Restroom Controversy Hits Hawaii by Presidential Action

From Hawaii Family Forum, May 13, 2016

I'm sure you have been watching the news, but just in case, we wanted to let you know what happened today.

Today (Friday, May 13), the Obama administration sent a letter to all public schools in America notifying teachers and administrators of the regulations they must comply with in regards to their students’ “gender identity.”  The letter states that, to comply with Federal law, policies concerning students must be based on their gender identity and not on their biological sex.  All that is required is for the student or student’s parent to notify the school. As the letter states, “Under Title IX, there is no medical diagnosis or treatment requirement that students must meet as a prerequisite to being treated consistent with their gender identity.”

What this means is that EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY must permit boys identifying as girls in bathrooms/locker rooms/etc. (and vice versa).  This extends to sports teams as well! School districts who do not comply would be considered by the Obama administration to be in violation of Title IX, and could lose Federal funds for their school(s).

No Opt Out:  The letter makes it clear that personal concerns do not matter, and schools must provide “equal access to educational programs and activities even in circumstances in which other students, parents, or community members raise objections or concerns.”

We believe that this is a dangerous political game that will put the safety and privacy of every child in America (and in Hawai'i) at risk.  This decision proves that this administration would rather cut education funding for every child in America, than be told by parents and schools that boys should not be in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers.  Our government has a duty to protect our children, but today the privacy and safety of EVERY child in America attending a public school may be caught in the political crossfire, and that is simply unacceptable and very bad public policy.

This is why we continue to remind voters that ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.  Your vote is perpetual.  When you cast a vote, the person you vote for continues to vote.

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom (an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith) Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco regarding guidelines that the Obama administration issued to public schools and universities nationwide Friday that reinforce its political goal of forcing women to share restrooms and locker rooms with men despite the lack of any support in federal law for that position:

“The administration’s new guidelines simply reinforce what has been abundantly clear already—that it has a political goal of forcing women to share restrooms and locker rooms with men across the nation and will spread falsehoods about federal law to achieve its aims. This is precisely why we have filed two federal lawsuits, one in Illinois and one in North Carolina, on behalf of parents and students who are understandably concerned about their children. Solutions exist to accommodate everyone without violating anyone’s privacy rights, but the administration won’t entertain those solutions because of its preference to unlawfully impose its political will through threats and intimidation.”

Take action today! Contact Hawaii's congressional members.

RESOURCES:

3 Reasons Why North Carolina is Right to Protect Children (ADF)

Myths and Facts About Title IX (ADF)

Here’s an excellent video on unlikely victims of bathroom bills that was made by Alliance Defending Freedom: http://www.adflegal.org/safe-bathrooms? 

Big Q: Should transgender students in public schools be allowed to use bathrooms matching their so-called gender identity?

AP: Trannies to Join K-12 Students on Overnight Field Trips

KGI: Hawaii DOE reviewing transgender guidelines