Deborah Furtado Remarks
Press Conference - Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Great Hall, State House - Boston, MA

 

My name is Deborah Furtado. I have taught elementary school for 36 years in the city of New Bedford, and I am very concerned about the impact of this bill on young children.

H.B. 1728 allows persons to use public restrooms, changing rooms, locker rooms etc. according to their gender of expression.

In other words, anyone can go into any bathroom and use it without regard to the rights of our children.

I know from teaching young children for so many years that they are so innocent. Seeing an adult, or older child dressed very differently, especially in and around the school, would be extremely frightening to many young children, not to mention the comfort level of other adults working in the school.

Adequate safeguards for our students are not provided in this bill. Are we going to require school administrators to be on "potty patrol" so students can use the facilities in comfort and privacy while they are in the care of our cities and towns? Who will be liable when something goes terribly wrong?

Quite simply put, this bill is a recipe for disaster and student abuse, not to mention laying additional financial and human burdens on school staff. But most importantly, it will put the emotional and physical health of our youngest children at risk. Having most of my adult life in the company of children, I maintain that this bill is an outrage and an injustice to children.