School halts Obama transgender bathroom policy after parents pull kids out in Michigan
A school in Michigan is taking a "pause" in implementing Pres. Barack Obama's transgender bathroom policy while they "gather feedback" about the issue.
Officials at Southwest Elementary School in Howell arrived at the decision after the parents of two boys decided to pull their kids out when their nine-year-old son complained that "there was a girl in the boys' bathroom," LifeSite News reported.
Matt Stewart, father of the boys, informed the school about his son's concern. However, the school principal told him that Pres. Obama's directive permitted transgender students to use bathrooms, shower rooms and locker rooms based on the gender they identify with and not necessarily on their biological sex.
The principal explained that if the school violates this directive, they could lose federal funding.
Stewart believes decisions like this should not be made without consulting the students' parents. After discussing the issue, Stewart and his wife decided to pull their two sons out of the school.
However, over the succeeding days, the school authorities appeared to change their mind about the transgender bathroom policy.
"At this time, we do not currently have any students using a restroom other than that designated for their biological gender, or requesting to do so," Eric McGregor, superintendent for Howell public schools, told 7 Action News.
"In light of this, we are pausing on the federal guidance issued to all school districts across the nation in a joint letter on transgender students issued by the Department of Justice and Department of Education on May 13, 2016, while we work to provide opportunities in the coming weeks to gather feedback on this matter," the superintendent's statement said.
The school board will meet with attorneys on June 13 to talk about the school's possible options regarding the transgender bathroom policy.
Stewart and his wife have decided to let their kids go back to Southwest Elementary School.
