OLYMPICS.
>>> NEW AT 5, THE BATHROOM
BATTLE IS FRONT AND CENTER IN
PEARLAND.
I'M LAUREN FREEMAN.
>> I'M BILL BALLEZA.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
TONIGHT THE MOTHER OF A
KINDERGARTENER IS GOING BEFORE
THE SCHOOL BOARD TO FIGHT FOR
HER TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER'S RIGHT
TO USE GIRLS' RESTROOM.
NOW MORE ON THIS TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: THAT PEARLAND ISD
MEETING JUST ABOUT TO GET
UNDERWAY.
THE MOM TELLING ME SHE FEELS
THIS IS HER FINAL CHANCE TO
PLEADS HER CASE FOR HER
TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE
TO USE THE GIRLS RESTROOM AND
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE
PROTESTING, ARRIVING NOW AS
WELL.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE LITTLE
GIRL AT THE CENTER OF THIS
STORY.
THIS IS KAI, 5 1/2.
HER MOTHER TELLS ME THAT KAI
FELT FROM A VERY, VERY EARLY AGE
THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
BEEN BORN TEE MALE.
BUT SHE'S ONLY BEEN LIVING
PUBLICLY AS A GIRL FOR TWO
YEARS.
HER MOM MET WITH PEARLAND ISD
BEFORE THE END OF LAST SCHOOL
YEAR TRYING TO WORK SOMETHING
OUT.
BUT THE DISTRICT SAID NO, HER
DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE TO USE THE
BOYS BATHROOM.
ANOTHER MEETING, THE DISTRICT
OFFERING FOR HER TO USE THE
NURSE'S BATHROOM, BUT HER MOM
SAYS THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
>> HAVING TO TELL MY KID THAT
SHE'S DIFFERENT AND THAT IT'S
WRONG THAT SHE'S DIFFERENT, THAT
SHE HAS TO BE SEGREGATED, THAT'S
WHERE T ISSUE LIES.
>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT,
PEARLAND ISD SAYS THEIR STANCE
ON TRANSGENDER STUDENTS SAY THEY
MUST GO TO THE BATHROOM FOR SEX
INDICATED ON THEIR BIRTH
CERTIFICATE.
SUCH STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
TO USE A PRIVATE BATHROOM LIKE
IN A NURSE'S STATION IF THEY'RE
SO INCLINED.
ALL PEARLAND ISD KINDERGARTEN
CLASSROOMS HAVE A GENDER NEUTRAL
BATHROOM FOR STUDENT USE.
BUT HER MOM SAYS THAT GENDER
NEUTRAL BATHROOM WON'T BE
AVAILABLE FOR KAI FOR THE ENTIRE
OF HER SCHOOL CAREER.
SO SHE WANTS A FIX FOR THIS NOW.
SHE'S JUST STARTING OUT IN
KINDERGARTEN.
I'LL BE INSIDE TO COVER THE
MEETING FOR YOU.
