PIERRE — A petition on the non-binding, social justice website change-dot-org is claiming alleged discrimination against transgender students attending T-F Riggs High School in Pierre. The petition was started by Daniel Peterson who, in the description, says transgender students were told they would not be addressed by their chosen names. Names listed in the Campus Portal quote…”went back to being their deadnames, or names given to students at birth. Pierre School Superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt says the District did call a few students in to clarify the name issue…
Glodt says there has been no policy or procedural change to dictate name changes…
Glodt says a great deal of misinformation has been posted about the situation on social media…
Peterson says the goal of the petition is to allow transgender students to use their chosen names in online school settings and in the classroom. The petition, as of Thursday afternoon had over 1600 signatures.
