Its not like she’s letting “biological women” use the same stall as she is while she’s in there. There isn’t a magical forcefield that prevents men from simply entering the restroom if they have malicious intent. That would be a bigger risk than a trans girl minding her own business. I’m not buying it. Lesley is being exploited by the adults in her life as a political pawn. Paranoia and irrational fear isn’t a justified reason to discriminate against another human being.