Transgender teacher in Texas told not to return

[Horse with no Name]

http://www.ketknbc.com/news/transgender-teacher-in-texas-told-not-to-return

Beaumont, Texas (KBMT) — A transgender substitute teacher says she has been told she should not return to her classes after parents complained about her.

Laura Jane Klug, who was born Kurt Klug, worked as a fifth grade substitute teacher at Lumberton Intermediate School in Lumberton, Texas but was asked not to return after some of the students' parents contacted the school.

Klug says she met with a representative of Lumberton Independent School District's Human Resources and Superintendent John Valastro Tuesday afternoon and was suspended her pending a decision by the school board on whether to continue using her as a substitute teacher.

Klug said that she has substituted at the school without any issues before and she's unsure what instigated the outrage.


Some background info:

Laura Jane trained and was certified as a substitute teacher in Lumberton, Texas. She has performed her duties without complaint from anyone. She is a licensed pilot with at least 20 years of flying experience under her belt. She holds a masters degree in physics. She's a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen who supports her community and serves her church. She is a veteran (U.S. Naval officer). She is also a transgendered woman, with a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, who is transitioning. She has lived full-time as a woman for at least two years. She's not a "guy in drag." The state and federal governments recognize her as a woman, and all of her ID has been legally changed to reflect her new name (not an easy thing to obtain). She's not a pedophile. She's not interested in staring at children while they pee in the school bathroom. She's an American-born, U.S. citizen trying to do a job -- and a noble job, at that. The problem arose when some small-minded, gossipy women at the school raised hell because some of the older students "had questions." Rather than use it as a teaching moment about the realities of gender identification and the issue of acceptance and equality, the parents complained vehemently to the school board, and Laura Jane was suspended. Laura and I don't agree on a lot of things politically or in regards to religion, but I have watched her struggle through this transition (I met her when she was Kurt). I've seen the obstacles she has had to overcome to gain the right and capability to live life as she believes she was born to live it. Its not a "phase." It's not an easy path. It's her life and her future. The hate that has been spewed at her in all of this is sickening. And disheartening. And the fact that so many people are using God as their excuse for being hateful and willfully ignorant makes it even worse. First of all, God, religion, the Bible ... NONE of it has anything to do with this case. Or shouldn't anyway. But even if one were to fully believe that it does, how "Christian" is it, really, to aggressively try to rob a human being of the opportunity to make a living when that person has already proven his or her capability to perform the job? But that's all I'll say about religion. As a journalist, I'm disgusted at the some of coverage this story has gotten ... total ignorance of the subject of gender dysphoria, erroneously applied terminology, complete disregard for balance and objectivity. (In fairness, it has not all been like that.) As a spiritual person, I'm disgusted by the complete lack of respect and compassion for a fellow human being I've seen exhibited. I know this is not going to be easy for Laura Jane, and it's the last thing she needs just as she was starting to rebuild her life from the hit it took when she made the decision to transition. But on the up side, growth often comes from pain. And even though she probably never imagined herself as a poster child for equality, here she is. Perhaps her case will be the springboard for more open discussions about bigotry and intolerance and hatred and injustice, and about equality. About the difference between religious beliefs and civil rights. I hope deeply that her struggle now will help blaze the path toward understanding, acceptance and equality. (And, I hope that this case gives Laura Jane's fellow Christians the opportunity to step up and show the kind of love that they have been tasked with showing.) This is a teachable moment, Southeast Texas -- for adults and for students, for all faiths and political bents. Step up. Step up. Step up. And, to quote the Human Rights Campaign, come up on the right side of history.


To show some support for Laura, check out the Let Laura Teach page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/701184959941531/

[yeoman6987]

1. Since when do parents have a say in what teacher the kids get

I remember having some horrible substitute teachers in school and nobody complained and wanted a different teacher. Heck in Junion English, our teacher got pregnant and had a tough pregnancy so they had numerous teachers throughout the year go through the door of our English class. The school should tell the parents that if they don't want this teacher than one of them better quickly get their teaching credentials and take over.

[Zorra]

2. I wonder if she can file a federal lawsuit under the EEOC. nt

[Horse with no Name]

6. this was just filed

http://www.scribd.com/doc/217317955/Letter-from-Equality-Texas-and-Equality-Texas-Foundation-chairs-to-the-Board-of-Trustees-of-the-Lumberton-Independent-School-District

[longship]

3. She is apparently quite a pilot.

FAA Recognizes Laura Jane Klug.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is recognizing Laura Jane Klug with inclusion in the prestigious FAA Airmen Certification Database.

The database, which appears on the agency's website at www.faa.gov, names Klug and other certified pilots who have met or exceeded the high educational, licensing and medical standards established by the FAA.

Pilot certification standards have evolved over time in an attempt to reduce pilot errors that lead to fatal crashes. FAA standards, which are set in consultation with the aviation industry and the public, are among the highest in the world.

(More at link)

That board of education are a bunch of doofuses.

She's got a fucking Masters in physics!

[Horse with no Name]

4. and working as a substitute teacher....

when it is pretty obvious that she is probably smarter than all of them....

[Major Nikon]

7. All FAA certified pilots are in the database

There's nothing really prestigious about it other than it shows you went through the requirements for becoming a certified pilot and can legally fly an aircraft provided all other requirements are met. However, it is another feather in her cap which can and should be inspirational to students.

[Logical]

5. Just seeing the bigot in the video explained it all. nt

[Heidi]

8. Kick!

[Horse with no Name]

9. Thanks! n/t

[Horse with no Name]

10. Due in part to overwhelming support

Laura Jane was reinstated! Woohoo!