Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) on Wednesday introduced a bill that would undermine guidelines issued by the Obama administration directing schools to let transgender students use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.
The legislation would instead grant state and local authorities the power to determine school policies regarding bathroom use.
“Everyone on both sides of this debate should be treated with respect,” Messer said in a statement. “And, through public discourse, I believe we can come to a solution that protects the privacy and dignity of everyone involved. But, it’s irresponsible for the Obama Administration to begin this social experiment in the bathrooms of our nation’s elementary schools. Decisions of this magnitude should be made at the state and local level by people who will put the interest of our kids ahead of political ideology.”
A letter from the Justice and Education departments last week providing guidance to schools on how to accommodate transgender students was met with fierce backlash from conservatives. Numerous Republican governors and attorneys general have told schools to ignore the guidelines and have hinted at legal action.
