BOSTON — The federal government may soon require Massachusetts public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, regardless of whether the state legislature passes the so-called "bathroom bill," an examination of U.S. Department of Education documents indicates.
Massachusetts is currently considering legislation that would give transgendered people the right to use the bathroom or locker room that corresponds to their gender identity, rather than their anatomical sex. But officials at the U.S. Department of Education say that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 already mandates that result in schools that receive federal funding.
BOSTON – While Speaker Robert DeLeo said Monday he hoped to pass transgender anti-discrimination legislation this session, the House of Representatives voted to give the committee reviewing the measure more time before it must make a recommendation.
DeLeo, who supports the bill that would provide anti-discrimination protections to transgender people using public accommodations, said he still does not know whether the House would have the votes to override a possible veto.
