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• Anonymous

  I am all for equal rights…. but this doesn’t seem equal. Why are we handing out awards to people just because they’re different or because they support something that is not traditional. What is wrong with just keeping your mouth shut and realizing that just because you think you’re different the world will not bend over backwards to accomodate your every wish and desire.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AJIWETOAHU6ZF7KGNW5JOLWHZ4 J

  Asa Adams School was right.  He did not and does not belong in the girls bathroom.  He is a boy, whether he wants to be or not.

• Anonymous

  Bravo to this family. Congratulations on this recognition and for speaking up on behalf of your child and others.   You sound like a wonderful family.

• Anonymous

  I hope this family knows how many people support them.  Despite the ignorant comments that are surely going to be posted here, I hope they know that they have moved the civil rights ball closer to the end zone in a way that will benefit untold numbers of people.   I appreciate the courage it took to stand up for their daughter, and the courage it took for Nicole to stand up for herself.  Keep pushing back.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  A lot of Christians would love for us atheist to just keep our mouths shut and never speak out but that is not how it works.

  It takes people such as this family to speak out and tell others that discrimination is not ok and this is what they are doing. They are just asking for others to accept who Nicole is but a lot of people have a problem with this.

  She deserves the award for having the courage to state this is who I am and I’m not going to change because society says she should. You nor I have any sort of clue how much mental stress she has gone through and will continue to go through because others want to tell her she is not normal when she is 100% normal.

  My child is left handed and 60 years ago teachers would have said that is not normal. How dare you write with your left hand and they would have pushed and pushed for my child to use their right hand because being left handed was not normal.

  Some people are truly born the wrong sex and once again neither you nor I can understand that. At conception we do not have a sex and if a penis does not form it becomes a clitoris and some people are born with both sexes, it does happen.

  So why people want to deny Nicole who she is I will never understand. She is a female trapped in a males body and I wish her the best because she has a long road ahead of her.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  Why?  For courage.  It’s not always easy to stand up for what is right, especially when the cause is not popular due to people not understanding or due to fear.  This young girl is so brave and her family is incredible for supporting her as they have.  I knew someone who was a transgender child.  He was born female but never felt female.  His family was very conservative and tried everything to make this child be female, and nothing worked.  He was never encouraged to be masculine or feel like a boy.  This was several decades ago, so there was not tolerance and there wasn’t widespread knowledge of transgender issues.  This child was simply born with physical anatomy that was opposite of his mental/psychological make up.  He could NOT help it.  

  While the bathroom issue is a tricky one due to the fact that other kids who have to share the bathroom might feel uncomfortable and now feel violated…we, as a society, need to find a way to stop treating people who are different badly.  It’s just NOT okay.

• Anonymous

  Ok… so if it is so natural to be un-natural what is the big deal? Handing out awards and writing up newspaper reports will only lead to more discrimination. Some people will never change their way of thinking and articles such as this will only infuriate those who are stuck in their beliefs. No one has to agree with this… it is not illegal to hate someone or something. Just live your life and keep quiet about it.

• Anonymous

  You’re so right. I am 35 years old, but my psychological makeup tells me I am 16. That is how I will act because that is who I am and that is all I will ever be.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  I think Nicole looks great and I commend her as well as her family for all they have done. It is nice to know that she has a strong support system and they are not making an attempt to change who she is.

  I doubt Nicole will read these comments but I just hope she knows that a lot of us support her and wish her the best.

  Life will get better Nicole so hang in there.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  Because people such as you make a huge deal out of it.

• Anonymous

  Because sometimes the cause is just too important to keep your mouth shut!

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  That didn’t take long. There is no need for me to respond to your question because you are already set in your ways and no matter what I type, you will not change your mind.

• Anonymous

  More than likely it’s not your psychological makeup but your narrowmindedness and inability to treat others equally.  Do you not understand the torture these transgendered people must feel?  How can you not feel compassion? 

• Anonymous

  Bravo Kevin!  You and I have different views of God and I respect your opinion and understand you have a right to your belief just as I do.  I commend you for your comment and I hope Nicole comes to realize there are many who support her!

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  Because  as was made painfully obvious on the posts about this impending award if you do not fully support there desire to be different your a small minded  bigot. I asked a few simple questions about how the determinations would be made and by whom as to the requirements one would have to meet to use the bathroom that does not match there biological sex. No answers but I was called names. 

• Anonymous

  Oh but hate crimes are illegal!  And nothing moves forward in silence!

• Anonymous

  Maines Family, I am in awe of the understanding and compassion you have for your daughter.  Nicole, love your family always, love yourself always.  You are a beautiful young lady and you will do well in life.  You have many people, both those you know and those of us you do not know, that support you.  You are a wonderful family and so deserving of this award!

• Anonymous

  First of all I don’t believe this young girl thinks she is different…she knows she is. Secondly,  when we raise our children to keep their mouths shut we are telling them they are worthless and it is proven that the suicide rate for young people who stuggle with gender identity is VERY high. Why would we want to encourage our children to NOT be themselves. If dissabled people had kept their mouths shut then the ADA would have never been passed.  Are dissabled people different? Did Martin Luther King receive any awards? Many people saw and my still see African Americans as different.  My opinion is that we are all human beings and we are all different in someone elses eyes.  It’s time for us to accept the  ”less” traditional and to accept people for who they really are.  We put so much emphasis on the politically correct that we lose sight of the big picture. It is not our job to judge it is our job to love thy neighbor whether they are traditional or nontraditional. 

• Anonymous

  Where is your compassion? 

• Anonymous

  Get to know someone who is transgender and then ask yourself that question.   If you’re not just speaking from an “I can’t handle people who are different” point of view, you’ll see how silly your comment looks.

  As long as I’m trying to figure your post out…  You seem worried about some kind of sex thing happening in the bathrooms.  Which bathrooms do you want gay students to use?

• Anonymous

  I have no compassion for people like this. Sorry… but I do not.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sXid19HrwY

  Everyone should watch this young girl’s father speak.  

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  The issue is not a guy dressing in female clothes Mots people just do not care. The problem is that this allows MALES to go into the FEMALE facilities. Now if the person is “transgendered” they like folks of the same sex ( but not all the time) . However a “transvestite” does not have to be gay. I speak as a father when I again ask how will the determinations on who may use what facilities  be made? What about gym and showers? If the parents truly feel this or any child is in the wrong body then there are operations to correct that  why are they not doing that as that would seem the appropriate solution. When something is wrong you correct it right? In fact I would go so far as to say by NOT getting there child the sex change they are in fact abusing the child by forcing him/her to live in the wrong body!

   So who is really being discriminatory to the child here those who don’t want a male using the female facilities or the evil uncaring parents who are forcing him/her to live everyday in the wrong body?

• Anonymous

  That is exactly the point I bring up every time I comment on this subject. Why does society need to change because of one individual? We have certain rules because certain behavior has been deemed unacceptable by our society, but regardless of how you dress this issue up its still a boy who was encouraged by parents to be a girl. I don’t care if they claim to be republican or democrat, that has nothing to do with it, these people are encouraging their child to live a lie. They are stepping over the line by trying to make the rest of us support that lie by agreeing to allow this boy in a girls bathroom.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  You really need to educate yourself about people that are transgendered. I cannot believe you even made an attempt to compare someone that is transgendered to someone that is a transvestite.

