ICYMI: Gwinnett Students May Use Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Gwinnett County public schools will be making gender-neutral restrooms available, after federal guidance last week that said transgender students should not be forced to use the restroom of their biological gender.

As part of the response, announced in a Sunday post on the school system's website, the school system will continue providing traditional bathrooms, "while offering gender-neutral facilities to any student who does not wish to use the restroom facility designated for his or her biological sex."

But the announcement came with some complaining -- namely, that the federal government had overstepped with the guidance.

"Although the new agency 'guidance' does not have the force of law or regulation, it does infringe upon the abilities of school districts to determine appropriate education policy, procedures, and practices for their students," the post reads.

On Friday, a joint letter from the U.S. Justice and Education departments said transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms matching their gender identity.

The issue has come to the forefront in the wake of North Carolina's House Bill 2 which, in part, deals with transgender bathroom use.

Gwinnett's post acknowledged the tricky social and political issue that public bathroom use has become.

"As this issue involves balancing the interests of a specific group of individuals with those of the broader general student population, it is not likely to be resolved without action on the part of the courts or Congress," the post says. "In the meantime, local schools and school districts are responsible for navigating waters that are emotionally charged, socially sensitive, and politically divisive. Handling this challenging issue demands both common sense and sensitivity."

While maintaining that such issues should be handled at the local level, Gwinnett schools acknowledged the possibility of losing federal education dollars if something wasn't done to address the guidance.

"In Gwinnett County Public Schools we strive daily to ensure that every student feels welcomed, safe, and cared for in our schools," it reads. "We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination toward any student, and we take prompt, appropriate action against those types of behaviors."