Florida Rep. Janet Adkins (R- Fernandina Beach) is asking State Attorney General Pam Bondi to weigh in on the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Education’s position on public school bathroom policies.
In a letter sent May 15, Adkins addresses seven questions to Bondi asking for her opinion “regarding the directives contained in the letter from Ms. Catherine Lhamon from the U.S. Department of Education and from Vanita Gupta from the U.S. Department of Justice.”
The questions deal with whether or not the federal government is overstepping their boundaries with the issued directives as well as any legal recourse the state may have if the directives are not followed.
The directives sent from Obama, along with statements from both Lhamon and Gupta, state public schools must permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity.
“While we do not seek to discriminate against anyone in Florida, it should be clear that the role of the federal government is limited and it is up to the individual states and local school boards to decide whether to adopt laws or rules related to the use of locker rooms and bathrooms by individuals who identify themselves as transgender,” Adkins’ letter reads.
Adkins states the “significant guidance” issued at the federal level will create discrimination against those students with religious beliefs that conflict with the directives.
“The larger public need is to ensure that the schools have a framework that allows for the orderly management of the schools, classrooms and athletic facilities,” the letter reads.
Deputy Attorney General Kent Perez responded to Adkins on behalf of Bondi May 18.
“Thank you for your recent letter requesting assistance in interpreting the intent of the United States Department of Justice,” Perez’s response says. “We do not issue legal opinions on Federal law.”
The issue of which bathrooms transgender people use made national headlines when North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed an anti-LGBT bill into law March 23 that forbids transgender people from using public facilities that align with their gender identity. The bill also prevents municipalities from protecting their LGBT residents from discrimination.
The North Carolina law led to many corporations and entertainers pulling business out of the state and a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department.
The Florida House attempted to pass their own “bathroom bill” in 2015 with House Bill 583, Single-Sex Public Facilities. The bill died before the Judiciary Committee.
Read Adkins full letter to Bondi at attorney-general-letter-title-ix (1).
