Following the release of the Obama administration’s guidelines for the treatment of transgender students in public schools, Gov. Mike Pence issued a statement disagreeing with some of the president’s language.
“I have long believed that education is a state and local function,” he said in his statement. “Policies regarding the security and privacy of students in our schools should be in the hands of Hoosier parents and local schools, not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. The federal government has no business getting involved in issues of this nature.”
President Obama’s directive included strong advice to allow all students at public schools across the United States to use whichever bathrooms and locker rooms are consistent with their gender identity. This comes after legislators in North Carolina proposed a law to ban students from any gender-specific area that doesn’t comply with the gender printed on their birth certificate.
The new guidelines are not law in the U.S., but failure to cooperate could result in lawsuits or the loss of federal funding, according to Obama’s statement.
Obama released a joint letter along with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education on May 13 to break down some of the new guidelines.
“A school’s Title IX obligation to ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of sex requires schools to provide transgender students equal access to educational programs and activities even in circumstances in which other students, parents or community members raise objections or concerns,” the letter reads.
The letter is broken down into clear subheads, one of which is titled “Terminology” and describes the differences between the terms “gender identity,” “sex assigned at birth,” “gender transition” and “transgender.”
Glenda Ritz, the superintendent of public instruction in Indiana, released a statement in support of the letter’s guidelines.
“I believe that all children deserve to learn in an environment that is safe and welcoming,” she said in the release. “Education is a civil right, and no child can learn unless he or she feels safe. In Indiana, we have already seen schools take steps to ensure that their students and staff feel safe regardless of race, religion, sex or gender identity.”
She said in the short statement she supports the efforts of these schools and will continue to do what she can to ensure the comfort of all students.
Though Pence, who is running for re-election in 2016, insinuates in his statement he has the will to move forward with this issue, he said he doesn’t believe these subjects should be mandated by the federal government.
“I am confident that parents, teachers and administrators will continue to resolve these matters without federal mandates and in a manner that reflects the common sense and compassion of our state,” he said in his statement.
