A transgender high school senior in Escambia County, Florida, is being denied the right to hear his chosen name announced at graduation or see it printed on his diploma, despite having used that name throughout his academic career with the support of teachers, administrators, and peers.
The student, who attends Escambia Virtual Academy, is scheduled to graduate on May 27. But his mother, Charline Barger, says the school has refused to honor his request to be recognized by his affirmed name, a name consistently used during his three years in the district, including at Booker T. Washington High School.
According to Barger, Escambia Virtual Academy Director Lisa Morgan told her the school could not accommodate the request due to an “unwritten” district practice that prohibits announcing names not legally changed. Morgan allegedly dismissed the request as “a big hassle,” citing concerns about students using inappropriate nicknames.
Instead, the school has offered a compromise: announcing the first initial of the student’s legal first name, followed by his legal middle and last names. His diploma, too, will reflect only his birth-assigned legal name.
For Barger and her son, the issue goes beyond paperwork. “It’s about a student standing tall, hearing their real name called, and walking proudly across that stage,” she said. “To deny that moment is to deny their identity.”
Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard defended the district’s decision in a written statement, saying, “It has been our practice to announce full legal names, as they appear on birth certificates and diplomas, at commencement ceremonies. We are continually reviewing our policies and procedures, and they evolve when circumstances warrant change.”
But for the Barger family, this moment of graduation should be about affirmation, not bureaucracy. “This is not just for him, but for any student whose identity isn’t being honored at this once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Barger said. “The classroom has been supportive. The school environment has been supportive. Why should graduation be different?”
The incident comes amid a sweeping wave of anti-transgender legislation in Florida. Recent laws ban trans students from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity, restrict discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in public schools, and deny access to gender-affirming healthcare, bathroom facilities, and legal identification changes.
These laws have created an increasingly hostile environment for transgender individuals and their families. A 2023 survey by the Human Rights Campaign found that 36% of LGBTQ+ adults in Florida planned to leave the state due to gender-affirming care bans. Nearly 80% reported feeling less safe as a result of the state’s political climate.
While the Escambia Virtual Academy student has not legally changed his name, his mother insists this is not about legal formalities; it’s about basic dignity. “This isn’t a political issue. It’s about love. It’s about respect,” she said.
As graduation day approaches, Barger continues to advocate not just for her son but for all students whose identities are erased by rigid, outdated policies.
“It may seem like a small moment to those calling the names,” she said. “But for the students on that stage, it’s everything.”
