Prestigious all girls school welcomes first transgender student
A prestigious girls school in Toowoomba, Queensland says it is living up to its commitment of supporting and encouraging all girls by welcoming its first transgender student.
On Saturday parents received an email from principal Kim Cohen, who made the decision to accept the enrollment.
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"In our middle senior years, we have a young girl, who was born into a boy's body," the email read.
The school said it chose not to inform the community earlier to allow the student to get to know others without any preconceived judgement.
The email was sent with the permission of her parents after rumours surfaced.
Psychologist Ian Goldsmith told 7 News he hope more students of different orientations will be accepted in schools.
"It's really important that this person just be included as a regular person because that's all they are," he said.
"They don't like to be singled out, they just don't want that badge or label.
"Transgender students hopefully will be accepted into any school."
A message from the transgender student's parents was included in the email to the school community.
"Our daughter was born in a body that does not match her identity," it said.
"When she first told us, we were devastated. Devastated not for what she was telling us, but for what her future may hold."
The school has received 40 responses from parents since they were told on Saturday. Thirty-nine of them were positive.
This week, the school released some of those messages, one letter said: "We are with them, standing shoulder-to-shoulder all the way".
"It is wonderful news to hear you have joined The Glennie School. WELCOME," another family wrote.
