North Carolina's New Transgender Bathroom Law Could Imperil State's Education Funds

Advocates have warned against North Carolina's new transgender bathroom law, saying that this might affect the state's education fund. The said law prohibits a transgender to choose which bathroom to use.

Miami Herald said the questioned law mandates that schoolchildren are only allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds to their sex at birth. This puts transgenders in a very uncomfortable situation since they would be required to use a bathroom different from the current sex that they have.

In South Dakota, a bill similar to that of North Carolina was also passed but it was vetoed by the state's governor, Dennis Daugaard. The said bill likewise mandated that transgenders use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth.

CNN mentioned that Daugaard said, "Local school districts can, and have, made necessary restroom and locker room accommodations that serve the best interests of all students, regardless of biological sex or gender identity." Transgender rights advocates gave a thumbs-up to the governor's act.

So far, the U.S. Department of Education has not yet cut back funding because of student inequality in schools. According to Nathan Smith, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network director of public policy, "These are unchartered waters on this issue." The organization helps students and parents in filing complaints pertaining to discrimination with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education.

On the other hand, advocates of the new transgender bathroom law think that the Department of Education would be stretching federal nondiscrimination protections when it is applied to a state. Mat Staver, one of the lawyers who also represented the Kentucky clerk who refused issuance of marriage licenses to gay couples, said that transgender students are not covered under the federal education equality law.

Although North Carolina's transgender bathroom law case is still in court with oral arguments slated on April, many advocates and non-advocates have already voiced out their opinions on the matter. How about you? What's your stand on this new law?