The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education have withdrawn federal guidelines that required schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity. These rules, issued in May by the Obama Administration, interpreted Title IX as applying to gender identity, rather than merely biological sex. While met with praise by civil rights groups, conservative leaders launched multi-state lawsuits in response.
Now that the Trump Administration has rescinded federal protection, it is left up to states and districts to enact anti-discrimination policies. What does this all mean for schools, districts, and transgender students? In the above PBS NewsHour interview, Education Week reporter Evie Blad appears in-studio to answer that question.
For more on transgender students and the challenges they face, check out the video collection below.
Back in June, Education Week profiled Atherton High School in Louisville, Ky., which was the first in the state to adopt a transgender-student policy. In addition to a PBS NewsHour segment about the school, the below package contains interviews with Principal Thomas Aberli about implementing the policy, a Q&A with teacher Tony Prince who advises the school’s student-led Gender Sexuality Alliance, and a conversation with high school junior Maddie Dalton about her coming out process.
In light of today’s news, their perspectives are more relevant than ever.
Related Stories: