The media has been reporting that 11 states filed a legal challenge Wednesday to the Obama administration's directive on allowing transgender students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. It's really nine states (Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin), one inept GOP governor from Maine in his individual capacity, the Arizona Department of Education and, coming on board soon, the slightly slow but passionately LGBT-phobic governor of Mississippi, Phil Bryant.
The lawsuit against federal officials, led by ethically challenged Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is as over the top as one might imagine, reports Samantha Michaels.
"Defendants have conspired to turn workplaces and educational settings across the country into laboratories for a massive social experiment, flouting the democratic process, and running roughshod over commonsense policies protecting children and basic privacy rights," argued the plaintiffs in a suit filed in federal court in Texas.
Naturally Paxton, who's facing several counts of fraud (who can keep track?!), rushed to the defense of some parents who got their panties all in a wad over the policy. But he never thought to meet with parents of transgender students or even the students themselves, because of course he didn't. Much better to function from a place of ignorance.
“They want to make sure the safety of their children is protected,” Paxton said. “We’re willing to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court.”
The attorney general said he had not spoken to parents of transgender students, but added, “I represent the entire state, so I’m open to meeting with anybody.”