ACTION ITEM: U.S. Departments of Justice and Education Release Joint Guidance to Help Schools Ensure the Civil Rights of Transgender Students

Credits: Please note the articles

While most of you are aware of this issue by now as it has one of the top issues in the media since yesterday.

"The directive from Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon, and Vanita Gupta, leader of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, cites federal Title IX in arguing that “nondiscrimination on the basis of sex requires schools to provide transgender students equal access to educational programs and activities even in circumstances in which other students, parents, or community members raise objections or concerns,” ( The Washington Post. 5/13/16)

Now, it is time for us to take action and do all that we can to stop it in it's tracks

The following is the first write up that many saw first thing yesterday morning

Duval Schools will follow White House order on transgender student bathroom use

Source: WOKV

By John Engel May 13th, 2016

Jacksonville, Fl. —

"Duval County Public Schools will continue to follow the directive from the Obama administration allowing transgender students to use the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity, Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitt said in a statement Friday.

The order requires public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their chosen gender identity, not the gender on their birth certificate. The White House is currently in a legal battle with the state of North Carolina over a bathroom law it finds unconstitutional.

“We have historically problem-solved and developed solutions from situations regarding gender identity concerns for our students and staff,” Dr. Vitti said. “As a district, we will continue to provide guidance, procedures and additional training for school officials to ensure we are meeting all federal guidelines.”

Spokespersons from St. Johns, Clay and Nassau County school districts have not returned calls for comment."

Please note the comment in red, "We have historically problem-solved and developed solutions from situations regarding gender identity concerns for our students and staff." I have learned that was NOT the case with this issue and it appears that Dr. Vitti may have made this decision himself, without input or contact with the Duval County School Board members, teachers, or parents.

Title IX: Overview of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

https://www.justice.gov/crt/overview-title-ix-education-amendments-...

Following is the actual letter that was issued

U.S. Departments of Justice and Education Release Joint Guidance to Help Schools Ensure the Civil Rights of Transgender Students

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-departments-justice-and-education...

From the Washington AP

" Public schools must permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity, according to an Obama administration directive issued amid a court fight between the federal government and North Carolina.
The guidance from leaders at the departments of Education and Justice says public schools are obligated to treat their transgender students in a way that matches their gender identity, even if their education records or identity documents indicate a different sex.
“There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.
The directive is contained in formal guidance being sent to school districts Friday.
It does not impose any new legal requirements, but federal officials say it’s meant to clarify school districts’ obligations to educate students in nondiscriminatory environments. Educators have repeatedly sought guidance on how to comply with Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in institutions that receive federal funding, Education Secretary John B. King said in a statement.
“We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence,” King said.
The move was cheered by Human Rights Campaign, a gay, lesbian and transgender civil rights organization, which called the guidelines “groundbreaking.”
The guidance comes days after the Justice Department sued North Carolina over a new state law that says transgender people must use public bathrooms, showers and changing rooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate. The administration has said the law violates the Civil Rights Act.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has argued that the state law is a “commonsense privacy policy” and that the Justice Department’s position is “baseless and blatant overreach.” His administration also filed a lawsuit Monday against the federal government."

UPDATE: Saturday night 5/13 8PM

"There are now 13 states voicing their concern towards President Obama’s violation of the constitution by trying to force states to allow transgender people to use the publicly owned restrooms of the sex they identify with."

Politics Info today - Source

President Obama released an open letter a week after North Carolina’s controversial law took effect, warning all public schools to permit transgender individuals to use the restroom of their self-proclaimed gender.

Trouble arose when the HB2 law was enacted in North Carolina, making illegal for people identifying as transgender to use any restroom they saw fit and rather having to use the one appropriate to the sex they were assigned at birth. This decision was promptly opposed by the Justice Department. Officials in the state of North Carolina countered with a suit aimed at the Justice Department for allegedly abusing their executive power.

Since then, 12 more states have come to the defense of North Carolina. It has become an issue of the state losing its power of decision over itself. The highlighted idea has been to not over-extend the executive powers of the federal government, the 13 states have therefore demanded that Congress deals with such situations in the future.

Many public officials have come out against Obama’s threats, like Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson who declared : “As Governor, I recommend that school districts disregardPresident Obama’s “guidance” on gender identification in schools.”

The states of West Virginia, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Maine and North Carolina now support appealing a court case that granted a student that identifies as transgender the right to use the male restroom in Virginia.

