Washington’s schools superintendent says the state isn’t backing down from protecting transgender students.
The announcement from Superintendent Chris Reykdal referenced President Donald Trump’s Feb. 5 executive order that bars transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports. This, Reykdal said, amounts to another federal attempt to usurp the authority of local school districts and states.
Reykdal said in a Feb. 6 news release that Trump is attempting to “withhold federal funds from school districts that do not comply with these discriminatory actions.”
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is working with the state Attorney General’s Office on next steps for the state’s school districts, according to the news release. Reykdal further blasted Trump’s order as “unlawful.”
“One thing is clear: The 47th President of the United States is disregarding the rule of law by attempting to unilaterally impose an attack on the specific student groups that anti-discrimination laws aim to protect,” Reykdal said in the news release.
The White House did not immediately respond to McClatchy’s request for comment.
Reykdal slammed Trump’s order as contradicting Washington’s Law Against Discrimination, as well as anti-discrimination laws for public schools. Discrimination based on gender identity is barred under state law, Reykdal said, and Washington won’t back down.
“Washington state will do everything in our power to defend the rule of law, states’ rights to establish education policy, and to protect the beautiful diversity of our 1.1 million students and educators,” Reykdal said. “We believe in inclusion over discrimination, and love over hate.”