• Anonymous

  Wow, watched it, loved it!  How touching.  You can hear the love he has for Jonas and Nicole in his voice.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  I damn near teared up watching that. Nicole has an awesome father

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  Do you have children?

• Anonymous

  A good person.  A class act.

• Anonymous

  Well stated.

• Anonymous

  Yes, and it isn’t going to affect his life. It would have affected Nicole’s if she had to live her life  being  who she wasn’t.   How selfish some are, and compassion seems to be a word not in their vocabulary.

• Anonymous

  It is that way , many times.

• Anonymous

  It is called a matter of ignorance.

• Anonymous

  Boomboom you didn’t have to tell us you were only 16 . We all knew that from reading your post.

• Anonymous

  Some of the people who think they themselves are “normal” are critical , judgmental of people “different” than them,  and  non-compassionate in their views and attitudes. Is that “normal”?  I don’t think many would want to be that kind of “normal.”

• Anonymous

  Compassion is not a word found in the vocabulary of the ignorant.

• Anonymous

  What a shame for you.  You’re missing out on some great people.  Go ahead and live in your little world, just keep your hatred to yourself.

• Anonymous

  Not that it is any of your business, but yes I do. I don’t want boys using the same restroom as my daughter. Nor do I want boys in the same locker room as my daughter. I know, I know… I am a pathetic bigot who hates everyone.

• Meg Haskell

  Way to go, Wayne! Kudos to your family for your courage and commitment. I feel proud to know you.  – Meg Haskell

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

   I did not compare them! I was trying to point out the issue with determining who can use what facilities where and how that will be done and what standards will be used. IE will it be ok for a transgendered person and a transvestite or will the transvestite be discriminated against because they do not feel there are in the wrong body?

  Funny how out of that whole post you ignored my question and twisted what I said to make me appear evil.

  Again WHO will make the determination on who can use what facility and what will the standard used be?

  Of course as stated if the problem is really the person being in the wrong body why not fix that instead of pretending? The operation is pretty easy though the pre operation hormone treatment and physiological work can take time.

• Anonymous

  Private bathroom for certain students, problem solved!

  That is the reasonable solution.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  That seems logical. However if that where the law then businesses would have to have  a third bathroom and that would cost allot of money.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  You are more than welcomed to remain closed minded but if you think people such as I and others will not continue to speak out and support Nicole you might as well crawl under a rock and stay there.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  Have you ever heard of or read about Constantine?

  And if you think Nicole is the only transgender person in this world then you have issues.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  Roger I’m 41 years of age and I would love to know how old you are.

• Anonymous

  I understand similar sentiments were once commonly expressed when NEGROES had the nerve to stand up for themselves. Now why couldn’t those NEGROES have just kept their mouths shut instead of asking the white establishment to bend over backward to give them the special rights they didn’t have but for some reason wanted?

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Regina-Hosebeast/100002095287763 Regina Hosebeast

  I was born a Caucasian woman, but I’ve always known I was really a black man. I petitioned the NAACP for membership but they turned me down, so I am calling Joe Bornstein. I have the right to be whoever I want; biology be damned. And I have the right to use any men’s room I want. I don’t care how many men I make feel uncomfortable; it’s my right.

  What a messed up society we have created, when the rights of an individual trump the rights of the vast majority. Other arrangements could have been made to avoid all the hoopla and everyone would have been happy, but instead they chose to shove it in everyone’s face.

  Transgendered folks have every single right that everyone else has, but we cannot allow the rights of a few hundred people to trample the rights of over a million others. I hope the pending court ruling will reflect the will of the majority; that’s how a democratic republic is supposed to work.

• Anonymous

  Wow! I have rarely read such an expression of honesty. You really are a callow youth. Here’s hoping there is still time for you to grow up. 

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  You know…transgender people are basically the opposite sex on the inside than what their body is on the outside.  If you think about that for a second…it would indicate that a kid born with the anatomy of a boy and the mind, feelings and thoughts of a girl is not going to be attracted to girls…they will be attracted to boys.  It would be the same with kids born with the bodies of girls but the mind and thoughts of a boy.  Do you really want someone with the mind of a teenage boy sharing the locker room with your teenage daughter?  Now, I don’t know what the definitive answer should be, because both sides of the argument do have valid points.  What I DO know is that it’s not okay the way this young girl was treated and the boy who harassed her for two years at the prompting of his boneheaded grandfather should have been expelled for bullying.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001043479861 Amy Daley

  I interviewed at Asa Adams a few years ago – for the Special Ed position.  It was the one and only interview I ever walked out of and said, “thank you, but I don’t believe that this is a position I am interested in.”  Why?  Because of the staff’s perceptions as to what are and are not ADA issues.  This school was a powder keg of incompetent administrators then, and by what I have seen and heard from others who work there, it hasn’t changed.   My best wishes to this young lady and her family for their strength.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  There is also a video of Nicole speaking, but it’s very short.  If I met her on the street I never would guess she wasn’t born a girl.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001043479861 Amy Daley

  Walmart has family bathrooms.  Ideal!

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  This wasn’t only about which bathroom Nicole got to use.  It was also about being bullied and harassed to the point that she did not feel safe in school.  The bully was not punished at all, but Nicole was.  That is wrong.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  I watched that one as well and you are correct. Nobody would never have a clue and I’m sure a lot of teenage boys would think she looked good.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  So you think majority should rule?

• Anonymous

  Show some compassion, post your name, not just J. 

• Anonymous

  Congrats, glad to see your picture.  Your a beautiful girl.  Keep up the good work and family, keep up the great work too

• Anonymous

  It is sad that many who call themselves Christians, don’t actually follow Christ…and so don’t have or understand compassion.  It is sad that many, who consider themselves Atheist, are the ones that step forward and let their light shine…and are the ones that are often being offered and are accepting awards, or praise, for their bravery and courage. (not that you Kevin, have been given praise, or that Nichole is an Atheist)   People sometimes seem to think that Old Testament followers of God were Christians and that the ways that they governed society in some of those books are the way to govern today…but Christ came along later…and had a different message for people, that many today, including many Christians, seem to conveniently forget or ignore.   Blindness and ignorance is easier to live with I guess, than finding the compassion to solve problems and liberate your mind from fear.  The trans-gender topic goes deeper than what to do, for many…I mean we still have bathrooms for men and women, because we (many) are afraid that our girls are going to be accosted in some fashion (and not to say those fears haven’t been made valid)…we have been (in many societies) segregated for so long, that it seems strange and unnatural to even imagine that we could ever come together on an issue, that suddenly seems to blur the lines of  reason and protocol…when we are still dealing with a society that doesn’t fully respect one another.  Do I have an easy solution?  No…I would suggest, however, that only having one bathroom for everyone, with doors on each stall…might go a long way toward ending a lot of nonsense.  It may take generations of uneasiness and fine-tuning, before it becomes a way of life…but then so have many challenges been overhauled and fine-tuned, for the sake of compassion…or just plain not being an ugly shill. 

