WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is directing public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill supports that direction.

“To me it’s kind of common sense that you would want to do that,” said McCaskill. “I’m not aware of any problem that has occurred because of transgender people using the bathroom with the gender they are identifying and living as.”

A joint letter issued by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice tells schools to ensure that “transgender students enjoy a supportive and nondiscriminatory school environment.”

“I’m trying to figure out the alternative. Do women want someone who is living as a man in their bathroom and do men want someone who’s living and presenting as a woman in their bathroom,” asked McCaskill. “I think this is a solution looking for a problem.”

Republicans say the issue is for states to decide, not the federal government. Opponents like ministers, parents and politicians say the Obama administration is overstepping its authority.

A legal battle is underway between the Obama administration and North Carolina about the state’s bathroom policy for transgender students. The law bans transgender students from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex and restricts cities from passing nondiscrimination laws.



(Alisa Nelson, Missourinet)