News Release
For Immediate Release: May 18, 2016
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Child Advocacy Group Commends PA Legislators Who Ask Obama to Rescind Bathroom Directive
(Harrisburg) — Ninety-seven members of the PA State House have signed a letter to President Obama expressing outrage over his misguided and illegal edict to every school district in America demanding they open the girls’ bathroom, locker and shower rooms to boys who think they are girls and vice versa. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide child advocacy group, applauds the legislators’ efforts in trying to protect the school children in this Commonwealth.
“These ninety-seven Republican members of the PA House understand the ramifications of the Department of Education and Department of Justice’s illegal demands on PA school districts through last Friday’s letter and Emerging Principles document. It’s unfortunate no Democratic member of the House is willing to stand up to protect Pennsylvania’s students. To determine bathroom, locker and shower room usage by how someone feels is ridiculous. Those who are confused about their sexuality should receive counseling, not be allowed to continue in their delusion,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
The letter notes, “In Johnson v. Univ. of Pittsburgh Com. Sys. of Higher Education, the federal court for the Western District Court of Pennsylvania found that Title IX’s language did not provide a basis for a transgender status claim. The Court held that ‘Title IX and its implementing regulations clearly permit schools to provide students with certain sex-segregated spaces, including bathroom and locker room facilities, to perform certain private activities and bodily functions consistent with the individual’s birth sex’ (emphasis added).”
“The language of Title IX has not changed. When it was passed in 1972, ‘sex’ did not mean gender identity and it still does now. Only Congress can change a law, neither President Obama, Secretary of Education John King, nor US Attorney General Loretta Lynch have that authority. I repeat there is nothing in federal or PA state law supporting or requiring ‘gender identity’ policies,” Gramley further noted.
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