If measure becomes law, Tennessee public schools and universities would be at risk of litigation and loss of critical federal funds

NASHVILLE – Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. CT, the Tennessee House Education Administration & Planning Subcommittee is expected to hear HB 2414 – an outrageous bill targeting transgender students in public elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as those in public universities. The measure seeks to force transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity.

Fair-minded Tennesseans; major national child welfare, medical, and education groups; the Tennessee Equality Project; and the Human Rights Campaign have pleaded with lawmakers to abandon the discriminatory measure. The proposal is even more egregious than an appalling bill vetoed by Republican South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard just last week.

Ahead of tomorrow’s vote, here’s what you should know about HB 2414:

• The legislation targets transgender students in public elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as those in public universities;

• The proposal puts Tennessee public schools and universities at risk of litigation and loss of critical federal funds by forcing them into an untenable position of choosing between state and federal law;

• The Tennessee bill is even more egregious than the appalling legislation vetoed recently by South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard;

• Several major national child welfare, medical, and education groups have strongly condemned this type of discriminatory legislation that would further marginalize transgender students;

• It ties the hands of school administrators and teachers who would no longer have the flexibility they need to find workable solutions in coordination with transgender students and their parents; and

• The bill is being pushed by anti-LGBT extremists from outside Tennessee and addresses no pressing issue concerning Tennessee’s school districts or universities.

More information on the legislation can be found here.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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