On Saturday we told you about the Pella Aquatic Center’s policy allowing transgender individuals to wear clothing that aligns with their gender identity. This policy led to a middle teenaged biological female walking around topless and using the men’s facilities at the aquatic center.
In that story, a parent in the Pella area expressed concern over incidents that happened to male students. The parent said:
“There have also been several incidents where a biological female, with full biological genitalia, has tried urinating in the urinal, fully exposed, next to the boys in the boys’ bathrooms at public high schools in Pella. Where does this stop? Am I going to have to worry if a man identifies as a gorilla and shows up at the store with nothing on, but because that’s what makes him feel normal, we’re supposed to accept that?”
The school district sent The Iowa Standard information on Monday afternoon and said it is “not accurate.”
“Misinformation such as this has potential to cause distress to all who are involved,” wrote Danielle Bortscheller, Pella Community School District Public Relations Coordinator. “The Pella Community School District strives to ensure that all students feel safe and supported, regardless of gender, religion, race, etc. The high school has designated two restrooms in the building as non-gender specific. There have not been ‘several incidents’ where transgender students have ‘tried urinating in the urinal, fully exposed, next to the boys in the boys’ bathroom.'”
However, an additional individual contacted The Iowa Standard after the Pella District disputed the incidents and said:
“While I’m not sure that the comment on a female using a male urinal is accurate or not, I have had multiple instances of hearing that boys are witnessing girls using the boys restroom at the Pella High School,” this second individual said.
We reached out to the original source about the urinal incident and they provided more detail.
We sent an email to the district asking if biological girls are prohibited from using male restrooms and let them know another individual said they have had mulitple instances of hearing boys are witnessing girls using the boys restroom at the high school. We asked if the district is certain these indicidents have not happened and are not happening and how it is certain they’re not happening or have not happened in the past.
Nobody from the city of Pella has returned calls or emails regarding the aquatic center’s policy, however there is a special city council meeting tonight.
