Obama administration to issue transgender restroom guidance to schools

Record ID: 103688

  • Title: Obama administration to issue transgender restroom guidance to schools
  • Date: 13th May 2016
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) CLEANER COMING OUT OF RESTROOM VARIOUS OF SIGNS FOR GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOM AT SCHOOL ENTRANCE TO MALE RESTROOM BANNER ON DOOR OF MALE RESTROOM READING: "WE JUST WANT TO PEE" STUDENTS ENTERING GENDER-NEUTRAL RESTROOM SIGN FOR GENDER-NEUTRAL RESTROOM VARIOUS OF STUDENTS WASHING AND DRYING THEIR HANDS IN GENDER-NEUTRAL RESTROOM
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2016 05:01
  • Keywords: Transgender gender-neutral bathrooms HB2 North Carolina Obama schools
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES
  • City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HN3OZR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Obama administration will tell every U.S. public school district on Friday (May 13) to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity.
    The letter, signed by officials from the Education and Justice departments, does not have the force of law but contains an implicit threat that schools which do not abide by the Obama administration's interpretation of the law could face lawsuits or a loss of federal aid.
    The move comes as the Obama administration and North Carolina battle in federal court over a state law passed in March that limits public bathroom access for transgender people.
    By passing the law, North Carolina became the first state in the country to ban people from using multiple occupancy restrooms or changing rooms in public buildings and schools that do not match the sex on their birth certificate.
    The Obama administration letter will say schools may not require transgender students to have a medical diagnosis, undergo any medical treatment, or produce a birth certificate or other document before treating them according to their gender identity.
    Americans are divided over which public restrooms should be used by transgender people, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, with 44 percent saying people should use them according to their biological sex and 39 percent saying they should be used according to the gender with which they identify.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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