NYC Leaders Vow To Protect Trans Kids' Rights

NEW YORK, NY — New York City officials have vowed to protect the rights of transgender students throughout the city, insisting that President Donald Trump's recent rollback of federal guidelines for trans students won't impact protections guaranteed locally.

NYC schools chancellor Carmen Fariña issued a statement shortly after Trump rescinded federal guidelines issued last year that instruct public schools nationwide to allow trans students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identities.

"The DOE's Transgender Guidelines have been in place since 2014 and remain in effect in all NYC public schools," Fariña said in the statement. "We are dedicated to ensuring every student is provided with a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment in all school buildings, and that includes allowing students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity."

In 2014, the city's education department issued guidelines to help public schools support trans students. Those guidelines stipulate that a "transgender student should not be required to use a locker room or restroom that conflicts with the student’s gender identity." Last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order mandating that city agencies provide employees and citizens with access to single-sex bathrooms that align with an individual's gender identity.

On Thursday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions withdrew the guidelines issued by the Obama administration last year regarding trans students in public schools. De Blasio tweeted shortly after that the city's policy with regard to public bathrooms, in schools and elsewhere, wouldn't change following the Trump administration's action.

The New York Civil Liberties Union said that transgender students throughout the state are guaranteed the right to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity regardless of federal action. The NYCLU did, however, encourage Governor Andrew Cuomo to strengthen state civil rights laws protecting students.

"There is no question that state law independently continues to protect the rights of transgender students here in New York," NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman said in a statement, "But with the federal government embracing a dangerous, discriminatory position, we urge Governor Cuomo to strengthen state protections for transgender students by fixing a loophole in the state Human Rights Law to ensure that it applies to students facing discrimination, and improving existing protections by passing the Gender Identity and Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA)."

Students in New York have the right to use the bathroom and locker room that aligns with their gender identity and are protect from harassment based on their gender identity and expression, according the NYCLU.

Lead image via torbakhopper on Flickr.