Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice released important guidance on the equal treatment of transgender students by schools and colleges that receive federal funding. The guidance comes days after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s recently passed House Bill 2, legislation that includes, among other provisions, a ban on transgender students from accessing facilities consistent with their gender identity.
Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President for External Affairs, released the following statement on the new guidance:
Today’s guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice brings us one step closer to ensuring that no young person has to wake up in the morning fearing the school day ahead. The release of this comprehensive guidance is welcome news for the countless transgender students who face bullying and discrimination every day in schools across the country. On the heels of Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s important and moving statement earlier this week, the departments of Education and Justice have now made clear to transgender students nationwide that mistreatment of any kind will not stand, regardless of whether it is at the hand of a peer, a teacher, or even the student’s own state government. This guidance not only ensures equal access to a safe and high-quality education for transgender students, it will also undoubtedly help save lives.
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For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.
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