No Transgender Protest After SAISD States It Will Not Follow Federal Bathroom Guidance

The most recently talked about “hot button” issue is the controversy over the transgender bathroom usage in public schools at the San Angelo Independent School District. There was a protest planned to commence Wednesday, May 25, but the protest was canceled according to Shannon Carpenter in a Facebook post.

For those who are not entirely sure what transgender means, it is denoting or relating to a person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of female or male genders.

Carpenter mentioned on the Lone Star Liberty-Texas page Wednesday morning that she spoke to Assistant Superintendent Shelly Hullihen, who notified her that SAISD would not be conforming to the federal transgender guidelines proposed recently on behalf of transgender students.

“We do not have a specific policy addressing bathroom use by transgender students in SAISD," said a statement released by the Superintendent’s office. "We will continue to have non-discrimination policies in place for all students, and modify or accommodate for any student, for any reason.”

Carpenter, in a Facebook post to community members planning to attend the protest, said, “I am thrilled that they have now given a 'direct answer' of 'no' to the transgender bathroom issue, and parents now know without a doubt that their children’s safety is the SAISD’s first concern.”

Carpenter also spoke to Shelly Hullihen about the topic and came to the conclusion that, if SAISD is not going to go through with the transgender bathroom adjustments, there is no need for the protest.

Hullihen said, “If a transgender student comes to them and wants to use the restroom they identify with, then, at that point, the school will get with the student and their parents and they will provide options.” Their options will not include a male using the female restroom or locker room and vice versa. The options will be faculty or nurse bathrooms."

This topic was laid to rest for the time being, but once the school year rolls back around, the topic of transgender bathrooms may arise once more.

According to Equality Texas, “State leaders, such as the lieutenant governor and the attorney general, should understand the role schools play in the well-being of students. The demands of Lieutenant Governor Patrick and Attorney General Paxton to ignore federal law are not just dangerous and economically risky — they also demonize transgender students, many of whom are forced to drop out of school because of the constant bullying, aggression and physical violence they face.”

Equality Texas notes that it is the largest statewide organization working solely to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans through political action, education, community organizing and collaboration.

Additionally, the Texas Attorney General filed for litigation against transgender initiatives delegated at the federal level. Overall, 11 states have joined together to sue the Obama Administration over the guidance for transgender students.

In response, Equality Texas said, “Today's lawsuit filed by the State of Texas undermines federal protections for gay and transgender children. In particular, this suit punishes transgender students protected by Title IX and the U.S. Department of Education, and the Attorney General will waste precious time, resources and millions of dollars to harm Texans who have done nothing wrong.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in a news conference Wednesday, accused Obama's Administration of "overreach."

This discussion is obviously far from over, and across the United States people are voicing their support and concerns in this debate.