ALLEN (WBAP/KLIF) — A transgender grad says he’s fighting Allen ISD’s decision to call his given name at graduation.
Jay Alfie says they notified him that he would be addressed by his given, female name.
Alfie started his transition as a freshman, and says everyone knows him as Jay. That’s why he says the name he identifies with is the one that should be called as he crosses the stage. “I hope my school realizes this Is the right thing to do,” he says. “It’s just important to me to be called down as Jay as I walk the stage so I can be proud of myself.”
Rachael Gonzales is with the group Trans Kids & Families of Texas. She says the district should rethink its decision. “There’s no reason that the school cannot be supportive and affirming of this child,” she says.
Alfie and his family say they’ve been asking district officials for months to reconsider. His father says the school’s principal told him they’d make a final decision Friday, the day of the ceremony.
In the meantime, Jay’s sister started an online petition to try and get Allen ISD to change its mind. As of Wednesday morning, it had a little more than six thousand signatures.
Our media partners, WFAA-TV made several requests to Allen ISD for comment. So far, those calls have not been returned.
Robyn Geske, KLIF/WBAP, Copyright © 2018
