Ten US States Sue DoJ Over Guidance on Transgender Bathroom Use in Schools

Ten US states have filed a lawsuit against the US departments of Justice and Education over their recommendation to allow students to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said in a press release on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The lawsuit claims the recommendation from the US federal agencies supersedes the authority of local school districts to deal with student issues on an individual basis, the release pointed out.

"Today, Nebraska, along with nine states, filed an action in Nebraska federal court challenged the US Department of Education and the US Department of Justice’s recent mandate changing current Title IX law regarding how schools assign students to showers, locker rooms and restroom facilities," Peterson stated.

The other US states named as plaintiffs in this case are: Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming.

On May 25, 11 other states filed a similar lawsuit in US federal court.

The departments of Justice and Education issued guidance earlier in May for school districts on best practices for transgender students, including allowing students to use the bathroom of their choice regardless of the gender listed on their birth certificate.

The guidance is not legally binding, but details the Obama administration’s expectation for schools receiving US federal funding to follow it.

Title IX of the US Education Amendment prohibits education programs that receive federal funding from discriminating against anyone based on sex.