• Anonymous

  The only physically male people who would be using the same bathroom or locker room as your daughter would be transgender people such as Nicole.  They would not be regarding her lewdly. Trust me, no  boy who is male *inside* and out is going to go through what Nicole is going through, or start wearing dresses every day, just to get a glimpse of your daughter undressing.

• Anonymous

  They’re encouraging Nicole to live the truth, actually.

• Anonymous

  The NAACP welcomes members of any race.

  If you DO actually believe your are a man despite having a female body, I encourage you to explore this further. Get to know some transgendered people.  Indeed, I wish you’d do that even though you’re simply being sarcastic.

• Jazz11

  Courage!

• Anonymous

  Maybe some pervert that likes little girls will declare himself one of these people and have the right to enter the little girls room.
  Orono did offer her a seperate restroom but that wasn`t good enough for “HIM ” he/she wanted to be able to use the girls room.
  So when you bleeding heart read about a little girl being raped or something worse because the door was opened by this HE/SHE what will you be saying then.
  Until he has the operation to make his body female and male genitals removed he should be considered male.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  Not sure why it matters but I am 43. I am married with one daughter and two grandchildren one three and one turning 1 on Sunday. I am retired I own my own home and land. I collect firearms love to hunt. My father lives on my property in his own place.  O yea we have a dog and 6 chickens. Anything else I can help you with?

  Yet again the question gets avoided. Notice I answered your question promptly and without delay or avoidance of it.

• Mr_Spuddy

  Wrong

• Anonymous

  “why are we handing out awards to people …..”
  - – - – - – - -

  Are you part of the ACLU?

• Anonymous

  the people who won’t change their opinions tend to be older.  so, the rest of us will just wait you out.

  no biggie.

• AionNV

  That says it all.  May you get back exactly what you give.

• Anonymous

  What to do you want to do, ask everybody who enters a public bathroom to show their original birth certificate?  what do you propose?

• AionNV

  Maybe nobody answered you because nobody is interested in being the bathroom police.

  You seem obsessed with people in the bathroom – how about you mind your own damn business ?

• AionNV

  Doesn’t look like a boy to me.  What’s it to you what bathroom she uses ?

• AionNV

  But that’s what people are REALLY afraid of…

• Anonymous

  it is a good question Roger. I will try to answer. 

  1.  Look at Nicole.  Would you bar her from going to the ladies’ bathroom?  I wouldn’t think to ask.  in this case, where her identity is totally female, the question seems moot.

  2.  i believe the legislation was drafted to read, ‘the bathroom of choice’.  the transgender person does not want to be harassed or ridiculed, so I am sure he or she would go to the bathroom that best fits their gender,  In that case, I don’t think anyone would notice.

  ladies bathrooms have doors on the stalls,  we don’t have urinals like the guys, so it’s more private anyway.

  no doubt Roger, it is not a black or white issue.

• Anonymous

  he without sin cast the first stone?

  I don’t think that line is the FOX version of the bible.

• Anonymous

  no, you are not a pathetic bigot. you just afraid of what you don’t know.  that is human nature.

• AionNV

  You’re a liar.

• Anonymous

  we aren’t even ready for our first gay president yet. 

  maybe soon.

• Anonymous

  how can you tell?

• Anonymous

  Yo, bro.   

  i have always thought the same thing about you regina.

• AionNV

  Yeah, this happens all the time.

  Your weird and sick rape fantasies do not belong in this discussion, talk to your therapist about it.  WTMI.

• Anonymous

  way, way wrong.

  :(

• Anonymous

  I’m sure that’s happening today in restrooms near you anyway.  Ever been to the port authority?  I’d take a transgender person in the bathroom any day.

• AionNV

  There’s something patently corrupt about insisting everyone who is different be treated as if their existence was a dirty little secret.  I think we all know where THAT kind of attitude leads.

• AionNV

  I have to ask you this, from all outward appearances, a beautiful woman walks into the men’s room…

  What happens next ?  

  It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that letting her use the ladies room is the obvious, and only reasonable, solution.

  Yet, people here (the usual bigots) argue to keep it to yourself, stop shoving it in our faces, etcetera.

  I have to tell ya’, those of you with your view strike me not only as dishonest and a little bit dense, but it also seems to me that you have malicious intent in your empty little hearts.

• Anonymous

  Seems odd to me that the BDN always seems to find an alternative issue that about 10% of the people  even care about, and makes it front-page news!

• Anonymous

  then stop looking in the mirror if it upsets you so much

• Anonymous

  the majority does rule it always has. The majority make and ratify our laws.

• Anonymous

  doesnt upset me at all, i find it quite entertaining, like going to the circus. I also dont take it seriously at all. Its one big irrelevant  joke to me.

• Anonymous

  the newspapers’ job is to inform and provoke conversation.

  seems they are right on it.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  If I knew there was a male dressed in female clothes ans they where allowing that person to use the female facilities my daughter would not have gone there.  That would be my personal solution.

  Now letting the person choose is the kind of waiting problem I spoke of. So a man dressed as a man could use the ladies If they choose to? There is no doctors note? Psychiatric note?

  Having stalls is not the issue.

• Anonymous

  Americans have a long and glorious history of protecting the rights of the minority.  I don’t see any reason to not apply that standard here.

  And seriously, some dude wants to walk in the ladies room…how am I supposed to legislate that?  It’s always been custom, not law (i think), to use the bathroom of choice.

  One last note.  Our country’s political system is messy and inefficient.  Legal standard is set when case history is made.  So, when the man wearing men’s clothes who wants to go the ladies room does so, and then gets kicked out, he has the right to take it to court.

  at least, that’s  how I see it.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

   Yes but what about the group of girls who are dying to see a penis and what it can do. How convenient it would be to have a classmate in there locker room who has one and is dying to be accepted so is pretty likely to facilitate there curious minds. Those of us with kids know exactly how curious they can be and most take advantage of opportunities given them. 

• Anonymous

  My husband grew up in Orono and keeps saying how much times have changed since he was a kid, and this is not the same Orono at all that  he grew up in. He went to Asa Adams as well. 

• Anonymous

  This family and anyone with “compassion” for the alternative lifestyles are being used for the grand scheme of things that a minority hopes will take place.  The “Anti-Christian Lawyers United” are working hard to discredit the very first sentence and beyond in God’s Word–”In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…….And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth… and every winged fowl after his kind….Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind;  cattle, and creeping thing….And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..so God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him;  male and female created he them.”  Genesis 1: 1-27  Be careful whom you support.
  One is not born a “Republican,” by the way, so the longtime journalist should be more careful with her words. 

• Anonymous

  Informing and provoking conversation is fine–but they also seem to like to promote fringe issues, as those free alternative newspapers usually do.  They can do what they want, but why not be upfront about what your true mission is?  Masquerading as a traditional newspaper focused upon “reporting” the news instead of trying to create it is their tactic.

