The bathroom controversy that started in North Carolina has had national implications, even making its way into the 2016 campaign and the White House. The state law bars citizens who identify as transgender from entering whichever bathroom they choose. Concerned conservatives defended the law, while liberals argued it amounted to discrimination. President Obama of course sided with the latter. During his trip to England, he said the law should be overturned and he even felt the need to ensure Brits that they shouldn’t fear traveling to the Tar Heel State.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice went even further and warned North Carolina that its bathroom law was in violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Really.
It turns out the bathroom debate is also reaching epic proportions at the local level. Over 50 families in Chicago, Illinois are suing two federal agencies and Township High School District 211 for “redefining the terms” of Title IX by opening both girls’ restrooms and locker rooms to biological boys who identify as female.
The lawsuit, filed by families representing 73 parents and 63 students, contends that the DOE is unlawfully redefining the terms of Title IX, something that only Congress can alter, and is illegitimately forcing its political will on school districts.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, who are representing the concerned parents, argue that Title IX actually requires schools enforce single-sex restrooms and are urging officials to do their duty and put students' safety over political correctness.
“No government agency can unilaterally redefine the meaning of a federal law to serve its own political ends,” added ADF Legal Counsel Matt Sharp. “The Department of Education is exceeding what it is legally and constitutionally allowed to do. In fact, at least five other federal and state courts have rejected the DOE’s interpretation of Title IX.”
Illinois parents aren't the only ones upset over our country's bathroom debate. Since Target announced it was going to enforce a transgender bathroom policy, its stock has dropped by 4 percent.
Did we ever think parents would have to worry about their child’s safety in public restroom? Hopefully the government will wake up and realize those pictures of men and women on the bathroom doors are not suggestions.