A federal judge in Fort Worth, Texas issued a federal injunction Sunday that will block guidelines given by the Obama administration meant to protect transgender students and employees in public school restrooms. The Texas Tribune reported Monday that U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor granted the injunction to 12 states, including Texas, that filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration over the federal guidelines directing public schools to allow transgender students and employees to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.
Buzzfeed reported that the lawsuit was filed last week in Texas, where the complainants argue the legislation is a "social experiment":
The lawsuit claims Title IX, a civil rights law that protects against sex discrimination in public schools, was never meant to be interpreted to include gender identity, but Dena Iverson, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice gave a statement to Buzzfeed saying, "While the Department will review the complaint, the federal government has strong legal foundations to uphold the civil rights of transgender Americans."
O'Connor wrote in his injunction order that granted a temporary suspension of the White House directive:
He added:
Buzzfeed reported that the Obama administration is expected to appeal O'Connor's decision, though the Justice Department wouldn't confirm definitively what its next step would be.
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