Rollback On Rights

By: Alexa Tironi    

     On February 22nd, President Trump and his administration revoked the federal guideline  allowing transgender public school students to use the bathroom corresponding with their current identifying gender. The rollback came from the Federal Education and Justice departments.

     In summary, the “Dear Colleague” letter to the Supreme Court, disregards previous gestures from the Obama administration to stand up for transgender student rights. These previous policies were put into effect because the administration felt that not allowing transgender adolescents to use restrooms correlating with their genders, could violate anti-discrimination laws.

     In the letter, addressing America’s public schools, the reason given for removing this policy was because “it lacked extensive legal analysis, did not go through a public vetting process, and sowed confusion and drew legal challenges.” The letter adds that “schools must ensure that all students, including LGBT students, are able to learn and thrive in a safe environment.” The Trump administration prefers for this issue to be handled at a state and local level.

     Recently, American citizens have displayed discontent with this new rollback. A large group of trans-activists gathered outside the White House, including high school transgender boy, Gavin Grimm. As protesters chanted “Save our schools, protect trans students,” Gavin took  a megaphone to speak to the crowd. Tearfully he spoke, with passion, declaring “No matter what happens, no one, not even the government, can defeat a community so full of life, color, diversity, and most importantly, love.”

     Transgender people and supporters feel that the revoking of these guidelines is a response to fear, something the general public and the new administration in power just do not understand. A school forcing a trans student to use a bathroom that does not match his or her gender is a constant reminder that peers, school, and state/federal government does not accept or support the efforts of becoming his or her true self. Some argue that this is not a state’s issue, but a civil rights issue.

     The supporters of this rollback claim that in this rescindment, bathrooms will become safer. People have claimed that men will pose as women, just to enter that bathroom and sexually assault others; and the same concept vice versa. Statements like these are frequently brought up, although having no evidence or incident to support the complaint. If there is a concern of sexual assault in bathrooms as a result of the transgender bathroom bill, I ask you to think of all the other places sexual assault occurs: alleys, clubs, basements, frat parties, the backseat of a car, behind a dumpster.

     A story about a girl, Marilyn, in Texas was released, and it outlines her struggles regarding this new rollback. “Marilyn, who is transgender, was still presenting as a boy to her classmates, and everyday she would complain to her mother of the stomachaches and headaches - the stress of being someone she isn’t taking its toll.” Marilyn had been taken out of school at the start of her transition, but her mother, Chelsea had re-entered her, hoping that the atmosphere had changed. Unfortunately, it had not. “Chelsea claimed administrators told her that the district received a complaint about her daughter “every single day.” But it wasn’t nearly as bad as the bullying from other students.” Chelsea continued to tell of the awful treatment her daughter had endured claiming “a group of students cornered her daughter on the playground- telling her that she was a boy and that they would never call her Marilyn.” Children like Marilyn just want to go to school, use the bathroom, be accepted, and treated like they belong.

     Whatever the reasons of support or opposition to this revokement, it is now up to the states to decide the future of their trans children and public bathrooms. And as people of this country, who long to see the ancient ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” accomplished, let us all hope our state makes the right choice.