• Anonymous

  transgender bathrooms are not a big issue for me, what you say is true.

  BUT, i am very interested in Civil Rights & the Constitution.  I follow these types of stories with great interest.

• Anonymous

  Penises are not rare. Opportunities to see them abound, as their owners are often quite glad to share.

  Forbidding transgendered people from being in the girls’ locker room will not protect your daughter from penises.

• Anonymous

  Me too.  I just don’t see this issue as being worthy of front-page, headline status.

• Anonymous

  fair enough.  editors do what they do.

  but they do seem to have attained their goal of engaging conversation.  

  honestly, i don’t care about bathrooms.  but I do seek conversations regarding Civil Rights issues.  the Constitution is a living document, how our country views your and my personal liberties is very, very interesting (to me, I’m a wonk that way)

  what is missing from the paper?  our Pres. just announced the end of the war in 60 days, there wasn’t a comment on that article, and it didn’t make the ‘front page’ of the website anyway.

  ????

  end of the war.  

  silence?  

  what’s wrong with that picture?

• Anonymous

  She is a poster child for transgender. Very stressful, & she is already under stress with such a dramatic life change. I don’t know if the added recognition will help or hurt.It must be so horrible to be so mixed up & feel as if you were in the wrong body. I feel sorry for this young person.

• Anonymous

  yes, thank you!

  God created gay people and straight people; and  He created people with curly hair and straight hair; and people with light skin and dark skin.

  I love the wonder of HIS creation.  thank you for sharing your love and compassion for His creation.

  I also love John 8:7.  ”If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone..”

• Anonymous

  yet here  you are, reading the article about gender. male? female? genitals….putting yer two cents in.

  believe me.  you are totally vested in the discussion.  

                                                            The End.

• Anonymous

  LOL..isn’t that the truth!!!

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZSBAAXFEXTIBDSRA5X3FA6TSG4 jersey

  I am sorry you cant understand. Sometimes  cant either but, as an intelligent person, I try. They dont look like stupid people. They look like honest, hardworking Americans. Drugs, welfare, sloth, and greed are what hurt us, not these people. 

• Anonymous

  Thank you for letting me have my opinion.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZSBAAXFEXTIBDSRA5X3FA6TSG4 jersey

  GLBT people are not rapists. Child molesters are normally straight males who are married and have children. In most countries all people use the same bathroom. Who really cares. If you think your kid isnt playing doctor wake up. 

• Anonymous

  Yeah, ok, ok. I’m sure we’re all really impressed. Now, lets get on with something that is IMPORTANT to all of us.

• Anonymous

  Great story on a heroic family.Glad to see my ACLU gift is helping those who deserve all help and praise.And good to see the BDN focus on this issue.I know the haters will be out but their day will soon be over.

• Anonymous

  Who the heck are you to tell people what they can and can’t do?

• Anonymous

  Oh, and by the way. For all of you fools who want to make this a “religous” issue: This has nothing to do with your god or my god or Jesus or religion or what’s written in the bible. It’s only a personal issue.

• Hussar

  Actually, he is male on the inside because he has two X chromosomes.  You can be compassionate as you want, but it does not change the basis of scientific sex determination based on long standing research and fact. 

  As along as you have XX chromosomes, all the surgery and therapy in the world will not change the fact that you are male,  and therefore you should not be allowed to use the girls restroom or locker room,  or hit form the red tees!

  As for the Maines’ lawsuit all the evidence that needs to be presented is the fact that the kid has two X chromosomes.  If  that is proven,  he is male.  I am sorry he feels like he should be female, but biological fact does not lie.

• Anonymous

  it’s a constitutional issue too.

• Anonymous

  It’s not safe to be heterosexual in Maine.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  You should read up on genetics and how different DNA strands make up different traits and how that works.  It’s more than anatomy.  It’s not that simple.  If it were then no people would be born with both male and female sex organs.  

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  This has been a HUGE legal battle in the Bangor area for a long time.  It is definitely headline news because it is local.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  Everyone is entitled to their opinions, thoughts and feelings.  It’s still such a shame that some people feel compelled to express those in such a cruel and hateful way.  You can say you disagree or don’t like something without being so mean about it…and to a child, no less.  You should think about that.

• Anonymous

  I am all for equal rights, but this is crap. Are we really to the point in society that we are fighting over a boy wanting to use a girl’s bathroom because he thinks he is a girl? Seriously…how far is this stuff going to go? And why would a parent advocate for this? They are allowing their son/daughter to make life changing decisions about their body before they even reach puberty! The outcome of this will in no way make this society any better for anyone other than the occasional gross gendered teen I guess. This is ridiculous and makes me sick. If I had a student at the school I would pull my kid and place them elsewhere. Probably to a school that protected the rights of my child’s body from being exposed to something like this in a public bathroom.

• Anonymous

  XX = female XY= male.  Human Genetics 101

• Anonymous

  It’s child abuse not to set a kid straight.  This kid is going to have a messed up life and never be happy; at least they got an award.

• Anonymous

  Many men regard their penile appendage (and associated parts) a creature of such stunning beauty that any woman who glimpses it will be overwhelmed with astonished desire.

  On the other end of the spectrum is Sylvia Plath’s description: “turkey neck and turkey gizzards.”

  The truth surely lies somewhere between.

• Anonymous

  It is my rite to be mean if I want to.
  Have a nice day.

• Anonymous

  “Born a Republican, Maines also never imagined…” What? Born a Republican? What does that have to do with anything? I wasn’t born with any political persuasion… Unlike my err, well, how do I say it without being flagged? Let’s just say that there is that which you are born with and that which you are born without.  That is the most ridiculous attempt to throw political bias into a story as I have ever witnessed from the BDN. 

• Anonymous

  We have our first gay president now.  Obama had a steamy love affair with Larry Sinclair.  Your just not ready to admit it.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  The most sad part of your comment is that you honestly don’t realize how ridiculous you sound.  Girls are NOT obsessed with the male body in the same way that boys are obsessed with the female body.  It wasn’t the girls at the school who were uncomfortable about Nicole sharing their bathroom.  It was a boy who was not impacted at all…except that he would have less opportunity to bully Nicole if she didn’t have to use the boy’s bathroom.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_57C3XJX5VALK7UV27IFLFVB764 Scott

  I think you need to work on your reading comprehension.  The article is about a girl, not a boy.

• Anonymous

  In the midst of all the enlightenment here my only real concern is who establishes which societal norms are bigoted? If individual perception is the creator of reality, then aren’t all perceptions valid? Who can discriminate justly, when all perceptions are valid? Whatever I feel, think, find enjoyable, no matter what “normal” people may object to, is my protected and celebrated expression of life.
  Carry this philosophy out far enough and soon everyone here is a bigot and …phobe. 
  PS to call me an alarmist, a bigot, a fearful ignoramus, but discriminating against who I am and what I feel is the very same violation you wield against all who disagree.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_57C3XJX5VALK7UV27IFLFVB764 Scott

  You might want to double-check those “biological facts”.

  XX is female, not male.

