The US Departments of Justice and Education issued a policy letter on transgender students and school life. The guide addresses such topics as name and pronoun use, confidentiality, harassment, participation in sports, and the application of dress codes. It is directed to all K-12 schools, preschools, colleges and universities that receive federal funding.

There was immediate opposition in Louisiana from many of the forces that work openly against equality and justice for all people. One of these forces against equality is Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry; who exhibited his own malice by suing the Department of Justice and Education among others in response. Additionally, he issued an opinion in response to Governor John Bel Edwards' anti-discrimination Executive Order. You can read his opinion here.

The Attorney General’s opinion is not binding on executive departments or on the courts. Governor Edwards’ Executive Order cannot be repealed by the Attorney General, and it remains in effect. You can read Governor Edwards’ response here. Forum for Equality is proud to have been a part of working on the first all-inclusive executive order in Louisiana, and we stand by it.

Background and Consequences:

Opponents of transgender equality have lambasted the Obama administration for issuing this needed guidance. What they’re ignoring, however, are the very real challenges facing transgender youth all across the country. According to GLSEN’s 2013 National School Climate Survey:

• More than 75 percent of transgender students report feeling unsafe in school.

• Nearly 60 percent of transgender students have been forced to use a bathroom or locker room inconsistent with their gender identity.

• More than 63 percent of transgender students avoid using public restrooms because of fears of harassment or assault.

It’s unsurprising, then, that transgender youth face greater mental health challenges because of the hostile environments in which they often find themselves. According to a January 2015 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health:

• Transgender youth are significantly more likely than cisgender (non-transgender) youth to face depression – 50.6 percent to 20.6 percent.

• Transgender youth experience significantly higher levels of anxiety than their cisgender peers, 27.6 percent to 10 percent.

• Transgender youth are more than three times as likely to contemplate suicide – 31.1 percent to 11.1 percent.

Restricting or outright denying transgender students access to restroom facilities can cause serious problems for someone’s physical health. Some transgender students will avoid eating or drinking, dehydrating themselves to prevent themselves from using an unsafe restroom. This can cause long-term health problems like urinary tract infections.