Bill Text: HI SR40 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urging The Board Of Education To Develop And Enforce Non-sex-segregated Dress Codes For Public School Formal Events.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-10 - Referred to EDU. [SR40 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2023-SR40-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	40
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the Board of Education TO develop and enforce non-sex-segregated dress codes for public school formal events.

 

 

     WHEREAS, in 2021 and 2022, an east Oahu public high school maintained a sex-segregated dress code for formal events, including homecoming and graduation, which resulted in a student-written petition condemning the dress code; and

 

     WHEREAS, the existing sex-segregated dress codes for public school formal events uphold the false notion that sex and gender are the same and enforces negative sex stereotypes; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is argued that the existing public school sex-segregated dress codes violate:

 

     (1)  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and protects individuals who do not conform to sex stereotypes;

 

     (2)  Act 110, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, which prohibits in any educational program or activity receiving state financial assistance discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity and expression; and

 

     (3)  The First Amendment of the United States Constitution Bill of Rights, which protects the right to free expression; and

 

     WHEREAS, the revision of existing sex-segregated dress codes for public school formal events will encourage, rather than condemn, gender expression and facilitate the inclusion of gender nonconforming and transgender students in public school formal events; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Board of Education is urged to develop and enforce non-sex-segregated dress codes for public school formal events that ensure public school formal events are affirming, safe spaces for all students; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, State Student Council, and Honolulu Youth Commission, which is requested to send copies of this Concurrent Resolution to other applicable commissions and neighborhood boards.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Sex-segregated dress codes; public schools; Board of Education