Long Island LGBT Community Speaks Out Against Revocation of Transgender Bathroom Guidance

WOODBURY, NY - The New York LGBT Network hosted a press conference on Thursday alongside parents and transgender youths after President Donald Trump revoked a guidance for public schools to allow transgender students use the bathrooms of their choice.

LGBT Network CEO David Kilmnick stood with students and parents at the conference held in Woodbury to discuss the action and how it will affect the local youths.

Last May, the Obama administrative issued a guidance letter to schools across the nation which stated that all students should be allowed to use restrooms which were consistent with their gender identity under the federal Title IX protections.

On Wednesday, President Trump announced his decision to repeal Obama’s guidance letter.

"We are here today to publicly denounce this action that refuses to protect those most vulnerable amongst us and stand for the protection, the safety and the dignity of our transgender youth," Kilmnick said.

He then went on the say that refusing to protect transgender youth is "deplorable" and "dangerous."

According to Kilmnick, three out of four transgender youths report feeling unsafe at school and over 40 percent have been physically abused at school. In addition, over half of transgender students have skipped school due to bullying.

"Toxic schools contribute to higher rates of suicide, depression, homelessness and HIV infection for our transgender youth," he said.

In July 2015, in New York State, the state education department issued a guidance to all school districts on how to foster safe environments for transgender youths, which remains in effect today. The guidelines included use of bathroom and pronoun use.

In addition to Kilmnick, several transgender residents spoke out and shared their stories at the conference including a transgender woman, 18-year-old Madeline Bruni who spoke about the time the police were called once when she tried to use the women's restroom at a New York restaurant.

However, some people agree with the action taken by the Trump administration.

"No longer will federal officials distort federal law that is meant to equalize educational opportunities for women, and no longer will they force local officials to intermingle boys and girls within private areas like locker rooms, showers, hotel rooms on school trips and restrooms,” Gary McCaleb, senior counsel for the conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, told Newsday.

In response to the action taken by President Trump, the LGBT Network set up a 27/4 hotline for any transgender youths experiencing discrimination to call.

Watch the full press conference below: