Washington, D.C.-(ENEWSPF)- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) commends the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice for their joint guidance to school districts across the country clarifying protections for transgender students.
The letter requires those school districts receiving Title IX funding, which prohibits sexual discrimination in educational programs, to allow transgender students to use restrooms consistent with their gender identities. In the letter, the Administration writes that Title IX also prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, including against students based on their transgender status.
“For too long, transgender youth have been subjected to messages implying that that they are ‘less than,’ outliers and threats. Today’s action by the White House sends a different message: that they are accepted, supported, and that their rights deserve to be protected,” said Karen Remley, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAP, executive director and chief executive officer of the AAP.
Last month, the AAP and its North Carolina chapter issued a statement opposing HB2, a bill passed in North Carolina preventing transgender individuals from using the restrooms of their identified gender; the law is now working its way through the court system.
“Transgender children are still children. Children who are already at increased risk for violence, bullying, harassment, and suicide. Children who are among the most vulnerable, and who feel the least safe in school. These children need adults to accept them, nurture them, and support them for who they are; today, that is exactly what happened,” said Dr. Remley. “The AAP welcomes the federal government’s action and supports the pediatricians, parents, teachers and others across the country who care for and stand up for transgender youth every day.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 64,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.
