In Wisconsin, the Diocese of Green Bay is implementing a new gender identity policy in which people must abide to their biological sex throughout its schools, including pronouns, in bathrooms, locker rooms and athletics, NBC 26 reported.
The new policy went into effect on July 1.
According to the Diocese's policy manual, the purpose of the new policy is to adhere to the teachings of the Church: "The Church teaches that our identities as male and female are part of God's good design in Creation, that our bodies and sexual identities are gifts from God, and that we should accept and care for our bodies as they were created."
According to the policy, all students are required to use pronouns, school bathrooms and locker rooms in accordance to their biological sex. Student-athletes must also participate in sports using their assigned sex at birth.
In a press release that Windy City Times received, pro-LGBTQ+ Catholic organization DignityUSA criticized the diocese's policy.
DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke said, "There are a number of troubling aspects to this policy. First, it blatantly disregards the reality of transgender and non-binary people and fails to honor their dignity and agency in living as they know themselves to be. This violates recommendations about how to address gender dysphoria agreed upon by mental health professionals, physicians, and social scientists, and can lead to tremendous stress for people who encounter this disrespect.
"I am also saddened that this policy prioritizes 'maintain(ing) church teaching' over responding to the real needs of children and families. That is a pastoral failure that could have tragic consequences for the people served by the Catholic schools, parishes, and programs in the Green Bay Diocese.
"Finally, it forces teachers and administrators to violate their consciences. Strong majorities of Catholics, including those who work in our schools and parishes, support transgender and non-binary people in making the social and physical transitions that enable them to live as God created them. Requiring them to follow a heartless policy rather than show support and respect for people with gender dysphoria in order to keep their jobs will mean many will face painful conflicts and may lead to disruptions of the school community as valued employees leave."
