The Given Names Act, a bill requiring minors to be addressed in school by the names and pronouns given to them at birth unless written parental consent is given, went into effect on Aug. 1 before the start of the new school year. 

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Long (R-Bradford) and Sen. Mark Johnson (R), dictates that even with the written consent of the minor’s parent or guardian if the school staff member is not willing to call students by their preferred name, they are not required to do so. 

According to the official bill HB1468, “A faculty member, teacher, or other employee of a school…Shall not address an unemancipated minor or student with a: Pronoun or title that is inconsistent with the unemancipated minor’s or student’s biological sex…or Name other than the name listed on the unemancipated minor’s or student’s birth certificate, or a derivative of the name listed on the unemancipated minor’s or student’s birth certificate.” 

During the education committee hearing in Little Rock, Ethan Avanzino, a transgender rights activist, testified against the bill, citing the harm done to students by referring to them by deadnames and/or incorrect pronouns. Rep. Long testified in the bill’s favor stating teachers should not be forced to use a student’s preferred name or pronouns if it contradicts their religious beliefs.

The act has received mixed reactions from the public as well: proponents argue it protects children from bullying and psychological damage while critics say it infringes on parental rights and creative freedom. 

At RHS, affected students must go through the process of obtaining parental consent, and many face challenges. 

 “I think it’ll have a negative effect because there are students that don’t have parents that are as accepting,” said Jordan Duran, 10, after receiving written parental permission to use a preferred name. 

Even with parental permission some students affected by the bill still worry that staff members may deny them in using their preferred names. 

“I was honestly super confused about the whole thing at first, and even when it was finally explained by both staff and friends of mine, I was still worried I’d have teachers who would deny me such a simple gesture of respect,” Duran said. 

The bill may also alter teacher-student relationships on some level. 

One result of this act is that everyone has the same set of rules made for them, so student relationships don’t have to be built or broken down based on this interaction with teachers, said Ian Emery, English teacher and Pride Club sponsor.

“While the bill eliminates a previous avenue of rapport building with students, it also neutralizes everything, putting all teachers in the same boat with a unified message so expectations for teacher-to-students communication is the same, classroom to classroom,” Emery said.

Conversely, Duran said that the bill prevents teachers from showing students this sign of respect.

“I may have a different name on my birth certificate, but I still do not enjoy being referred to with that name,” Duran said. “I’ve chosen a name that brings me joy and I’m comfortable with people knowing me as, and to have someone know that I don’t associate with my legal name and I am not comfortable with it and still have them refer to me by that name feels as if they don’t see and respect me as a human being.”