Battle of the Bathrooms: Effects of Recent Actions on Transgender Students

For more than four years, transgender children in this country have been protected and supported in their right to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity while at (public) school.  On Wednesday night, the Departments of Justice and Education under the direction of President Trump withdrew important guidelines implemented by President Obama around these issues.  Title IX, the 1972 federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, was interpreted by the Obama administration to include gender identity, and thus guidelines were put into place nationally to prohibit public schools from blocking transgender children from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Ria Tabacco Mar's recent opinion piece in the New York Times provides readers with a thorough overview of the importance of this issue, and how the actions of the current administration could affect the daily lives of children throughout the country.  Mar's experience in her position as a staff lawyer at the A.C.L.U.'s Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and H.I.V Project definitely lends her the credibility to speak with great insight on the subject. Her approach to this issue is both logical and passionate, and, I think, attempts to appeal to a wide audience.  I strongly agree with her assertions that the federal government's withdrawal of guidelines and support could have very personal and harmful effects on children across the country. Transgender kids are already at an increased risk for suicide and depression, and without these guidelines in place to ensure their fair and equal treatment, I fear for their well-being and sense of safety in their learning environments. Mar's argument against the administration's recent actions includes links to legal cases involved, evidence concerning the benefit of inclusive policies in schools, and the weaknesses in the arguments justifying these recent changes.  She is logical and persuasive.

The upcoming Supreme Court case will ultimately determine the fate of these children.  Mar states that the current administration will lose this battle.  I hope she's right.