Blog Stage 7

On May 13, 2016, the Obama administration instructed every school district in the country to let transgender students use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

The separation of public bathrooms became basically a civil rights act in the 21st century. And, until this day, I am torn about the transgender, bathroom debate. 

The Unisex bathrooms that occur now in every, new, hip Coffee shop are totally acceptable to me. If I have the urge, I don't really care which gender symbol occur on the bathroom door.  

The real problems though start in school. Studies have shown that transgenders start their changes at usually a very early age or during puberty. But, they are not allowed to show their true gender. Kristina Olson, a psychology professor at University of Washington, started looking into research on transgender children, she was surprised. Olson said, "Nearly all transgender adults today were not allowed to live as their gender identity as kids, so we just don't know what life is going to look like for them." stated in the article When D' Kids Know They’re Transgender? Younger Than You'd Think' , by Posey Gruener.

This article contributes to the idea that Transgenders don't identify with one or the other gender. Here fore in schools, there should be, besides, separated bathrooms , also a unisex bathroom. For instance in my old high school, in Germany, we had separated bathrooms and one or two unisex bathrooms. 

I also totally agree on Obama's directive that stated transgender students have the right to use their preferred bathrooms in public schools because of Title IX, a federal statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender at education institutions that receive federal funding. But, it doesn't solve the whole problem by itself. 

The Republicans are not convinced and don't want to spend more federal money on an issue that should not even be worked on, in the first place.

I do believe that the IX directive is a start to make Transgenders more comfortable in their daily life behavior and also show awareness. But, on the other hand, I think that society is not ready for a fully, liberal place.