At a school district meeting in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, passionate debate erupted among parents and community members regarding the local adoption of new Title IX regulations.
Josh Vienola, a member of the local Moms for Liberty Facebook group, voiced his frustration during the August 14 meeting. “It’s absolutely absurd that you’re even thinking about making bathrooms and locker rooms coed. Regardless of how anyone identifies or any personal beliefs, boys are boys and girls are girls. It’s a straightforward fact. That’s why we have separate bathrooms.”
Vienola continued, “I can’t fathom why this is even being considered. You need to firmly reject this and return to common sense.”
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His comments to the school board followed remarks from Kora Novy, the self-described director of Oshkosh Pride, who ignited the debate by calling the discussion a “roadblock.”
Novy challenged, “What is this really about? You don’t have the right to impose your beliefs on others. That’s what religious liberty means—you can hold your own beliefs, but others who identify differently also deserve protection.”
The LGBT activist emphasized that they are “keeping an eye on this” and will “engage in the conversation if it continues.” This stance mirrors concerns expressed by local resident TJ Hobbs regarding the district’s adherence to Title IX regulations
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Laura Ackermann, chapter chair of Winnebago County’s Moms for Liberty, weighed in on the debate, which intensified after a school board member branded the organization as “extremist.” Ackermann raised concerns about potential discomfort among female students due to the changes proposed by the new Title IX regulations.
“The previous Title IX was just two paragraphs long and was designed to protect girls and women in sports and education,” Ackermann noted. “Now, the new regulations span 1,500 pages. Moms for Liberty is committed to protecting all children. However, the risk with the new policy is that it may sometimes prioritize transgender students over girls. The issue with changing Title IX from focusing solely on protecting girls to including transgender individuals is not that they shouldn’t be protected, but that there are existing policies to safeguard them.”
Ackermann added, “Under this new law, if a transgender individual wants to use a bathroom that doesn’t align with their biological sex, they must be allowed to do so. Yet, if a female student feels uncomfortable with a male being undressed in her locker room, she has no recourse under this new policy.”
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Referring to a lawsuit she submitted to the board, Ackermann pointed out that if a female student feels “uncomfortable” with a transgender student using the girls’ bathroom, she is directed to use a different restroom. However, she argued that the same request cannot be made of the transgender student.
Ackermann further stated that Oshkosh area schools are presently adhering to Wisconsin state law 118.13 and noted that she believes current policies meet both state and federal standards.
The Oshkosh area school district has not yet responded to Digital’s request for comment.