• Anonymous

  Judy, please clarify the “born a Republican” thing. It makes no sense at all because you state it and leave it there without follow up or reference. I don’t know the editorial term for it, but certainly you can see it adds nothing to the piece? Except some passive aggressive bias. One can only deduce you are stereotyping Republicans as citizens opposing  Civil Liberties and/or GLBT…

• Anonymous

  No, We have courts so that the minority doesn’t get tramped by the majority. That is not how our country works. 

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  Actually, being mean to other people is not a right, it’s a choice, and quite frequently it is also a crime.   

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_57C3XJX5VALK7UV27IFLFVB764 Scott

  Civil rights is an “alternative issue” that most people don’t care about?

  I’m glad I don’t live where you do!

• Anonymous

  They offered a private bathroom to this individual…how much better should he/she be treated.

• Anonymous

  I am all for co-ed activities as long as all parties agree. However, in a public facility all parties cannot agree. Therefore there are common sense rules that we should all abide by. Eventually our rules of society become so loose and nebulous that they fail to exist and then we have…well, what do we have? Utopia? Probably not.
   

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  This wasn’t simply about the bathroom.  If it were, then the outcome would probably be much different.  A boy started to harass and bully Nicole in school because his grandfather  holds radical beliefs and encouraged the boy to bully Nicole.  She was tormented by this boy.  The school did NOT punish the boy for harassment and bullying.  Instead they treated Nicole like she was the problem.  That infuriated her parents and they rightfully entered into the legal fight.  If the school had of handled the situation properly and not allowed bullying and harassment then the bathroom issue by itself could probably have been sorted out.

• Anonymous

  J is showing compassion.  Set this child in the right direction now and save this child from a life of depression.  By allowing this charade to continue you are doing no favors for the child.  Where is your compassion?

• Anonymous

  What an inspirational family. Congrats to them on the award and thanks for their hard work. With persistance and time ignorance and hatred always lose out.

• Anonymous

  Most transgendered people are NOT willing to share their “deformities” with anyone. They feel as if they are horribly disfigured because they were born into the wrong body. Get over yourself and grow up.

• Anonymous

  Anything ACLU approves of automatically gets my extreme disapproval. They have nothing left of the standards they were incorporated to protect. They are idiots who stand up for idiots just to get recognition. Shame on anyone who lets ACLU befriend them.

• Anonymous

  Penis=Boy

• April Cottle

  I was so proud after reading this article thinking how far we, as a state, have come with acceptance and then I made the mistake of reading these horribly, close minded and just plain ignorant reactions. I would be interested to know if you all would still be this cruel if this were your child. If this is how you would treat your own son or daughter dealing with the many issues/prejudices/ignorance that revolve around GLBT people than you are no better than the bullies who are causing these men, women and children to feel they have to take their own lives. No one is asking you to agree with it but just to accept that we are not all the same, something that I am grateful for after reading a few of these comments. Shame on you.

  Congratulations to this amazing girl and her heroic family. THIS is what being a parent is all about, fighting for your children no matter what that pits you against! You have my support 100%. 

• Anonymous

  Given the ACLU’s tireless efforts protecting all of our civil liberities for roughly the past 100 years, I’d say they’re in a better position to be determining who ought to get an award.

  Keeping your mouth shut? The kid wants to go to the bathroom, why don’t you keep yours shut and stop trying to play genital police? Look at that photo of Nicole. Ask yourself which would cause a bigger stir, Nicole being in the men’s room or being in the women’s room?

• Anonymous

  SICK! along with the rest of you GLBT/ACLU/GLAD pervs..

  This is the best site for all you to speak your ‘far out’ ideas…..SICK!

• Anonymous

  Look at that photo of Nicole. Ask yourself which would cause a bigger stir, Nicole being in the men’s room or being in the women’s room?

• Anonymous

  Look at that photo. That family doesn’t want Kelly using the same bathroom as the boys. Put yourself in their shoes. The child lives as and is a girl, she has long hair, wears make up, the whole bit — you think she should be in the men’s room? Really?

• Anonymous

  You’re ignorant. You’re confusing gender with sex.

• Anonymous

  He’s a girl in his head, but not in his loins. He should use the boys’ room, until he changes his loins, is my initial reaction. I suppose he gets a certain amount of torment from the boys, though, especially in the boys’ room. Should we in effect force him to have a sex change operation? It’s not an easy issue, I guess, unless you are an evangelical Christian.

• Anonymous

  They see it in  sex ed. They have computers and cellphones with internet capabilities. Are you that paranoid that you think children will hatch this elaborate plan, dress up as the opposite sex for months on end, just so they can see some genitals? Get real.

• Anonymous

  It’s because you have decided to keep your mind closed.  These transgendered people are not this way just to tick you and others like you off, this is a real condition.  You can keep your head buried in the sand if you want, but that doesn’t give you the right to infringe on their rights or well being.

• Anonymous

  The Constitution is non-negotiable. The courts aren’t about majority rules either.

  Why don’t you educate yourself before commenting? You look foolish.

• Anonymous

  Has never happened. There are many laws like this elsewhere and there is no evidence of criminals using the law to their benefit. Further, use some critical thinking, you really think a rapist is going to wait to have a law on their side to commit such a horrible crime?

• Anonymous

  incredible courage.  thank you for showing how unconditionally you love your children.

• http://twitter.com/NorthernRants Bill Buck

  Family finally got what they wanted all along.  PUBLICITY.

• Anonymous

  Lot of paranoia out here today in the comment section.

• Anonymous

  Wow! An Award,tells all we need to know about where society is going.Glad i am not a young person that has to live through the next generation of decline.

• Anonymous

  You’re ignorant. You need to stop spreading your lies and misinformation as fact.  The ACLU does defend Christian and Catholic causes.

  If you care to read up and inform yourself, try this link http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/

• Anonymous

  I’m almost 62 years old. I was married to a transgendered person for 41 years. She passed away last year. She was so miserable until she was able to let the world know that she wasn’t the E3in the Air Force as a plumber, she wasn’t the person that worked in the boiler room as an engineer for a state facility. She was a woman that had accomplished that and the parent of 3 wonderful human beings that loved her for who she was no matter what form she took. The proudest moment was that her father-in-law wasn’t upset that she finally was able to be herself. Don’t say that older perple can’t change their opinions or views on things.

• Anonymous

  There is an operation to correct the situation but, most insurances won’t pay for it and it is very expensive. The people who do these surgeries are not in this area and I’m not sure that they will do the surgery on a 14 year old. So what do you purpose Nicolle do in the mean time?

• Anonymous

  Without going into the whole “transgender” issue, getting an award from the ACLU is like the mob giving you a “Mr. Personality” award.  This organization does nothing but try to force its secular humanism agenda down the throats of the vast majority of the population that don’t want it.  It uses a corrupt legal system to do it.  It persecutes Christians and Christianity and anything to do with any kind of Christian ethics.  So, I guess it’s good to know who is one of them, but certainly not a front page story in anything except a liberal rag (e.g.Bangor Daily News).

