The Education Secretary says she was well aware of the damage she was doing when she rolled back trans-inclusive guidelines in 2017.
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prohibits discrimination “on the basis of sex ... under any education program or activity.” Last year, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rescinded regulations that explicitly applied these Title IX rights to transgender students, and (among other things) allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity.* Earlier this month, she testified about it before Congress.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici: “When you rolled back [the trans-inclusive] guidance did you know that the stress of harassment and discrimination can lead to lower attendance and grades as well as depression and anxiety for transgender students? Did you know that?”
DeVos: “OCR [Office for Civil Rights] is committed to ensuring all students have equal access to education free from discrimination--”
Bonamici: “Sorry, I would really like answer. Students and families need to know this. Did you know, when you rolled back the guidance, that the stress of harassment and discrimination can lead to lower attendance and grades as well as depression for transgender students?”
DeVos: “I do know that.”
...
Bonamici: “When you rolled back the guidance, did you know that a study recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed alarming levels of attempted suicide among transgender youth?”
DeVos “I am aware of that data.”
She knew; she just didn’t care.
Video is here.
*Devos has also rescinded guidelines allowing colleges and universities to consider racial diversity as an admissions factor, but that’s a different issue.
