Archdiocese of Indianapolis Denying Enrollment In Catholic Schools To Transgender Students
INDIANAPOLIS — A new Archdiocese of Indianapolis policy could affect transgender students at over 60 central and southern Indiana schools. The Archbishop signed an eight-page document earlier this month which denounces gender reassignment treatments.
The final page of the document states in part: “Any student, whose ‘gender’ has been legally changed from their biological sex, or who has chemically and/or surgically altered their given biology, may not be eligible for enrollment.”
It says that altering a child’s gender chemically or surgically is “mutilation.” If a student is transgender, they may be denied enrollment to Catholic schools under the policy.
State Senate candidate Belinda Drake from Gary, who is running for the District 32 seat in the November election, calls it discriminatory toward Hoosier kids.
“Policies have to include everybody regardless of how love, how you identify,” Drake said. You still deserve and education.”
“Overall, the policy says the Archdiocese of Indianapolis is fine discriminating against youth who identify as transgender or non-binary,”said Chris Paulsen, CEO of Indiana Youth Group, to WISH-TV.
The policy also states “utilization of facilities including restrooms and locker rooms will align with a person’s biological sex… and that school personnel will address students by the name listed on the official school registration (or its common derivative), and the pronoun correlating to their biological sex.”
The policy also recommends taking a prudent, careful approach on a case-by-case basis about sexual identity.