• Anonymous

  Soooo, ACLU of NJ defended a student’s anti-abortion speech, ACLU defended students protesting gay rights in Florida, ACLU defended a student handing out candy canes with religion messages in Mass., ACLU fought to allow prisoners rosary beads in Boston…..you against those things?

• Anonymous

  Pumpkin, sex and gender are different things.

• Kitchell

  These parents are a disgrace for using their child to further their own political views.

• Anonymous

  You are either ignorant or a liar. The ACLU furthers all civil liberty causes and that includes religious freedom and expression. http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/

• Anonymous

  There’s too many stigmas to this issue.

• Anonymous

  LOL! I’m a heterosexual lady in her 60s, happily married more than 40 years. My husband and I have several friends who are not heterosexual. It is 11bherd rather than our friends that I’d describe as odd.

• Anonymous

  Spoken like a true lib. Your opinions are the only ones that are allowed. Mean or not.
  Don’t have a nice day if you choose too.

• Anonymous

  Right; and you were one of those ‘Hippies’ from the 60′s that did drugs and orgies/Woodstock and helped spread disease;etc!
  Even animals know when to kill their young knowing that they are not good for the world; something like you and most of the people/animals who comment on here.
  Like I said: SICK!

  Yep, I am “ODD” but not ‘kueer’ like you all. Ya, spelled different so to be ‘politically correct’…just for you..

• Anonymous

  You can’t voice your opinion I guess. Even if you’re being polite about it you will be branded an ignorant bigot just because you don’t agree with something. Everyone has a right to speak their minds…. as long as it is in line with what they want. It’s hypocrisy. I don’t hate this young “woman” or anyone like her by any means, yet just because I said i don’t agree with her lifestyle I am a hateful person. Hmmmm

• Anonymous

  Gosh, blanket statements seem to be something you delight in.  Everyone now over 60 was a hippie and attended Woodstock? I’ve read that it was crowded–that explains it.

• Anonymous

  Yeah..we should just continue bashing 14 year olds and feel proud of it. Sorry your parents messed you up sideways…oh…and same deal with keeping your mouth shut.

• Anonymous

  If I were in still in school, and they allowed a biological boy to use the women’s room, i would be extremely uncomfortable.  There are things bio men, can not understand.
   I’m very open. I support her, and respect her descision. But, whats wrong with using the nurses office. Many schools have single stall bathrooms. Use those. Making a huge deal out of this is causing unneeded attention, that will inevitably result in horrific teasing, hatemail, and harassment. This is a tough thing, if you’re not for her using a womens room, you’re going to be labeled intolerant.  It’s not like the school is saying he cant come to school with the appearance of a woman.
  Grow up, and leave her alone.  I have a feeling this whole thing isn’t as much for her rights as it is for attention.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  So every male who has had penile cancer and had to have it removed must be female according to your logic.  

• Anonymous

  No, this doesn’t seem to be about her rights. This seems like her parents are making a ploy for attention. I fully accept the transgendered. Dont label me intolerant. If I were still in highschool, I would not want a biological man in the ladies room. There are always single stall rooms, and the nurses office.  i’m not freaking out because she’s transgender. This is a story where, if you dont agree, you’re going to be labeled intolerant. We all know what being transgendered is. no one’s disputing that.
  We’re not treating her badly. If we allow her to use the womens room, boys that are not transgendered that want to spy on girls taking dumps could argue that they want that right . it’s a fine line.

• Anonymous

  her parents made a huge deal out of it.  If I were her, i would use the nurses office, and private stalkls like EVERY OTHER transgendered person does. It seems like her parents are trying to get attention for this rather than get her rights to use the ladies loo.

• Anonymous

  um, the transgendered are not disabled. No one’s saying she shouldnt be who she is. This story isn’t about whether or not people should be transgendered. it’s about letting a biological man in with biological girls while they’re on the toilet…. what’s next.. the locker room???? She should use the private facilities provided, like every other transgendered person in school does. 

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  I’m going to assume that you mean well but are just misinformed on this issue.  I was never taught to be female.  I just was.  I knew I was from the get go.  There was never a time in my childhood where I questioned that.  I watched a transgender child grow up in a very conservative family who refused to allow him to live as the boy he knew he was.  That didn’t change him insisting that he was a boy.  This started as soon as this child could walk. There was no brainwashing or influences causing it…it’s just how he was born, period.  People are born with all kinds of conditions, diseases and differences every single day.  This is no different.  NO ONE would choose the life this young girl was born into.  Transgender children commit suicide at an alarmingly high rate and they do that because of people who are mean and hateful and take sick pleasure in bullying, tormenting, harassing and abusing them for something they didn’t ask for, couldn’t control and didn’t choose.  The parents of this girl did exactly the right thing.  I’m sure they would much rather have a happy daughter than a dead son.

• PabMainer

  I agree, pumpkin does not correlate in any way with sex & gender…..

• Anonymous

  im sure in public, where no one knows she’s transgendered, she has no issue using a womens room. I went to a large school. The transgendered were able to use the single stall bathrooms (that every school has) and the nurses office. No one caused a huge stink about it. If we let her use the ladies room, we have to let her use the womens locker room Her parents seem to be using this as a way to get sympathy, attention, and possibly money. hormone treatment and plastic surgery isn’t cheap.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  Transgendered children commit suicide at a very high rate because of people like you.  Are you proud of that?  Is that the kind of example you want to set for your children?  What if this was your child…would you beat her for not being what you think she should be?  

• Anonymous

  It seems like a ploy for attention, hormones and plastic surgery isn’t cheap.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  It’s people like you that cause the suicides of so many transgender youth.  I think people like you are a disgrace for causing children to die.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  He probably means that he comes from a conservative Republican family.  That’s most likely how he was raised and all he knew and believed in.  That’s very common.

• Anonymous

  You would be disgusted if you read the comments on these pages very often.  The judgments and lack of compassion is horrible.  I would much rather know Nicole and her family, wouldn’t you?

• Anonymous

  Exactly!

• Anonymous

  That person sounded very defensive and took it way out of context.

• Anonymous

  Luckily not everyone is like you.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  So it’s okay, in your opinion, for a 10 year old child to be harassed, bullied, tormented, threatened, called hateful names and made to feel unsafe in school and for the school to do NOTHING about it?  This was NOT only about a bathroom.

• Anonymous

  Amen!

  (I thought I heard it all. Did you know “it isn’t safe to be a heterosexual anymore”??!  The ignorance rocks on.  I can’t believe the “me me me” mentality that exists. They can’t or won’t think of how it might be for someone else , someone who is treated with disdain or scorn,etc.  You just have to read some of the comments on the BDN to see that.)

• Anonymous

  They report a lot, on a wide variety of happenings and news.  Very little “fringe” overall. Anyway, to this family it is not a “fringe” issue.  If you aren’t interested, then why are you reading it and making such a big thing out of it.  Move on.

• Anonymous

  The paranoia rages on.

• Anonymous

  You can see where a lot of the problems arise!   (ignorance is not bliss…)

• Anonymous

  I am sure Nicole and her brother are doing much better at the school they attend now, and likely more understanding and enlightened people at their present school.

