Social conservatives, angered by the federal government’s “guidance” that school districts should allow transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities of their choice, are pressuring Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi to push back against the initiative.
But so far, Scott and Bondi have resisted getting pulled into the politically combustible issue in the face of rapidly shifting public attitudes about issues affecting the LGBT community.
On Wednesday, state Rep. Janet Adkins publicly announced that she had asked Bondi to address whether the Obama administration’s guidance is tantamount to a federal rule, or if it violates the 10th Amendment’s guarantee of state sovereignty for Florida.
“To craft a special class of rights for certain individuals and to allow people to make decisions based on how they identify their gender creates a chaotic environment for the school administrators,” said Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, in a statement released by her office. “This is illogical and harms the greater need for an orderly learning environment that promotes the safety and well-being of all students.”
Adkins, who chairs the state House K-12 Subcommittee, is running for schools superintendent in Nassau County.
A joint letter from officials at the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice last week said school districts should treat transgender students in accordance with their chosen gender identity under Title IX, the part of federal law that bar sex discrimination in education.
The guidance “does not add requirements to applicable law, but provides information and examples to inform recipients about how the departments evaluate whether covered entities are complying with their legal obligations,” the letter said. In turn, that could affect federal funding.
While opponents of allowing transgender students to use restrooms that don’t conform with their sex at birth say it could lead to a breakdown in school discipline or even attacks, supporters say there is no evidence of that. LGBT advocates also argue that forcing students to use restrooms that don’t correspond to their gender identity could lead to safety problems.
In a letter dated Wednesday, Florida Deputy Attorney General Kent Perez responded to Adkins by thanking her for the request but declining to address the question directly.
“We do not issue legal opinions on federal law,” Perez wrote.
Scott has also avoided taking a position on the federal guidance, simply saying that his office was reviewing the issue.
Earlier this week, Republican congressional candidate Ken Sukhia, running for a North Florida seat that spans parts or all of 19 counties, called for Scott to tell school districts to ignore the president’s “insane proclamation.”
The Florida Family Policy Council, an organization set up to advance social conservative causes, has issued a letter by President John Stemberger calling on supporters to sign an online petition asking Scott to defy the Obama administration.
“For starters, the governors in at least six states have told the Obama administration they will NOT comply with his unlawful and dangerous edict,” Stemberger wrote. “But Florida is not yet one of them. We need your help to make that happen. States MUST push back!”
When asked by email Wednesday whether there was anything new to report in regard to the approach of the governor’s office on the issue, a Scott spokeswoman simply replied: “No.”
r&r says
This is another law that is focused on the muslim ethic.
This JERK Obana wants a legacy before he leaves and this is one more STUPID thing he’s cramming down our throat. His legacy will be he’s the worst president in our history.
PCer says
People just want to pee. Why is this an issue? People have been peeing for thousands of years. Transgender people have been using whichever bathroom best suits them forever. Why is it only recently we are focusing on this?
THEY JUST HAVE TO PEE!!!!
jasonb says
Why are Rush-publicans so preocupied with having things shoved down their throat, wishful thinking?
Donald Trump's Tiny Fingers says
Ah yes, the infamous Muslim ethic of “equality for everyone,” certainly not to be confused with the southern christian ethic of “everyone’s equal but some are more equal than others.”
YankeeExPat says
In response to r&r;
“This is another law that is focused on the muslim ethic”
.
What Muslim ethic does this relate to? Enlighten us, if you would.
Anonymous says
Rick Scott and Pam Bondi:
NO, you may not use the restroom.
Use a bucket. Sorry, no buckets…
Hold it in.
Keep it hidden says
Does being MUM mean they don’t support the President and they don’t want to let their position be known for political reasons?
terminus says
God this entire thing is so overblown. A rapist or a someone that wants to do harm to another person does not need an invitation to enter a bathroom. They will enter the bathroom. They will enter your home. They will attack you in a grocery store. On the street. Wherever they want. All people want is to do their urinating and deficating in the bathroom that they feel most comfortable doing that in. Do you even know who is in the bathroom with you? I don’t. I go in, get in the stall, do my thing, wash my hands and go. Done. I don’t know about some of these people that protest too much about certain things. Trust me, a transwoman or man is more interested in the porcelain throne than what you’ve got going on.
Geezer says
Popular restroom signs:
“Our aim is to keep this bathroom clean, and your aim will help.”
“No job is finished until the paperwork is done.”
