Trump Administration Rescinds Transgender Bathroom Directive
- Updated Feb 23, 2017
The Trump administration has rescinded the Obama administration’s transgender bathroom directive for public schools.
On Wednesday afternoon, ChristianHeadlines.com reported that the Trump administration was considering rescinding the directive, which happened as soon as Wednesday night.
The Obama administration had issued the directive to schools, based on their interpretation of Title IX which states, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
The Trump administration, however, stated that this is an issue that should be left up to the states to decide individually.
A letter sent to schools on Wednesday by the Justice and Education Departments said that while "All schools must ensure that all students, including LGBT students, are able to learn and thrive in a safe environment,” states should take the “primary role” in establishing appropriate policies, according to ABC News.
The new education secretary, Betsy DeVos, also weighed in on the issue: "We have a responsibility to protect every student in America and ensure that they have the freedom to learn and thrive in a safe and trusted environment. This is not merely a federal mandate, but a moral obligation," said DeVos.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: February 23, 2017
