Obama Administration Transgender news: Obama’s Transgender Directive Gets Mixed Response
According to the latest guidance from education and justice departments, K-12 schools and colleges that receive federal funding must comply with Title IX, a federal law that prohibits bias on the basis of sex. The most controversial provisions of the article are to make provisions for these students to use the locker rooms and bathrooms that parallels their gender identity.
The largest teacher's association, National Education Association and National PTA, were a select few who incorporated the federal guidance, acknowledging it as an important step in providing the country's millions of students with safe educational environment. However, there were others who considered Obama administration's directive as overstepping the bounds of their authority with unnecessary laws allowing men into girls' bathroom/locker rooms.
In a press conference held on May 13, John Earnest, White House press secretary, said that huge number of schools are open to the directive, allowing students to choose the school facilities based on gender of their choice. However, Texas refuses to comply with the directive in its schools.
According to Dan Patrick, Texas Lt. Gov., Obama had "set a policy in place that will divide the country not along political lines, but along family values and school districts."
"He says he's going to withhold funding if schools do not follow the policy," Patrick said at a Friday news conference. "Well, in Texas, he can keep his 30 pieces of silver. We will not yield to blackmail from the president of the United States."
Even though the administration has been campaigning for the idea that the schools must allow transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice, Friday's guidance not only solidified but also intensified their viewpoint.
