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| Trump administration revokes transgender students' bathroom protections | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| In a move that could embolden many schools to restrict the rights of transgender students, the departments of justice and education on Wednesday withdrew a piece of guidance stating that federal law requires trans students to have unfettered access to bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identity. | |
| In doing so, the Trump administration has signaled that it does not necessarily interpret current federal civil rights protections as prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. | |
| The Obama administration issued the guidance in May 2016, in response to growing confusion and controversy over how schools should accommodate transgender students. | |
| White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters earlier on Wednesday: “I’ve made this clear, and the president’s made it clear during the campaign, that he’s a firm believer in states’ rights and there are certain issues like this that are not best dealt with at the federal level.” | |
| The guidance jointly issued by the education and justice departments under Obama was “stalled” and “never fully implemented”, Spicer added. “I think there have been several areas of concern, both legal and procedural, that they have been discussing.” | The guidance jointly issued by the education and justice departments under Obama was “stalled” and “never fully implemented”, Spicer added. “I think there have been several areas of concern, both legal and procedural, that they have been discussing.” |
| Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said of the Obama-era directive: “The guidance, which told schools to treat trans students with the same respect as any other student, is literally lifesaving for many children.” | Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said of the Obama-era directive: “The guidance, which told schools to treat trans students with the same respect as any other student, is literally lifesaving for many children.” |
| Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, America’s biggest civil rights organisation for LGBT people, said: “What could possibly motivate a blind and cruel attack on young children like this? These transgender students simply want to go to school in the morning without fear of discrimination or harassment. The consequences of this decision will no doubt be heartbreaking. This isn’t a ‘states’ rights’ issue, it’s a civil rights issue. Children deserve protection from bullying no matter what state they live in. Period.” | Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, America’s biggest civil rights organisation for LGBT people, said: “What could possibly motivate a blind and cruel attack on young children like this? These transgender students simply want to go to school in the morning without fear of discrimination or harassment. The consequences of this decision will no doubt be heartbreaking. This isn’t a ‘states’ rights’ issue, it’s a civil rights issue. Children deserve protection from bullying no matter what state they live in. Period.” |
| Opponents of such a change also argued that the impact of the announcement would be blunted by existing law. The administration, they argued, does not have the authority to revoke rights that have been recognised several times in the federal courts. | Opponents of such a change also argued that the impact of the announcement would be blunted by existing law. The administration, they argued, does not have the authority to revoke rights that have been recognised several times in the federal courts. |
| Chase Strangio, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday: “Rescinding the guidance is cruel and will accomplish nothing but to hurt kids that are trans. | Chase Strangio, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday: “Rescinding the guidance is cruel and will accomplish nothing but to hurt kids that are trans. |
| “What is also true, though, and very important, is that rescinding the guidance does not change the rights of students under Title IX [the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education and activities]. Trans students are protected from discrimination by federal law and the administration can’t change that.” | “What is also true, though, and very important, is that rescinding the guidance does not change the rights of students under Title IX [the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education and activities]. Trans students are protected from discrimination by federal law and the administration can’t change that.” |
| That argument is the subject of a forthcoming supreme court case. On 28 March, lawyers for Gavin Grimm, a Virginia high school student, will contend that federal laws against sex discrimination extend to bias against transgender people. Grimm claims his school is discriminating against him by refusing to allow him access to the boys’ bathroom. | That argument is the subject of a forthcoming supreme court case. On 28 March, lawyers for Gavin Grimm, a Virginia high school student, will contend that federal laws against sex discrimination extend to bias against transgender people. Grimm claims his school is discriminating against him by refusing to allow him access to the boys’ bathroom. |
| Several federal appeals courts have already ruled that discriminating against transgender people based on their gender identity is a violation of federal law. | Several federal appeals courts have already ruled that discriminating against transgender people based on their gender identity is a violation of federal law. |
| The White House’s expected move comes one week after Jeff Sessions, the newly appointed attorney general, quietly withdrew the Department of Justice’s participation in the Obama guidance’s legal defence. More than 20 states have challenged the guidance, which applies to all federally funded public schools, in federal court, and the guidance has been blocked by a federal judge. The justice department is no longer asking for a stay of that judge’s decision. | The White House’s expected move comes one week after Jeff Sessions, the newly appointed attorney general, quietly withdrew the Department of Justice’s participation in the Obama guidance’s legal defence. More than 20 states have challenged the guidance, which applies to all federally funded public schools, in federal court, and the guidance has been blocked by a federal judge. The justice department is no longer asking for a stay of that judge’s decision. |
