Achille, Oklahoma, has become a center on controversy since local parents bullied 12-year-old transgender girl Maddison Kleeman Rose, according to a Vice News item.
The bullying started after Rose used the girls' bathroom at the Achille Public Schools. ( The adults apparently neglected to tell her the location of the staff bathroompart of an arrangement her parents worked out with the school after staff learned she was trans back in fifth grade. )
One parent named Jamie Crenshaw posted on Facebook, "The transgender is already using the girls bathroom. ... Enough is enough." Things escalated, including a planned protest and counterprotest, until the school closed for a few days. ( The Crenshaws had not responded before the Vice News item went to press. )
Rose and her family had moved to Achille from Sherman, Texas, where they said the pre-teen was bullied during her transition, Time.com reported. Rose's mother said she plans to move her family to Houston, even as Maddison said she would not allow the negativity of certain parents affect her.
Achille Mayor David Northcuttwho happens to be openly gayironically said "the days of running someone out of town is over." He said he was sad when he heard about the Roses leaving Achille.
The Vice News item is at news.vice.com/en_us/article/3ky94k/this-12-year-old-girl-was-driven-out-of-her-town-for-being-transgender. The Time article is at time.com/5381993/oklahoma-transgender-speaks-out/ .