“This restroom is not Rick Scott compatible.”
AtGeezer says
@Geezer,
You should include:
“We aim to please. You aim too, please.”
Geezer says
AtGeezer:
I’ll add that one my list.
Here’s another:
“Urine trouble if you don’t clean up after yourself.”
There were 3 public toilets on the interstate rest area.
One door said “Gents,” one said “Ladies,”
the third one: “Fabulous”
r&r says
Those of you muslim/Obama lovers must be proud of yourselves for destrying the morals and integrity of this country.
Donald Trump's Tiny Fingers says
Pretty sure any remaining integrity this country had got flushed down the toilet when Reagan got elected
mcsmiley64 says
So when I was in Honduras, I had to pee. I walk in and there was a female custodian just cleaning away as the guys are just peeing away, like no big deal.
Nancy N. says
r&r, since the so-called “morals” you are referring to that President Obama has worked to destroy are bigotry, racism, sexism, and other things that should have been left in the last century…yeah, this liberal is pretty proud.
Sherry says
Right On Nancy N. . . call me a proud liberal as well. . . and excellent comment terminus.
With the terrible bigots and President Obama haters like r&r, that comment so frequently here, I’ll continue to be my best to “consider the source” and completely ignore their ignorant rants.
What’s really perverted is the obsession with puritanical self righteousness and the prejudice and discrimination that goes along with it. Terminus is quite right. . . when it comes down to it we ALL need a safe and clean place to relieve ourselves of human waste. To do so is quite natural. It’s not gross or perverse. It is not criminal. Europeans and citizens of most other countries have a much more healthy attitude about the natural act urinating and defecating than some Americans do. Communal toilets are quite common in many areas of the world and sharing toilets between genders has created no problems at all, in itself.
Blaming EVERYTHING on President Obama is noting short of lunacy. If a person wants to perpetuate an unseemly or criminal sexual act against another. . . they certainly are not going to worry about gender rules in public toilets. For example, unfortunately those acts often happen in homes . . . where children should feel safe and protected. We should be focused on MUCH BETTER mental health treatment instead of passing discriminatory laws that have absolutely no way of being enforced, much less have a positive impact on criminal activity of a sexual nature.
But NO, many of our politicians and many of our media outlets would much rather do everything in their power to divide us and make us suspicious and blaming of one another. We are much easier to manipulate that way. . . and “witch hunts” are much cheaper than REAL solutions!
r&r says
Since Obama has been in office things have been gettig worse. With the riots in Fulton and Baltimore when Obama said I’d be right there with them if I were there nd in Baltimore when the mayor who was black told the police to stand down and let them have their fun. This was when they were burnig, looting and destroying peoples livelihood. As far as I’m concerned they can all go to hell.
Bill harveyy says
Sick world out there , not getting any better. I am so glad that my time is short with this sick human race
Traveling Rep says
It is astounding that there is so much focus on this. I mean the population of these troubled people is a tiny fraction of the population, yet lefties want to focus on them instead of the mountain of other problems plaguing our nation. I agree that these people have mental issues and need help. Until they get that help, if they were born a dangler – use the men’s room. If they were not born a dangler, use the women’s room. It is an absolute waste of taxpayer dollars to construct a neutral bathroom at every stinking (pun intended) gubermint building.
Ok, now that that is done, let’s get on to fixing the real problems like: not sending money to people that hate us before taking care of our own impoverished people. In the same breath, no more free handouts to money grubbing deadbeats that simply don’t want to work – all able bodied welfare recipients must actively seek work and/or education. Get rid of or overhaul any government entity that leans to either political persuasion OR fleeces taxpayers (IRS, DOJ, Dept. of Ed, etc.). Deport All Illegals NOW!!! And no, the term is not undocumented – It IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT and they are parasites sucking up financial resources that could be used to do other stuff. Like, you know, pay down the enormous debt that obumblfk is leaving us with.
Aves says
How is this a “Muslim ethic”? Radical Muslims treat transgender individuals just as badly as radical Christians do.
Donald Trump's Tiny Fingers says
Hilariously enough, it’s not the left passing laws to attack the LGBT community but the right. Maybe the right should concentrate on that mountain of problems plaguing our nation instead of passing ridiculous laws trying to dictate their morality to the rest of us.
Sherry says
Right On DTTF! My thoughts exactly!
Amazing how some bigots manage to twist facts and blame absolutely EVERYTHING on our twice elected President!