Date: 05-27-2016
Lawrence County will follow state guidelines, Fletcher has said
Kentucky is joining 11 other states in their lawsuit against the federal government over its transgender bathroom guidelines.
Gov. Matt Bevin announced the lawsuit in a statement Friday.
“The federal government has no authority to dictate local school districts’ bathroom and locker room policies,” Bevin said. “The Obama administration’s transgender policy ‘guidelines’ are an absurd federal overreach into a local issue.”
“Unfortunately, Attorney General Andy Beshear is unwilling to protect Kentucky’s control over local issues. Therefore, my administration will do so by joining this lawsuit. We are committed to protecting the 10th Amendment and fighting federal overreach into state and local issues.”
Locally, school superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher made the following statement to staff and students:
“…To ALL Staff:
Undoubtedly, you are receiving a lot of questions about how we are handling the “guidance” that was issued by the White House last Friday concerning transgender students and the use of school restrooms. Last night, I issued a public statement on behalf of the Lawrence County Board of Education. The statement can be summarized with the following:
Lawrence County Schools will continue to respect the right to privacy of each of our students as well as their civil rights. Since Kentucky law has not been enacted to the contrary, separate restroom facilities will be provided for male, female, and transgender students as necessary. In short, students who are biologically male will not be permitted the use of restroom facilities of those that are designated for females (or vice versa).
If you receive any questions, you will know how to respond.”
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers issued the following statement following Governor Bevin’s May 27, 2016 press release regarding federal litigation:
“I commend Governor Bevin for joining the lawsuit against the Obama Administration’s recent decision, based upon an unprecedented expansion of a law enacted in 1972, to issue transgender policy guidelines regarding the use of local school district bathrooms and locker rooms.”
“I also urge Attorney General Beshear and House and Senate Democrats to support the federal lawsuit to protect local control of Kentucky schools from federal overreach and Tenth Amendment violations. We must stand with Governor Bevin in opposing strong-arm tactics of the Obama Administration. Those tactics threaten the removal of taxpayer funds to compel Kentucky schools to conform to novel and dubious interpretations of federal law.”
House Republican Leader Jeff Hoover also issued a statement on Kentucky Lawsuit Regarding Transgender Bathrooms:
“I commend Governor Bevin for joining in the important lawsuit against the federal government over new guidelines on how schools should accommodate transgender students.
As I said previously, I firmly believe the Obama Administration has exceeded its authority on the issue of access to public school bathrooms. Unfortunately, this is the not the first time President Obama has attempted to force his liberal agenda on the citizens of the Commonwealth. This is an issue that should be decided by local officials and not by politicians in Washington.
It is a shame that Andy Beshear did not show leadership on this effort. It is obvious that the numerous controversies involving the Attorney General’s office are distracting him from one of the most important facets of his job, to represent the Commonwealth. It is imperative that he put away his animosity toward Governor Bevin and his administration and attend to his constitutional duties.”
By Tom Loftus
The Courier-Journal
Lazer Publisher Mark Grayson contributed to this story
