Attorney General Becerra Raises Red Flag on New U.S. Department of Education Instructions on Transgender Students

Monday, June 19, 2017
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, issuing new instructions regarding complaints involving transgender students:

“It is a deeply disturbing sign that the Trump Administration's Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education has replaced the strong guidance it issued last year affirming that transgender students have the same protections under the law as all other students. The recently-released instructions to its investigators regarding transgender student matters are a much watered-down version of previous policies. Those policies were set in place to protect students, not discriminate against them.

This is yet another signal that the Trump Administration is turning its back on our young people, especially those in the LGBTQ community. Regardless of what the federal government does, California’s laws are strong and protect students irrespective of their gender identity. Our state stands with transgender students and the entire LGBTQ community. My office will vigilantly ensure that California schools are inclusive places for all."

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