US federal government send a guidance to end transgender discrimination in schools

The US federal government ramped up efforts to end transgender discrimination in schools across the country. 

The Justice and Education Departments issued a joint guidance on how schools must follow federal law in regard to bathrooms, changing rooms, and other gender-related spaces.

Both Departments sent a joint letter informing school officials that if they want to keep federal funding, they’ll have to provide equal access to education, sports and other programs based on a student’s gender identity.

“The Departments treat a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for purposes of Title IX and its implementing regulations”, the letter said. “This means that a school must not treat a transgender student differently from the way it treats other students of the same gender identity”.

The Department of Justice also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against North Carolina for HB2, one of several “bathroom bills” passed or introduced in several conservative states. 

Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the suit
against North Carolina's HB2