A White House directive is telling schools across the country they need to be more inclusive -- or risk losing federal dollars.

  • Obama Administration issues transgender bathroom rules
  • School districts are looking at how to respond
  • Marion County banned transgender students from using the bathroom they identify with

Along with the Departments of Justice and Education, the Obama Administration issued guidance for schools, which said they must let transgender students use the bathrooms that match their gender identities.

For LGBTQ advocates, Friday's White House measure is a step in the right direction.

“For the government to be boldly stepping forward in this way and saying we’ll defend you, we'll go to bat for you," said Hannah Willard, Equality Florida Policy and Outreach Coordinator, "It’s really a beautiful thing.”

Willard is the policy and outreach coordinator for Equality Florida. She said she understands the struggles the community is facing and that the constant fear of discrimination is always present.

“It’s something in the back of my head when I walk down the street holding hands with someone," she said. “I’m really passionate about inspiring real change, tangible change that will change our society through policy.”

Willard joined others from Equality Florida last month in Marion County, the local epicenter of a transgender policy debate. The school board considered, then adopted, a resolution to ban transgender students from using the bathroom of the gender with which they identified.

“There were people in that room who had planned to testify who didn’t feel safe to do so, because they found out they’d have to give their physical address. I had never been in a room filled with so much fear," she recalled.

After it was passed, students rallied outside Vanguard High School.

Now, in light of the Obama Administration’s new guidance, We reached out to Marion County Schools, who released this statement:

“The transgender issue is obviously one of great concern at the local, state, and national level. No doubt this will ultimately be decided by the court system given the vast differences of opinion throughout the country.”
-Kevin Christian, Marion County Public Schools Public Relations Officer

In an email, Board member Nancy Stacy also replied, calling it, “Nothing but saber rattling!”

Willard said she hopes the national measure with inspire local change of heart.

“I really hope that kids growing up today can know that they are celebrated and valued for exactly who they are. That’s the Florida that I want to see," she said. “Gay and transgender people just want the same things that everybody does. We want to be able to earn a living, provide for our families. We want to feel safe in the communities we call home.”

Osceola County -- public and private

Private schools are not affected by the president’s order.

Annette Moore is the principal at Christ Centered Academics, a small Christian private school in St. Cloud. She says at her school, there’s one bathroom per classroom and it’s used only by one student at a time.

“In my opinion, the majority should be the ones that are heard, not the minority, and it’s so sad that we’re now having to do that,” Moore said.

The Osceola County School District said they have worked with transgender students and their families on an individual basis for years, and that this new policy will just enhance that.

“You know, we want students to be successful and as I said,” said school board member Jay Wheeler. “The people who are making a big deal about this are adults. The kids at school are OK with it.”

Moore said she’s glad the government is staying out of the bathroom stalls in private schools. She believes all public schools should look into providing alternatives to only having gender-designated bathrooms.

“Maybe just have a single bathroom where the other options would go into a single bathroom and it would save anybody from being uncomfortable,” Moore added.

This new guidance also makes it clear that schools can provide additional privacy options to any student for any reason.

Other counties

So far, Orange County said it will follow all federal guidelines.

Brevard said it will not take any action until it hears from the Florida Department of Education.

Flagler County said it’s willing to change current practices to comply with federal law.

Lake County said it will deal with the issues on a case by case basis.

We are still waiting to hear back from the other counties.