Tri-Cities Pride Stands with All Students Against Transphobia and Harm

Tri-Cities Pride is alarmed by the spread of a false rumor involving Chiawana High School that was amplified by individuals in positions of public trust before it was verified.

The allegation has since been confirmed to be untrue. However, the harm caused by repeating it is real. A local minor was wrongly subjected to hate speech based on assumptions about gender identity and faced threats of physical harm.

When leaders respond to situations that did not occur, the consequences are still very real for the students involved.

This situation has been framed as a question of what one student should do in response to another. But that question is built on a false premise. There was no transgender student involved in this incident.  The real harm came from treating an unverified claim as fact, resulting in a student being targeted and threatened. That is what must be addressed.

Washington State provides clear guidance to schools on gender identity, student privacy, and how to navigate concerns about shared spaces in a way that protects all students. These situations have established, thoughtful approaches. If there is uncertainty about how to apply them, local organizations like Tri-Cities Pride are here as resources, but that requires engaging with us before misinformation spreads.

We call on local officials to verify information before sharing it publicly and to center the well-being of students over speculation. As the only all LGBTQ+-led nonprofit in the Tri-Cities, we invite city council member Leo Perales and other local leaders to meet with us and other local LGBTQ+ leaders to ensure future conversations are informed, responsible, and grounded in fact.

Every young person deserves to live free from the harm of being targeted for who they are or who they are rumored to be.

Transgender youth have been a part of our local school systems for decades and should not be forced to choose between safety or visibility. 

Tri-Cities Pride will continue to advocate for safe schools that follow state law and a community where truth, dignity, and community-building are what truly matter.