In the first few weeks of President Donald Trump's term, he has made a series of executive orders dismantling protections previously put in place for transgender citizens. Specifically, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order rescinding "harmful executive orders and actions" signed by former President Joe Biden. This included an order that stated "Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports." Additionally, in January, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a measure banning transgender students from women's school sports teams, threatening to withdraw federal funding from schools that do not comply with these new regulations. Not only that, the legislation would change Title IX so “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” However, these government measures will not directly impact Berkeley High School policy.
At BHS, Title IX is dedicated to accepting and protecting transgender youth, as stated in the student rights: "Students may not be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to harassment or other forms of discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in any program or activity." In addition to this, "Students have the right to participate in school programs and activities and use facilities consistent with their gender identity." While Trump and the House of Representatives are attempting to change the interpretation of Title IX in schools, this will be a difficult feat to achieve in Berkeley. The Berkeley community and California as a whole has a very good track record when it comes to protecting the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities, such as bill AB 223 which was passed in 2023 and requires courts to keep confidential any petition for a change of gender and name filed by a minor to protect their privacy.
There are threats from the government to withdraw funding if the new Title IX mandates are not complied with, however, this may not be as consequential in Berkeley. With the vast majority of the Berkeley Unified School District budget coming from state funding and Berkeley taxpayers, only a mere four percent is provided by the federal government. This amount may affect the financial freedom of our school, but it is not enough to be an overruling entity in determining how BHS upholds policy surrounding freedom of gender identity and expression.
Though these safeguards will stay in place, it is easy to understand the feeling of instability overtaking transgender students at BHS and across the country. Trump’s orders have sparked outrage and prompted organizations, such as The National Center for Lesbian Rights, to speak out against him. Moreover, important figures in education like Phil Tam, President of the San Francisco school board, have pledged their allegiance to the well being of transgender students regardless of government mandate.
Student intervention has the potential to make a large impact in this situation. One way to make a difference would be to reach out to elected officials such as school representatives and members of the Berkeley government for support and to come up with a plan of action to ensure the safety and preserve the sanctity of our school. Another prospective course of action may be contacting existing LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups, such as the aforementioned National Center for Lesbian Rights or the Oakland LGBTQ community center. Establishments such as these may be able to grant a larger and more powerful voice to the BHS trans community.
For all of the BHS students potentially feeling uncertain or scared in light of the current government situation, know that the city and community of Berkeley will not soon let the lives and rights of our transgender community be repressed. To cope with the feelings one may be dealing with in this tumultuous time, one can always fall back on the mental health support provided by BHS counselors and mental health staff, as well as the many supportive LGBTQIA+ communities and alliances that exist at our school.