Transgender students in US can now use restroom of choice

The Obama administration orders public schools to allow transgender students to use the restroom they think best fits their gender.

TRT World and Agencies

The Obama administration has ordered US public schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms of their choice by sending a decree.

The decree to be introduced, offers guidelines on how to avoid discrimination against transgender students attending the school, however it isn't a statutory law.

TRT World and Agencies

As Attorney General Loretta Lynch said, the school that will not abide to this letter, could face lawsuits or lose federal aid, as schools are legally obliged to protect its students.

"A school may provide separate facilities on the basis of sex, but must allow transgender students access to such facilities consistent with their gender identity."

"A school may not require transgender students to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity or to use individual-user facilities when other students are not required to do so," the letter reads.

"There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex," US attorney general Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

TRT World and Agencies

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch (R) and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, announce law enforcement action against the state of North Carolina in Washington, US, May 9, 2016

Obama's decision comes after the state of North Carolina started a legal battle against the federal government in order to force transgender people to use the restroom in accordance with their gender at birth.

Lynch stated that such a decision makes transgender people suffer "emotional harm, mental anguish, distress, humiliation and indignity."

North Carolina's Governor, Pat McCrory, is fighting against the law saying it is a "baseless and blatant overreach" of the federal government's power.

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