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| U.S. Transgender Bathroom Directive Intensifies Debate | U.S. Transgender Bathroom Directive Intensifies Debate |
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| The Obama administration’s directive Friday on the use of school bathrooms and locker rooms by transgender students intensified the latest fierce battle in the nation’s culture wars, with conservatives calling it an illegal overreach that will put children in danger and advocates for transgender rights hailing it as a breakthrough for civil rights. | |
| The policy drew a swift backlash from conservative politicians, groups and parents. | |
| In Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appealed to local school boards and superintendents not to abide by the administration’s directive, noting that there were just a few weeks left in the school year and time over the summer to fight the policy with legislation or legal action. “We will not be blackmailed,” he said. | |
| “I believe it is the biggest issue facing families and schools in America since prayer was taken out of public schools,” Mr. Patrick, a Republican, said at a news conference. “Parents are not going to send their 14-year-old daughters into the shower or bathroom with 14-year-old boys. It’s not going to happen.” | |
| Earlier in the day, the Justice and Education departments sent a letter to school districts saying that students must be allowed to use the facilities that match the sex they identify as, even if that conflicts with their anatomical sex. | Earlier in the day, the Justice and Education departments sent a letter to school districts saying that students must be allowed to use the facilities that match the sex they identify as, even if that conflicts with their anatomical sex. |
| The administration had already taken that position in scattered cases around the country — from a school district in the Chicago suburb, to a district in rural Virginia, to, most prominently, this week’s lawsuit challenging a North Carolina state law — but Friday’s directive was the most sweeping attempt yet to impose that view, turning it into a national issue. | The administration had already taken that position in scattered cases around the country — from a school district in the Chicago suburb, to a district in rural Virginia, to, most prominently, this week’s lawsuit challenging a North Carolina state law — but Friday’s directive was the most sweeping attempt yet to impose that view, turning it into a national issue. |
| Jeremy Tedesco, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, argued that the administration was distorting a 1972 law requiring equal rights for women and girls in education, known as Title IX. | Jeremy Tedesco, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, argued that the administration was distorting a 1972 law requiring equal rights for women and girls in education, known as Title IX. |
| “The Obama administration has absolutely no legal authority to change what a statute means, and that’s what they’re doing,” he said. “And they have complete and utter disregard for students’ privacy and safety in these intimate settings.” | “The Obama administration has absolutely no legal authority to change what a statute means, and that’s what they’re doing,” he said. “And they have complete and utter disregard for students’ privacy and safety in these intimate settings.” |
| Tim Moore, the Republican speaker of the North Carolina House, said, “We all have to wonder what other threats to common sense norms may come before the sun sets on the Obama administration.” | Tim Moore, the Republican speaker of the North Carolina House, said, “We all have to wonder what other threats to common sense norms may come before the sun sets on the Obama administration.” |
| In recent days, in places like Fort Worth and Fannin County, Georgia, hundreds of people have turned out for heated debates at school board meetings in districts that have enacted policies along the lines the administration wants. Eight states filed a brief siding with North Carolina in its legal fight with the administration, while at the other extreme, the Massachusetts state Senate passed a bill that would allow transgender people to use the bathrooms conforming to their gender identities. | In recent days, in places like Fort Worth and Fannin County, Georgia, hundreds of people have turned out for heated debates at school board meetings in districts that have enacted policies along the lines the administration wants. Eight states filed a brief siding with North Carolina in its legal fight with the administration, while at the other extreme, the Massachusetts state Senate passed a bill that would allow transgender people to use the bathrooms conforming to their gender identities. |
| Groups that advocate for the rights of gay and transgender people praised the administration’s action on Friday as a milestone. "The federal government has made it more clear than ever: discrimination against transgender students in education is illegal,” the National Center for Transgender Equality said in a statement. | Groups that advocate for the rights of gay and transgender people praised the administration’s action on Friday as a milestone. "The federal government has made it more clear than ever: discrimination against transgender students in education is illegal,” the National Center for Transgender Equality said in a statement. |
| Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said, “This is a truly significant moment not only for transgender young people but for all young people, sending a message that every student deserves to be treated fairly and supported by their teachers and schools.” | Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said, “This is a truly significant moment not only for transgender young people but for all young people, sending a message that every student deserves to be treated fairly and supported by their teachers and schools.” |
| The executive director of the Transgender Law Center, Kris Hayashi, said “Transgender students, like all students, just want to be able to go to school, be with their friends, and get an education without having to worry about being singled out and made to feel different.” |