CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is supporting the Trump administration’s decision to lift federal guidelines that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identities.
In a statement Thursday, Morrisey said he applauds the move, adding policies on this matter should be left to states.
The guidelines were put in place in May 2016 by the Departments of Education and Justice under the Obama administration. Both departments at the time emphasized the importance of Title IX, a federal law that prevents schools from discriminating against students because of their sex.
A federal judge last year put a hold on the order after 13 states – including West Virginia – sued over the guidance.
Morrisey sent state and county education officials in May and August 2016 about fighting the policy and protecting school funding.
“As we’ve been saying, these matters are best handled at the state and local level,” Morrisey said. “We’ve been pleased to lead the nation on the issue and to have played an important part in protecting the states’ proper role in determining educational policy.”
Morrisey also said the directive could have threatened almost $56 billion in federal funds for schools that refused to comply.
According to Morrisey, Wednesday’s action withdrew guidance in a case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court. The case involves a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling made in April 2016.
In the case, the appeals court ruled in favor of 17-year-old Gavin Grimm, a transgender high school student from Gloucester County, Va., who sued his local school board for the right to use the boys’ bathroom.
In September, Morrisey was instrumental in asking the Supreme Court to review the case on behalf of 21 states.
The case will be argued before the high court in March.