Republican
President Donald Trump's administration was expected to revoke landmark
guidelines issued to public schools in defense of transgender student rights,
according
to a draft document seen by Reuters.
The draft
reverses former Democratic President Barack Obama's signature initiative on
transgender rights, which instructed public schools to allow transgender
students to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity.
The draft, which
could be subject to change, may be released as early as Wednesday, according to
advocacy groups who have been in contact with administration officials.
"We are
hearing that it will be rescinded today," said Mara Keisling, executive
director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.
The document
states that its purpose is to withdraw the guidance of May 13, 2016, that
threatened to withhold federal funding if schools forced transgender students
to use bathrooms corresponding to their gender assigned at birth against their
will.
During the
election campaign, Trump at first said transgender people should be able to use
the bathroom they feel is appropriate, but changed tack after coming under
criticism from fellow Republicans, saying it should be a matter for states to
decide.
On Tuesday,
that position was repeated by White House spokesman Sean Spicer.
REUTERS
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