US state bans transgender children using their preferred toilets at school
A US governor has banned transgender pupils from using their preferred toilet at state schools.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who used to be the White House press secretary under Donald Trump, has also applied the new law to changing rooms, and it will affect preschool children.
Arkansas is now the fourth state to place such a restriction on schoolchildren, with several others expected to sign similar laws this year.
Another stricter bill which bans adult transgender people using their preferred public bathrooms may also be implemented.
The proposed law would allow someone to be charged with misdemeanour sexual indecency with a child if a minor is present.
A spokesperson for governor said: ‘The Governor has said she will sign laws that focus on protecting and educating our kids, not indoctrinating them and believes our schools are no place for the radical left’s woke agenda.
‘Arkansas isn’t going to rewrite the rules of biology just to please a handful of far-left advocates.’
The new Arkansas law requires schools provide reasonable accommodations, including single-person toilets.
Staff who violate the prohibition could face fines of at least 1,000 US dollars from a state panel, and parents could also file private lawsuits to enforce the measure.
Similar laws have been enacted in Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee, although lawsuits have been filed challenging them.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than two dozen bathroom bills have been filed in 17 states.
Paul Castillo, senior counsel and students’ rights strategist for Lambda Legal, said: ‘They’re singling out transgender people for no other reason than dislike, disapproval and misunderstanding of who transgender youth are.
‘And the entire school population suffers as a result of these types of bills, particularly schools and teachers and administrators who are dealing with real problems and need to focus on creating a welcome environment for every student.’
Proposals to restrict the transgender community have seen a resurgence over the last year, including banning transgender girls from school sports and restricting drag shows.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.