Press Releases

Rep. Blunt Rochester, a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after President Trump and his administration revoked the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice joint guidance protecting transgender students in schools.

“President Trump has gone against his newly confirmed Secretary of Education and completely reversed his own campaign pledge to protect the LGBT community by making the disappointing decision to rollback Title IX protections. This decision is deeply disturbing for a variety of reasons, but mostly because it’s a cruel indication that he doesn’t fully understand the issues facing transgender students across the country. This decision will greatly impact their well-being by sending the message that their concerns are irrelevant and emboldening bullies in schools to discriminate against them.

“Our transgender population faces unimaginable discrimination and tragically, 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide with 92% of them attempting suicide before the age of 25. It’s our moral responsibility to do all we can to see to it that these numbers drop. We do that by encouraging transgender students to be their true selves and by promoting fair treatment.

“I implore the President to follow the First Lady’s example of wanting to stop bullying by reconsidering this rollback of key protections for transgender students. These young people are just that, people, and they deserve better from their government. I’m going to keep fighting for them even if this administration will not.”

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