Federal Judge Rules Against President's Transgender Letter

A federal judge has ruled in favor of 13 states against President Barack Obama’s directive that public schools must allow students and adults to enter whatever bathrooms or showers they choose, a policy imposing transgenderism on the nation’s schools. On May 13, 2016, the Obama administration’s Department of Education sent a letter to every school system in America, informing them that regulations implementing Title IX require all schools to allow all children and adults to use whichever bathroom and shower with which they choose to identify. In response, 13 states—led by Texas—sued the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, Labor, and other federal agencies in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The plaintiff states argued that Title VII and Title IX refer only to biological sex, and therefore are contrary to federal law. The court rejected all of the Obama administration’s procedural arguments. The Office of Governor Pat McCrory released a statement following the federal court ruling: “The federal court decision bolsters the efforts of Governor McCrory, along with 22 other states, to protect the privacy of families and children in our school bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities,” said Communications Director Josh Ellis. “We’re also pleased that a federal court has sided with Governor McCrory’s position that the Obama administration has overstepped its authority by bypassing Congress and the courts.”