Pierre youth hopes online petition raises awareness; “I don’t want people to just tolerate us. I want them to understand what it’s like being trans and how it feels when these things happen.”

An online petition titled “Help Protect Pierre Trans Youth” is now at 1800 signatures and counting.

The petition on the change.org website was started earlier this week (Oct. 12, 2021) by T.F. Riggs High School sophomore Daniel Peterson. He told DRG Media Group the change came “without warning.”

Peterson says the trans students were told the change was being made to avoid potential errors in the students’ official school records.

What’s one possible way Peterson thinks the situation could be remedied?

Peterson sees his experience as an opportunity to help others learn about transgender people.

Yesterday (Oct. 14, 2021), Pierre School District Superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt told DRG Media Group official school records do include the transgender student’s legal name– or deadname– and assigned gender at birth. But, he says, as long as the school has received permission from the student’s parent or legal guardian, the student will continue to be referred to by their preferred name and pronouns.

Peterson’s petition is directed toward the American Civil Liberties Union, T.F. Riggs High School, the Pierre School Board and the Pierre Area Center for Equality (PACE).