More people will be fighting this overreach of executive power,

Following are initial responses from both North Carolina and Texas

North Carolina

NC Response:

Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest released the following statement in response to President Obama's bathroom policy directive:

"North Carolina will not stand by and let our locker rooms and high school showers be used for social experimentation at the expense of the privacy and protection of our young boys and girls. I do not think it is appropriate for teenage boys and girls to share the same bathroom. I don't think it appropriate for teenage boys and girls to shower next to each other. I don't think it is appropriate for male coaches and male teachers to have access to girls' locker rooms and showers while the young girls are naked and exposed. I feel confident, the vast majority of North Carolina parents feel the same.
The President needs a reminder that the United States Constitution grants education decision authority to the states and localities not to the President of the United States. Our current state policy protects our children by maintaining bathrooms and restrooms consistent with the biological sex of the child and already gives schools, should special circumstances arise, the freedom to grant private single stall - single shower bathroom accommodations to individuals who might not otherwise be comfortable using the bathroom of their biological sex or a bathroom shared with other people. This is the only reasonable response to the situation that exists today. Opening all showers and all restrooms to all sexes at all times as the President is suggesting, is not a reasonable solution, but an invitation for violations of privacy and personal safety.
North Carolina public schools in receipt of the President's letter are reminded that there is a binding state law on the books governing bathroom policy and the President's non-binding directive is merely his attempt to push his version of a social policy on our state with no Constitutional authority to do so. It should be rejected as a matter of principle and policy."

TEXAS

Texans the first to decry Obama’s school directive about transgender bathrooms

Best interview with Texas Lt. Gov.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4892680112001/texas-lt-gov-accuses-obama...

THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS

Interesting that he states this is "offers guidance, advise, suggestions without reference to Federal Funds being withheld if not implemented. You might also find his very first comment "interesting"

White house Josh Earnest: http://www.ijreview.com/2016/05/605553-white-house-press-sec-jumps-...

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The following link is extremely good. Contains an interview with both sides opinions and a map showing the status of all states with transgender legislation.

http://fxn.ws/1ZLg3Pe

Status of Transgender Access Legislation | InsideGov

Liberty Council response:

http://www.lc.org/newsroom/details/pr051316-obamas-transgender-dire...

Franklin Graham responds.

"Who does President Barack Obama think he is? The sultan of Washington? Does he think he can just make a “decree” and we will bow down and simply obey? The decree he released today says that all schools across the country have to allow students to choose the restrooms and locker rooms according to “their internal sense of gender.” If schools don’t comply, he threatens loss of funding and lawsuits from the federal government. What about the privacy and protection of all the other students? Isn’t this discrimination against all of them? This opens up bathrooms to sexual predators and perverts. A decree does not carry the force of law–that's the job of Congress. The president obviously must have no fear of God, who made us and created us male and female. I hope that school districts across this nation will defy President Obama and his administration’s radical progressive agenda to promote and advance the sin of homosexuality and the LGBT agenda."

ACTION ITEM:

Please use the following information to make contact with everyone that you can. Beginning with local school board members, then your state and federal elected officials.

We need to fill email boxes and jam the phone lines

Many people have used the terms blackmail, bribes, threats, dictates, unconstitutional.

Below are just a few thoughts after reading and watching the information provided you have your own opinions and should express them.

* It is said that Trans represents .3% of this given population. What about the privacy rights of the other 99.7%?

* At what point does a Trans become the "other gender" and how is that individual recognized to ensure that other do not take advantage of this Decree?

* Encourage Governor Scott to take a stand as North Carolina and Texas have.

* Dr. Vitti: Making a one man decision on the same day that the Decree was published without input or even the development of a strategy or plan on how to implement and communicate this information to school board members, administrators and teachers?

* School Board members: Were they or are they being brought into the conversation and decision making process on the issue? Encourage them to take a stand for the CHILDREN. All Children.

*State Legislator's: Ask them to take immediate action at the state level to stop the implementation of this Decree.. Speak to the rights of the State vs the Federal Government. The 10th Amendment is very clear on the rights of the state. As with Common Core the Department of Education has overstepped it Federal Authority.

* Federal Legislators: Contact your Representatives and Senator's and ask that immediate action be taken to stop this federal government overreach.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Baker County Superintendent of Schools - Sherrie Raulerson (904) 259-6251

Baker County School Board, Phone (904) 259-6251

District 1 - Earl Dwight Crews, Vice-Chairperson, (904) 275-2112, email dwight.crews@bakerk12.org

District 2 - Dean Griffis . (904) ( 259-6319, email dean.griffis@bakerk12.org

District 3 - Paula T. Barton, (904) 259-3553, email paula.barton@bakerk12.org
District 4 - Charlie Burnett, (904) 259-6627, email charlie.burnett@bakerk12.org

District 5 - Patricia Weeks, Chairperson, (904) 259-3674, email patricia.weeks@bakerk12.org

Clay County School Board - http://oneclay.net/contact-us/

District 1 - Janice Kerekes, Phone (904) 571-9618, email: jkerekes@mail.clay.k12.fl.us

District 2 - Carol Studdard, Phone (904) 264-9649, email: cstuddard@mail.clay.k12.fl.us

