The U.S. Education Department has issued guidelines for public schools regarding the controversial transgender bathroom law. According to the guidelines, public schools are required to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their chosen gender identity.
"There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex," Attorney General Loretta Lynch stated via CBS Minnesota. Senators Al Franken and Tammy Baldwin have expressed their support for the guidelines issued by the education department.
.@PerlmanOfficial will not perform in North Carolina until the controversial transgender ‘bathroom law’ is repealed https://t.co/8sHZXdIqAy
— Classic FM (@ClassicFM) May 18, 2016
"We've seen far too many attempts to marginalize and discriminate against our LGBT students, neighbors, and family members," Sen. Franken said. "Every student deserves the freedom and opportunity to dream the same dreams, get a great education, and have the same shot at success," Sen. Baldwin added. The Human Rights Campaign also cheered on the directive from the Education Department, calling the move groundbreaking.
The Education Department's guidelines regarding the transgender bathroom law obligate schools that receive federal funding to treat transgender students in accordance with the gender identity they have chosen. The Education Department directive also states that students are not required to present any medical certificate or diagnosis to back-up their claims and they should be given access to their chosen locker room or bathroom even if it makes other students feel uncomfortable.
These guidelines from the Education Department further intensify the conflict among Americans about transgender rights. Many Americans feel that disallowing transgender people to use bathrooms and locker rooms of their chosen gender identity is a violation of their civil and human rights.
There are also many Americans who feel that allowing transgender people to use the bathroom or locker room they want could be abused and put people -- especially girls -- in danger of sexual predators pretending to be transgender people. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory defended the transgender bathroom law by saying that it can help protect the privacy of citizens, CNN reports.