• Anonymous

  No, a majority is not about trampling the rights of an individual or minority. You maybe ought to reread some history.

• Anonymous

  Sarcastic and………… (not very impressive.)

• Anonymous

  Very good point!

• Anonymous

  You are very misinformed.

• Anonymous

  It is you’re, not your. (why can’t people of your ilk get that correct!)
  The ignorance marches on.
  As for the rest of your comment, it is not worth a response.

• Anonymous

  As if we would want to know all about the existence and details of some commenting against this family.    No thanks…

• Anonymous

  Oh my….

• Anonymous

  Yes, but these people like the poster boom think everything is about them….me me me…..they don’t care and don’t consider the hardships some others endure.

• Anonymous

  You said it!

• Anonymous

  Lol!

  (true….)

• Anonymous

  You can’t argue reason and rationality with the opposite.  A gallant try though.

• Anonymous

  Hard to argue facts and reason with the opposite.  Those are always fixated on just the sexual aspect of things anyway (no matter what the topic…)

• Anonymous

  No you won’t find it there!!!

• Anonymous

  You can’t expect much more from some posters….

• Anonymous

  It is the heterosexual men who would like to peek around in a woman’s bathroom (with a lot more than the intent of just going to the bathroom) that you would worry about.

• Anonymous

  Yes siree!!!!!

• Anonymous

  Internet 101: Don’t feed the trolls.

• Anonymous

  The sheep listen to the Shepherd…those that stray are taken by the FOX…

• Anonymous

  Incredible liberal blind spot by BDN editorial staff (and Judy Harrison fundamentally) to miss the “born a Republican” line in 2nd paragraph.  She doesn’t even elaborate on that cheap shot.  BDN is a liberal rag.

• Anonymous

  I can’t tell if we disagree about this or not.  I can’t see the original post I was replying to anymore, but I’m pretty sure it was asserting that trans people should not be allowed to use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity because they might sexually harass or have sex with people in the bathroom.  Some kind of “if your daughter brought her boyfriend to your house, would you let them go in the loo together?” type thing.

  If you also think that’s an untenable argument, then we don’t disagree about that. However, I can’t understand why you think it’s less bizarre to make a person who acts, dresses, and perceives themselves as a woman use a men’s bathroom.  Who is left feeling comfortable in that situation?

  I’ve known trans people whose parents didn’t support their gender identity, and they had to work extremely hard to be able to afford their procedure with very little help from anyone.  I don’t know why you’d want to punish a child whose parents are unsupportive or even just don’t have the means to help them.  I’m not sure how you would justify treating someone unfairly because they’re being ‘abused’…

• Anonymous

  Umm…….how is one “born Republican”?? Is that kind of like being born male or female?? Just wonderin’…….
  (Oh, and they couldn’t even be bothered to finsish the sentence they were writing in that book, it looks like, based on the photo….lmao)

• Anonymous

  Another reason why the ALCU is  hated.He is a boy and under no condtions belongs in a girls bathroom. Where in hell is some common sense

• Anonymous

  Well as far as I know, there’s no US law covering how people of different sexes must commit to a particular bathroom.  Bathrooms usually indicate which gender they’re provided for.   Someone like Nicole would then probably use the girls’ room since that is her gender.  A number of states have laws that explicitly call for this choice to be protected.

  I guess a bigot would be someone who discriminates agaist a group in opposition to that kind of reasoning just because of their personal feelings about the people in question. I happen to feel uncomfortable when people try to dress like the Ramones (can’t say why really), but I don’t try to make them use a different bathroom or bus or stand outside a different pawn shop when I walk by.  You know?

  If you have a good argument for why it would be better for everyone if a transgender person should use the bathroom of their birth sex rather than their gender identity, the position would look more reasonable.  That question has been asked a few times in these comments.

• Anonymous

  Is that sheer lace fabric highlighting the figure of this kid’s fake chesticles?  WTF!?

• Anonymous

  What a terrible world you live in. You just can’t live and let live can you? None of these people are harming you in any way, but you seem to take all this personally. Hippies and Woodstock, and what else can you think of, that’s undesirable to you?

• Anonymous

  I think most older people today are open to new things. It is not like the old days when someone was “old” at 40 and maybe died soon after.With computers, e-mail, and the other technical things that we have today, older people are interested in a lot of things they never thought possible. A lot of older people even return to college. True, some are so set in their ways they will never change.

• Anonymous

  I wholeheartedly agree.

• Anonymous

  Children are not given a sex change. They need to be fully developed adults. There are many steps to go through before they are given the sex change. Doctors don’t just willy nilly cut off a penis or breasts and create the correct parts. You need to educate yourself a bit more on the whole issue. 

• Steve Anderson

  Nichole is not a boy. She is a girl. And, yes, you are indeed a bigot.

• Steve Anderson

  I have been using mens’ rooms for twenty years and I have rarely caught even a glimpse of another man’s penis. It would be far more inappropriate for this girl who happens to have a boy’s body to use the men’s room. This is a non-issue.

• Anonymous

  yes, i totally just said that I want a 10 year old to be harassed. seriously? where the hell did I say that? can you please copy and paste the line where it says I want children to be bullied and tormented? I’m not seeing it. There is nothing we can do to help her from being bullied. EVERYONE is teased at some point in their lives. EVERYONE is called hateful names. My parents didn’t call this whole ordeal on when I was called gay slurs in school. And I’m glad as heck they didn’t! It would have made the problem 10000x worse than it was. The only thing we can do is teach our kids to be more tolerant. As for the school, what are they supposed to do? draw more attention by putting on assemblies? Beat the crap out of everyone that calls her a name? They should isolate the people causing the most harassment and deal with it case by case.   Dont twist my words to make it convenient for you.

• Anonymous

  He/She is rite and the world is just wrong. sure.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  You are claiming that the only reason the parents fought for their child’s rights was a ploy for attention.  All of the things I mentioned in my response were things that WERE happening to their 10 year old child.  The school was allowing their kid to be bullied, harassed, tormented and she did NOT feel safe at school.  The kid that was doing all of this to her was NEVER punished.  It wasn’t just about the bathroom or about getting attention.  The family has avoided going public for two years and they are doing it to PROTECT their child and to protect other children who could find themselves in a similar situation.

  What should have the school done?  Expel the bully instead of punish the one being bullied.

• Anonymous

  Here’s a solution to the bathroom issue and transgendered people–let’s require private bathrooms in all public facilities–implemented over the next 10 years or so!  I personally would much prefer not to have to share space with any other people of either sex when needing to perform this particular function!  Instead of having two larger bathrooms with multiple stalls, public buildings should install 5 or 6 private bathrooms that people of either sex can use.  Do the same with locker rooms in schools–keep them private!  You’ll prevent many more issues from developing with kids who are late bloomers as well!!

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  I wanted to know your age before I responded because it tells me a lot about a person and after reading more of your responses it is in my best interest to only offer this replay because I have no desire to respond to a brick wall.

