South Florida school districts say transgender students' rights will continue to be protected

Trump administration lifts federal guidelines for transgender rights

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ South Florida school leaders responded Thursday to the Trump administration's reversal of federal guidelines for transgender rights.

The Trump administration lifted federal guidelines Wednesday that said transgender students should be allowed to use public school bathrooms and locker rooms matching their chosen gender identity.

The decision is a reversal of an Obama-era directive issued in May. It will now be up to states and school districts to interpret whether federal sex discrimination law applies to gender identity.

In South Florida school districts, anti-discrimination policies followed byĀ Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties protect all students. The policies include, but are not limited to,Ā race, religion, ethnicity, gender and gender identification.Ā 

"We have policies in place, anti-discriminatory policies in place, that ensure that the rights of these children are protected," Miami-Dade County Public Schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.Ā 

Broward County Public Schools superintendent Robert Runcie also said in a statement that there will be no changes to the district's current non-discrimination policy.

"As a community, among the most important things we can do is to provide a high-quality education for all students in safe and secure learning environments," Runcie said. "Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) respects and supports the needs of all of our diverse students."

A letter sent to schools nationwide Wednesday by the Justice and Education departments said the earlier directive caused confusion and lawsuits over how it should be applied. The new letter said the guidance is lifted, but anti-bullying safeguards will not be affected.

Although the Obama guidance was not legally binding, transgender rights advocates said it was necessary to protect students from discrimination. Opponents argued it was federal overreach.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen,Ā son of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and a vocalĀ transgender advocate, said the reversal sends the wrong message. HeĀ argues that a state-by-state, county-by-county patchwork of policies is confusing and frightening.

"If you are gay or you are transgender, whether or not you have protections from discrimination depends on your zip code. That really underscores the need for a federal law," Heng-Lehtinen said.

Because action on the Obama guidance has been upheld in courts, Trump's reversal is moot.

The question is likely to be decided next month when the Supreme Court takes up a Virginia case, where the question is whether gender identity is protected by sexual discrimination laws.

Estimates show that there are about 150,000 transgender students inĀ schools around the country. Three out of four transgender students, according to one study, reported feeling unsafe at school.


About the Authors:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."