In Brief

Staff Reports

Transgender Teen Will be Able To Graduate With His Gender Identity Intact After Local TV Station Intercedes

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Eighteen year old Francis Dalog Junior will be able to walk in his high school graduation ceremony with the rest of his male classmates after the local CBS Television News Affiliate interceded with school officials. Dalog, who came out as transgendered male to family and friends last year, is still biologically a girl as far as administrators at Shadow Ridge High School are concerned.

Dalog self-identifies as a boy, and although his high school experience has been largely conflict free until recently when a Shadow Ridge High school administrator recently insisted he walk with the girls at graduation in the processional.

"I explained to her that I'm transgender and she's like doesn't matter, whatever's on the paper that's whatever side you're going to go on," Dalog told KLAS news I-Team investigative reporter Colleen McCarty. "I want to leave as who I am. I want to graduate high school as who I really am," Dalog said.

McCarty found that the administrators at Shadow Ridge High recognize Francis Dalog the she, not the he.

For most of Francis Dalog Junior's life, the now 18-year-old has struggled to find what fits. Francis wore dresses as a little girl, then boy's jeans in the fifth grade, and eventually androgynous outfits during the early teen years. Now as a senior at Shadow Ridge High School, Francis has stopped trying on an identity. The tuxedo instead of a prom dress now is not a fashion statement; it's a reflection of who Francis is.

"It took a while for me to eventually tell people, to get comfortable with the feeling," he said.

The Clark County School District has no specific policies related to transgender students instead it relies on a more individualized approach explains school board president Linda Young.

"Each case is a little different; each student is a little different. I think it has to be discussed in light of what's going to be comfortable for all involved, because it's not just that student, but the other students as well," said Dr. Linda Young, CCSD school board president.

"There should be policies," said Jane Heenan with Gender Justice Nevada. "It should not depend on an individual school, an individual person, an individual superintendent. These are policies that should be in place not just for the sake of students or of staff, but because it's the law," Heenan said.

Indeed, when the I-Team raised Francis' concern at the district level, it reversed the administrator's decision, based largely, it said on legal advice. Noting quote; "the district wants all students to feel welcome in their education environment and therefore will make reasonable accommodations."

Tuesday morning, Francis did get the thumbs up from school administrators at Shadow Ridge to walk with the boys.

Watch the Video at KLAS News 8

Kansas Middle School Teacher On Facebook: "Gay marriage is wrong because homosexuality is wrong."

Jack Conkling via Facebook

BUHLER, KS -- A Prairie Middle School social studies teacher who also works as an assistant freshman women's basketball coach at Buhler High School wrote an opinion on his personal Facebook Page that has ignited a firestorm in this small rural Kansas community. The evening after President Barack Obama's announcement that he was willing to affirm the rights of same-sex couples last week, Jack Conkling shared his thoughts about the issue writing:

"All this talk in the news about gay marriage recently has finally driven me to write. Gay marriage is wrong because homosexuality is wrong. The Bible clearly states it is sin. Now I do not claim it to be a sin any worse than other sins. It ranks in God's eyes the same as murder, lying, stealing, or cheating. 

His standards are perfect and ALL have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Sin is sin and we all deserve hell. Only those who accept Christ as Lord and daily with the help of the Spirit do their best to turn from sin will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There aren't multiple ways to get to Heaven. There is one. To many this may seem close minded and antagonistic, but it doesn't make it any less true. 

Folks I am willing to admit that my depravity is just as great as anyone else's, and without Christ I'd be destined for hell, if not for the undeserved grace of God. I'm not condemning gay marriage because I hate gay people. I am doing it because those who embrace it will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And I desire that for no one."

Conkling, whose Facebook page states that he is a devout christian, was immediately taken to task by the chairman of the Hutchinson chapter of of the Kansas Equality Coalition, Jon Powell, who told the local newspaper; "Conkling's inflammatory statements could make students think it's OK to bully fellow students." There are numerous current students are among the 600 or so 'friends' with Conkling on his Facebook page. Powell termed the posting "reckless," "dangerous" and "irresponsible."

Craig Williams, Prairie Middle School's principal told The Hutchinson News the school does not have a Facebook policy for teachers. "We're looking into it," Williams said, but added he could not talk about a personnel matter. Mr. Williams did not respond to requests for comment from LGBTQNation as neither did schools superintendent Dan Stiffler, who told the local press that the school district's administrators had a technology committee already looking at a policy for staff regarding use of social media.

Kansas Equality Coalition Executive Director Thomas Witt- in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon with LGBTQNation- said that Kansas does have anti-bullying laws on the books, but that situations like Conkling's are problematic. "Mr. Conkling's remarks may hurt himself in the short run but the problem is the negative impact on the LGBT students in the long run," he said. Witt notes that although the KEC is not asking for his resignation or termination due to this incident, it does serve to raise awareness that school district employees and students are engaging in gay bashing.

Witt also told LGBTQNation that Kansas residents by and large are moderates and that public opinion has taken a shift towards inclusion and not tolerating gay bashing "which makes this teacher and indivialus like him look petty and small." 

Witt said that the KEC is placing emphasis on raising awareness, working on the rural communities in particular as the smaller towns are most dangerous to be out for LGBTQ people.