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  You really need to educate yourself because majority does not rule.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  I think you need to look up the definition of male and female.  Just because one changes how the appear does not make them what they may appear.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

  Nice…..

  Name calling again…

• Kevin_Of_Bangor

  I simply stated typing to you is the same as typing to a brick wall, it is useless to do so but if your mind wants to translate that into name calling then so be.

  Good day!

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

   Maybe you should have read the whole post I listed the major steps. The fact is the United states does not allow you to preform this on children. There are other countries that do. Now if my daughter need a operation and the doc said we do not do that in the USA you can bet ur rear I would be on my way to where I could get it done. Many Americans go to other countries to have the operation ( for some reason there seems to be allot more male to female then female to males ) do a internet search. The major reason for doing it abroad is price.

• Anonymous

  I agree, pumpkin does not correlate in any way with sex & gender…..
  *****************************************************
  Unless you’re at a private catered event in Sanford…..;-)

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  I’m a woman…a VERY modest woman.  As far as bathrooms go…Women’s bathrooms are really private.  You aren’t going to see anyone’s “business” in a women’s bathroom.  Mothers bring young boys into women’s bathrooms all the time because they don’t want to send them alone into the men’s room.  Why?  Because it’s more safe for someone vulnerable to use the women’s bathroom.  Prior to seeing Nicole I was on the fence about this.  However, after seeing her photo it’s OBVIOUS to me that she should use the women’s bathroom.  I’ll grant you that the locker room situation is a bit more complicated.  In a school situation I think the student should be up front with the other girls and if any of the other students are uncomfortable then provide a private shower area.  All this being said…treat this kid with dignity, respect, courtesy, understanding and compassion.  Problems can be resolved in a kind way.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  Roger…will you be completely honest about something?  Is part of the reason this issue bothers you so much because you want to be able to identify anyone who is transgender with male anatomy who lives like a woman because you are afraid of average straight men being attracted to them?

• Anonymous

  Transgenderism has never been a problem in this society until the last 20 years. Actually it had never really been a problem for any society over the course of human existence until people like you thought it was right to start advocating for crap like this. But here we go putting the rights of the few over the rights of the majority because you do not think it is fair for them. People are born into a certain race, or gender, or religion, but they are not born into being transgender. It is a choice they make, and they need to accept any possible outcome that may be come with it. That is why it is completely unfair that any adult would allow any child to make a decision that could effect their life that drastically at such a young age. The reason they often kill themselves is not because of people like me, it is because they undergo extreme changes in their body that were not intended to ever happen, including hormone therapy which dramatically effects mood and has been linked to a number of mood disorders which would include depression. You need to educate yourself before you go on another one of your rants blaming everyone for any issue you do not agree with.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NXPTPFL746OV2VGR5WBOEUF6W4 Roger

   BINGO!! The kid that was DIFFERENT got picked on. Normally not a big deal unless there is violence. But in this case because the kid was a MINORITY all hell broke loose. But wait lots of other get picked on and got no press and all kinds of awards and news articles. Those with glasses, braces, a limp, bad haircuts, the wrong jeans or sneakers or in my case the guy wearing a yarmulke ( look it up you insensitive people joke) . You know what I ignored them. As do 99 percent of those who got teased in school. Hell I got into several fights never made the news though. I also hate to tell you folks this but it made me much stronger. I grew up and have to say did pretty well for myself. That all said I was never trying to be anybody or anything that I was not. That is the true heart of this issue. If I had taken off my yarmulke I would still be the same person just not doing what is expected. The kid with a bad cut can grow it back the kid with the glasses could get contacts the kid with braces could get them off. In the end either way they are not pretending to be something they are not. A male dressing up in woman’s clothes will never be a woman. hormones laser hair removal breast implants or even penis removal they will still be XY male. They can never be a XX female. So telling this kid to dress up  and wear makeup is only hurting him. He will never be a she no matter what he wears or does. 

• Anonymous

  Mad Max, I have compassion alright.  I would even feel compassion for you if you were being harassed by a group of ignorant, loud mouthed people who didn’t like you because of something you cannot help!

• Anonymous

  LMAO Lynne, that make me chuckle out loud!  And I do know where YOU’RE coming from!
  :-)

• Anonymous

  I’m nobody to you.  If boom boom ba boom wants to live in his/her little world, the hatred can  stay there, too.  Most reasonable people don’t want to inhale other’s hatred.  Is that the best comment you can come up with about this whole article?  Sounds like you jumped in late and don’t even know what the subject is.

• Anonymous

  LMAO Liz, now how the heck to I get that out of my head???

• Anonymous

  Hush up, Turkey Neck!  LOL

• Anonymous

  LOL Liz, I like you!

• Anonymous

  I only ‘admit’ to what I have done personally.  

• Anonymous

  thank you so much for sharing your insight and compassion with the me, and the readers here.  

  please know i meant not to disparage elderly folks (i’m 51!).  i just grow impatient with people with closed minds.

  sincerely,

  stg

• Anonymous

  i apologize and I agree with you 100%.  but it is statistically true that attitudes towards race and gender are generational, and that younger people (on the average) do not have the fear and misunderstanding reflected in the original comment.

  please know i am in my 50′s.  i meant no disrespect.  

• Anonymous

  to all Christians reading this article, this is what I say.

  God created some of his children to be gay
  Maybe he did that to test our compassion.  How are you doing with that?
  It is God’s place to judge, not yours.  not mine.  not now, and not here on earth.
  So, in the mean time.  Let’s try to imitate the life of Christ and love our neighbors as ourselves.

  peace.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  NO bullying should be tolerated.  The reason this case warrants the attention it has received is because the bullying is a hate crime under the law.  The situation was created by an adult and their hate.  Most bullying can’t be so blatantly traced back to an adult.

• TeaParty_aka_AmericanTaliban

  I actually hold two degrees relating to these kinds of subjects, so I am educated, thanks.  I’ve also known people who are transgender and know it’s not a choice for them.  No one would choose something so difficult to live with.  People who are transgender are different from the time they are toddlers, before they can speak or be influenced in any way.  

• Anonymous

  Wonderfully stated. Needed to be said.
  Thanks.

• Anonymous

  You are so off. That would not be their motivation, but then, you might not understand good people/family as they are.

• Anonymous

  I for one support your opinion, as long as you are respectful, I love all people and respect their opinion, as long as its not hurtful but I will not respond in kind.  I am a transsexual and I can understand your fears. My mother does not agree with my lifestyle, I do not expect everyone else to accept me either. I know this may not help but when we use the restroom, that’s all we do… I am not there to make a statement or check out women in anyway, I would cause more of a stir if I used the men’s restroom. BTW I am sorry you have had so many negative comments from others. Warm Hugs!

• Anonymous

  I highly doubt that you hold two degrees “related to these kinds of subject.” If you did your arguments would contain a little more fact, rather than blaming. And it is a choice for them. I come from a family of severe alcoholics, yet I do not drink. But if you ask a geneticist, I should by all probability be an alcoholic myself. But guess what…I choose not to drink. Come to think of it, you probably got your degrees at Beal. That would explain a lot.