| Sessions, who has long been hostile to LGBT rights, reportedly fought for Wednesday’s order over the objections of Betsy DeVos, the new dducation secretary. Spicer insisted on Wednesday that DeVos was onboard. | Sessions, who has long been hostile to LGBT rights, reportedly fought for Wednesday’s order over the objections of Betsy DeVos, the new dducation secretary. Spicer insisted on Wednesday that DeVos was onboard. |
| “The conclusions, everyone in the administration is agreed upon,” he told reporters. “There’s no daylight between anybody, between the president and any of the secretaries. I think there’s been some discussion between the timing of the issuance and recommendations or the exact wording.” | “The conclusions, everyone in the administration is agreed upon,” he told reporters. “There’s no daylight between anybody, between the president and any of the secretaries. I think there’s been some discussion between the timing of the issuance and recommendations or the exact wording.” |
| Trump seldom mentioned transgender issues on the election campaign trail, and has even, to the irritation of many LGBT advocates, styled himself as an LGBT ally. In April, he said a transgender person should “use the bathroom they feel is appropriate” and agreed that the transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner could use any bathroom she chose at Trump Tower in New York. | Trump seldom mentioned transgender issues on the election campaign trail, and has even, to the irritation of many LGBT advocates, styled himself as an LGBT ally. In April, he said a transgender person should “use the bathroom they feel is appropriate” and agreed that the transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner could use any bathroom she chose at Trump Tower in New York. |
| But advocates for LGBT rights have nevertheless been bracing themselves for an announcement like this one. Mike Pence, the vice-president, used his very first post-election interview to hint that the Trump administration would reverse Obama’s policies on transgender students. | But advocates for LGBT rights have nevertheless been bracing themselves for an announcement like this one. Mike Pence, the vice-president, used his very first post-election interview to hint that the Trump administration would reverse Obama’s policies on transgender students. |
| “Washington has no business intruding on the operation of our local schools,” Pence said, in an interview he gave to the arch-conservative radio host James Dobson. | “Washington has no business intruding on the operation of our local schools,” Pence said, in an interview he gave to the arch-conservative radio host James Dobson. |
| Access to gendered facilities is just one flashpoint in a far-reaching clash over transgender rights. Earlier this month, lawmakers in South Dakota considered a bill to give adoption workers broad authority to deny adoptions to LGBT parents. Oklahoma considered legislation permitting discrimination against gay and trans people by adoption agencies and private businesses. | Access to gendered facilities is just one flashpoint in a far-reaching clash over transgender rights. Earlier this month, lawmakers in South Dakota considered a bill to give adoption workers broad authority to deny adoptions to LGBT parents. Oklahoma considered legislation permitting discrimination against gay and trans people by adoption agencies and private businesses. |
| But LGBT advocates and a growing number of medical and mental health experts have argued that denying a trans person access to bathrooms and locker rooms can have serious negative effects, especially if that person is young. | But LGBT advocates and a growing number of medical and mental health experts have argued that denying a trans person access to bathrooms and locker rooms can have serious negative effects, especially if that person is young. |
| “For transgender students, being in a school that affirms and supports their gender identity is critical to ensuring that they too can experience adolescence in a healthy and constructive manner,” reads one brief, by leading medical societies, in support of Grimm’s lawsuit. “Refusing to respect and affirm a transgender student’s gender identity communicates a clear, negative message: there is something wrong with the student that warrants this unequal treatment.” | “For transgender students, being in a school that affirms and supports their gender identity is critical to ensuring that they too can experience adolescence in a healthy and constructive manner,” reads one brief, by leading medical societies, in support of Grimm’s lawsuit. “Refusing to respect and affirm a transgender student’s gender identity communicates a clear, negative message: there is something wrong with the student that warrants this unequal treatment.” |
| States that are suing to block the guidance have called it an intrusion of the federal government and a threat to the bodily privacy of students who are not transgender. | States that are suing to block the guidance have called it an intrusion of the federal government and a threat to the bodily privacy of students who are not transgender. |
| LGBT advocates say there is no evidence of transgender-inclusive policies causing privacy invasions for other students. | LGBT advocates say there is no evidence of transgender-inclusive policies causing privacy invasions for other students. |
| James Esseks, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT litigation, said in May: “There have been no disruptions, increases in public safety incidents, nor invasions of privacy related to protections for transgender people. While the Obama administration is being sued, the real targets here are vulnerable young people and adults who simply seek to live their lives free from discrimination when they go to school, work or the restroom.” | James Esseks, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT litigation, said in May: “There have been no disruptions, increases in public safety incidents, nor invasions of privacy related to protections for transgender people. While the Obama administration is being sued, the real targets here are vulnerable young people and adults who simply seek to live their lives free from discrimination when they go to school, work or the restroom.” |