Floridians Speak Out Against Transgender Restrooms
Posted February 24, 2017 06:20 am | Public News Service
TALLAHASSEE, FL –
The Trump administration says it's handing over
responsibility to states to decide how to handle
restroom access for transgender students, and Florida
activists are wasting no time in sending a message to
state and local officials.
Lakey Love is one of the organizers of the Women's March
Florida, which will take place on the Capitol steps at
noon on Saturday. She said the decision to withdraw
federal protections for transgender students goes far
beyond bathrooms or locker rooms.
"It will give bullies, and even administrators and
teachers, the path to discriminate against transgender
students, to ignore inclusivity, and to ignore what
amounts to hate crimes," Love said.
She said her group wants to make it clear to lawmakers,
school boards and superintendents that in the wake of
the decision, many women will be taking up the fight for
equality and protection for transgender students in
Florida schools. Similar marches and rallies are planned
in cities across the state.
While many in the LGBTQ community have been bracing for
big changes under the Trump administration, Love said
this particular decision was a major blow, given that
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos had pledged to protect
all students and ensure they had a safe learning
environment.
"To start with the children who have no institutional or
structural ability to be able to speak for themselves,
it's disheartening," Love said.
Some Tallahassee area school boards have already
committed to passing resolutions offering protections to
transgender students, and Love said she hopes to see a
bill before state lawmakers in the upcoming session.
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