Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Federal Court Ruling Affirming Rights of Transgender Students

WASHINGTON - May 30, 2017 - Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the unanimous decision of a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirming the right of a transgender student in a Wisconsin public school to use the restroom of his gender identity:

"Today's ruling is an affirmation of the rights of transgender students to live their lives free from discrimination. It sends a strong signal to schools, districts, and states that they have an obligation to protect transgender and gender non-conforming students from discrimination, and to provide an educational environment wherein they can thrive.

Despite the disappointing decision by the Trump Departments of Justice and Education to rescind the Title IX guidance which set forth protections for transgender students, it's clear that a growing number of courts recognize that all Americans, regardless of gender identity, deserve the full protection of the law."

Wade Henderson is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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