District 3 - Betsy Condon, (904) 510-0516 email: eacondon@oneclay.net

District 4 - Johnna McKinnon, (904) 463-7783, email: jlmckinnon@oneclay.net

District 5 - Ashley Gilhousen, (904) 679-9169 email: algilhousen@oneclay.net

Duval County School Board

Dr. Nikolai P. Vitti, Superintendent
Ph: 904.390.2115
vittin@duvalschools.org

District 1 - Cheryl Grymes, Phone (904) 390-2371, email: grymesc@duvalschools.org

District 2 - Scott Shine, Phone (904) 390-2386 shines@duvalschools.org

District 3 - Ashley Smith Juarez, Phone (904) 390-2239, email: juareza1@duvalschools.org

District 4 - Paula D. Wright, Phone (904) 390-2374, email: wrightp@duvalschools.org

District 5 - Connie Hall, Phone (904) 390-2375, email: hallc6@duvalschools.org

District 6 - Becki Couch, Phone (904) 390-2373, email: couchr@duvalschools.org

District 7 - Jason Fischer, Phone (904) 390-2372, email: fischerj@duvalschools.org

Nassau County School Board (904) 491-9900,

District 1 - Donna Martin, Chairman, Home: 261-9015, email: martindo@nassau.k12.fl.us

District 2 - Gail Cook, Home: (904) 261-9127 email: cookga@nassau.k12.fl.us

District 3 - Jamie Deonas, Cell (904) 753-4076, email deonasja@nassau.k12.fl.us

District 4 - Kimberly Fahlgren Home: (904) 235-9638 email: kimberly.fahlgren@nassau.k12.fl.us

District 5 - Kathy Burns , Vice-Chairman, Home: (904) 879-4781 Fax: (904) 879-5445 email: burnska@nassau.k12.fl.us

St Johns County School Board, http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/admin/board/

District 1 - Beverly Slough, Phone (904) 547-7510, email: sloughb@stjohns.k12.fl.us

District 2 - Thomas L. Allen, Jr., Phone (904) 547-7510, email: allent@stjohns.k12.fl.us

District 3 - Bill Mignon, Phone (904) 547-7510, email: mignonb@stjohns.k12.fl.us

District 4 - Kelly Barrera, (904) 547-7510, email kelly.barrera@stjohns.k12.fl.us

District 5 - Patrick Canan, Phone (904) 547-7510, email: patrick.canan@stjohns.k12.fl.us

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR

Gov. Rick Scott, Phone (850) 488-7146

The Capitol, 400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Email: rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com or complete email form at: http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/

Lt Gov. Lopez-Cantera Complete email form at http://www.flgov.com/email-the-lt-governor

STATE SENATORS - NE FLORIDA

District 4 - Sen. Aaron Bean, (Nassau & Parts of Duval) FAX (850) 410-4805

Phone (850) 487-5004 or (904) 346-5039

302 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 or

1919 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207

Complete email form at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s4

District 5 - Sen. Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr., (Baker, south of Baker and west of Baker)

Phone (850) 487-5005 or (352) 873-6513

311 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 or

315 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471

Complete email form at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s5

District 6 Sen. Travis Hutson (St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Parts of Volusia)

Phone (850) 487-5006, 312 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee FL 32399

Complete email form at: https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s6

District 7 Sen. Rob Bradley (Clay, Bradford & Alachua) FAX (888) 263-0641

Phone 850 487-5007 or (904) 278-2085

208 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 or

2233 Park Ave., Suite 303, Orange Park, FL 32073

Complete email form at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s7

District 9 Sen. Audrey Gibson, (Parts of Duval) FAX (904) 359-2553

Phone (850) 487-5009 or (904) 359-2553

205 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 or

101 E. Union St., Suite 104, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Complete email form at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - NE FLORIDA

District 11 Rep. Janet Adkins (Nassau & Part of Duval)

Phone (850) 717-5011 or (904) 491-3664 or (904) 246-0532

313 House Office Building, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

905 S. 8th St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 or

11 North 3^rd St., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Complete email form at

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 12 Rep. Lake Ray (Part of Duval) Phone (850) 717-5012 or (904) 723-5300

402 House Office Building, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

1615 Huffingham Rd., Suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32216 Complete email form at

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 13 Rep. Reggie Fullwood (Part of Duval) (850) 717-5013 or (904) 353-2180

1401 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

101 E. Union St., Suite 402, Jacksonville, FL 32202 Complete email form at

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 14 Rep. Mia Jones (Part of Duval) Phone (850) 717-5014 or (904) 924-1615

316 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

3890 Dunn Ave., Suite 901, Jacksonville, FL 32218 Complete email form at

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 15 Rep. Jay Fant, (Part of Duval) Phone (850) 717-5015 or 904) 381-6011 or (904) 381-6012

1301 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

4114 Herschel St., Jacksonville FL 32210-2200 Complete email form at:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 16 Rep. Charles McBurney (Part of Duval) Phone (850) 717-5016 or (904) 359-6090

222 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

76 South Laura St., Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32202, Complete email form at

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 17 Rep. Cyndi Stevenson (Part of St. Johns) Phone (850) 717-5017 or (904) 273-4466

1102 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

814 A1A North, Suite 307, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 Complete email form at:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx...

