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WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) — A controversy is brewing in Rhode Island over a Catholic high school's policy banning transgender students.
Mount Saint Charles Academy's parent-student handbook this year states that the school does not accept transgender students because it is "unable to make accommodations."
The policy prompted an online petition calling on the school to "leave the hateful rhetoric in the past" by reversing course and accepting transgender students.
The school responded late Friday on Facebook saying the policy is "not intended to be discriminatory" but acknowledges it can be viewed by some as "somewhat inconsistent and intolerant."
It promised it is "exploring ways to provide reasonable accommodations for transgender students," without elaborating. The school also added that has not been approached with any requests to admit transgender students.
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