California Legislators, Equality California Condemn Secretary Betsy DeVos for Failing to Protect Transgender Students
(Sacramento) - Following a report published Saturday by Politico's Caitlin Emma detailing U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos's refusal to investigate at least five civil rights complaints filed by transgender students, California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond), California Legislative LGBT Caucus Chair Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) and Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur released the following joint statement:
"Secretary DeVos' egregious failure to protect transgender public school students from discrimination, bullying and harassment is not just a dereliction of her duty to enforce federal civil rights laws, but part of a larger campaign by the Trump-Pence Administration to dehumanize transgender Americans. Time and again, Ms. DeVos has chosen to put her own political agenda ahead of the needs of the nation's most vulnerable students. It is time for Ms. DeVos to take seriously the oath she took to serve all students — including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender — and to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in an environment free of discrimination and harassment."