District 18 Rep. W. Travis Cummings (Part of Clay) Phone (850) 717-5018 or (904) 278-5761

1102 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or

580 Wells Rd., Suite 2, Orange Park, FL 32073 Complete email form at:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

District 19 - Rep. Charles Van Zant (Putnam, Bradford, Union & part of Clay)Phone (850) 717-5109 or (386) 312-2272, 400 House Office B ldg., 402 S. Monroe St, Tallahassee FL 32399-1300 or 3841 Reid St., Suite 5, Palatka, FL 32177-2509 Complete email form at: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

Dist 24 Rep. Paul Renner (Flagler, Part St Johns/Volusia) Phone 850 717-5024 or 386 446-7644

1102 The Capitol, 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 or

4875 Palm Coast Pkwy Northwest, Unit 5, Palm Coast, FL 32137 Complete email form at: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailreprese...

U.S. SENATE

US Sen. Marco Rubio, FAX (202) 228-5171 – Phone (202) 224-3041 or (904) 398-8586

317 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 or

1650 Prudential Dr., Suite 220, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Complete an email form at http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-senator-rubio?p=...

US Sen. Bill Nelson, FAX (202) 228-2183 – Phone (202) 224-5274 or (904) 346-4500

716 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 or

1301 Riverplace Blvd., Suite 2010, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Complete an email form at:

https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact-bill

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

District 3 Rep. Ted Yoho, FAX (202) 225-2256 – Phone (202) 225-5744 or (904) 276-9626

511 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 or

1213 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32065

Complete email form at https://yoho.house.gov/contact/email-me

District 4 Rep. Ander Crenshaw, FAX (202) 225-2504 – Phone (202) 225-2501 or (904) 598-0481

440 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 or

1061 Riverside Avenue, Suite 100, Jacksonville FL 32204

Complete email form at:

http://crenshaw.house.gov/index.cfm/contact ;

District 5 Rep. Corrine Brown, FAX (202) 225-2256 – Phone (202) 225-0123 or (904) 954-1652

2111 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515 or

101 East Union St., Suite 202, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Complete email form at:

https://corrinebrown.house.gov/

District 6 Rep. Ron DeSantis, FAX (202) 226-6299 – Phone (202) 225-2706 or (904) 827-1101

427 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 or

3940 Lewis Speedway, Suite 2104, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Complete email form at: https://desantis.house.gov/contact/email-me

For others please click below

Find your congressmen/women by clicking on the link below

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

The government has convinced parents that at some point it's no longer their responsibility. And in fact, they force them, in many respects, to turn their children over to the public education system and wrest control from them and block them out of participation of that. That has to change or education will not improve in this country. Rick Santorum

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Comment by Carole McManus on May 17, 2016 at 12:44pm: I just contacted the School Board office in SJC and was told that there will be a press release this afternoon on this issue coming from St. Johns Co. School District's office. STAY TUNED!

Now, to contact the Clay Co. School District and thank their superintendent for their position on this over-reach and despicable directive from the President.

Comment by Franklin W. on May 16, 2016 at 9:28am: Present day americans deserve neither their freedom, the government their forefathers gave them nor their lives.

Because they are not willing to do their duty and responsibility as citizens...

I personally am utterly disappointed and ashamed of present day American citizens.

Comment by FCTP on May 15, 2016 at 9:15pm: Thank you Mr. Tipton..

Maybe we should all share what we get for responses out here.. I will if I get any.

Be well

Comment by robert c tipton on May 15, 2016 at 7:43pm: I sent a blistering e-mail to the 7 dwarfs--(school board members) asking does Herr Vitti run our schools or do they

We will see if any of the 7 weasels even answer which i doubt. Do you all still think we can work thru our elected dolts to reclaim our country ?The sad news is that this will just go on and on as we spend our time waiting for the most important event --thats right the opening of jaguars season. We are truly a pathetic spineless country.Our heroes are the jags owner--SHAKA zula--the kardashians and Okra Winfrey.

go back to sleep you poor fools.

Comment by FCTP on May 15, 2016 at 2:34pm: Senator Cruz's statement.

Comment by FCTP on May 15, 2016 at 8:57am: Good article
http://bwcentral.org/2016/05/obamas-transgender-plan-exclude-parent...

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