NC case unaffected by Texas transgender ruling

A federal judge in Texas has issued a nationwide injunction against the Obama administration’s directive on transgender bathroom use in schools.

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund responded to news that U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor of Texas had issued an injunction against a federal directive protecting transgender students in schools across the nation.

A US judge in Texas enacted the nationwide injunction following a lawsuit filed against the state of Texas and many other states.

Attorney General Ken Paxton cheered the decision, saying, “We are pleased that the court ruled against the Obama Administration’s latest illegal federal overreach”.

Under the injunction, the Obama administration is prohibited from enforcing the guidelines on “against plaintiffs and their respective schools, school boards, and other public, educationally based institutions”, O’Connor wrote. Federal officials didn’t explicitly make that threat upon issuing the directive, although they also never ruled out the possibility.

The order came as numerous nation’s schools prepare to begin the new academic year and means they might not face federal sanctions if they choose to do nothing different to accommodate the restroom and locker room choices of transgender students.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from district courts in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and SC, decided in April that Gavin Grimm, a transgender high school student who was born female, can sue his Virginia school board on discrimination grounds because it banned him from the boys’ restroom. O’Connor’s ruling takes effect just as students across the country are returning from summer vacation. In addition, a Supreme Court case regarding a transgender student in Virginia is now on hold, but the decision regarding that case will likely supersede any ruling from a lesser court.

Juchems said the issue is “clearly headed to the Supreme Court”. The Texas Attorney General’s office praised the ruling, while the U.S. Department of Justice said it was disappointed and was reviewing its legal options.

“Sweeping edicts from Washington polarize public opinion, force a one-size-fits-all approach, and prevent the kind of dialogue that enables local school districts to meet the needs of their individual students”, said Bill Duncan, director of Sutherland’s Center for Family and Society.

A federal judge in Texas has issued a nationwide injunction barring federal government agencies from taking action against school districts that don’t follow the Obama administration’s guidance on transgender bathroom policies in schools.

The administration had said schools have to let those students use locker rooms and bathrooms consistent with their chosen gender identity. “We will accommodate them in a practical and common sense way”. “The decision is certainly emotional and certainly an attack on transgender students’ dignity”.