The letter outlines the responsibility of public schools to include transgender students, which includes a “safe and non-discriminatory environment”.
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Officials of two of the largest school districts in San Diego County said guidance issued by the Obama administration Friday that spells out responsibilities to prevent discrimination against transgender students will have no impact locally because the issue is already dealt with by a state law.
“We have wonderful school counselors and administrators who are now doing all that they can to address the needs of all our students, whatever those needs may be”, she said.
The letter is not a statement of law but it does suggest that if a school district does not comply they could lose federal funds.
“We felt it was time to move forward, and we did”, Botchway said.
“There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex”, said U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.
Columbus City Schools spokeswoman Jacqueline Bryant said the district has been “progressive” in response to the issue, adding that several years ago “gender identity or expression” to its nondiscrimination policy. Mississippi Republican Gov. Phil Bryant said Obama’s administration was “forcing its liberal agenda” on states that reject it.
The letter says the school should not require any medical diagnosis, nor should they demand documentation reflecting the student’s gender identity before taking steps to protect transgender students, “even in circumstances in which other students, parents, or community members raise objections”.
The directive issued Friday says public schools are obligated to treat transgender students in a way matching their gender identity.
Transgender students also have to follow the dress code of the gender they identify with.
The Obama administration also will send a 25-page document describing policies in place in some schools around the country, such as installing privacy curtains or allowing students to change in bathroom stalls.
“Local school districts with the input of parents and health professionals should be setting school policy on such a sensitive and controversial issue, not Washington”, Nance said in a statement. Trevor Allen said allowing transgender students their choice of bathroom to use is unnatural.
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“It would be wrong for the Administration to withhold federal funding from public schools that choose to handle this sensitive matter in their own way”.
