Reversing the guidance issued by the Obama Administration in last year, the White House announced yesterday it would be rolling back protections for transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender identity.
The move was applauded by conservatives, who say that the Obama White House’s interpretation of the federal law known as Title IX, which says that transgender students can use the bathroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity, was a legal overreach and that this will return the decision to the states and local school districts. LGBT civil rights groups worry the rollback could lead to backlash against transgender students, and many protested outside the White House on Wednesday evening. The order won’t impact California, which has a state law protecting transgender students right to use the bathroom of their choice.
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Guests:
Jenny Pizer, senior counsel and law and policy director at Lambda Legal, a law firm that specializes in defending LGBT rights
Matthew McReynolds, senior staff attorney at Pacific Justice Institute in Sacramento, which works to defend religious liberties and parental rights