MILWAUKEE -- Transgender students are back in the spotlight after the Trump administration rolled back a rule about how they should be treated in schools.
"Kids are going to die because of this to be honest," Elijah Walker said.
Walker is a sophomore student at UW-Milwaukee. He's concerned about the rights of transgender students that will no longer be protected under the guise of the federal law.
"This isn't creating a safe environment for trans students, and it's othering them further, it's criminalizing trans bodies," Walker continued.
The decision by the Justice and Education departments overturns guidance from the Obama administration. Under the Obama directive, a federal law known as Title IX would protect the rights of transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identities.
"It's very disheartening that the Trump administration does not recognize that this is a civil rights issue," Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Executive Director Karen Gotzler said.
"It really should be addressed at the federal level," she continued.
But all hope isn't lost for Transgender Resource Specialist Shelley Gregory, who also works at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. Gregory said many local school districts have worked hard to support transgender students, and she hopes this continues regardless of the Trump administration rolling back federal protections.
"Our local Milwaukee Public Schools System has done a great job with its gender inclusion policy. Recognizing that individuals simply need to have access to the restrooms appropriate for their gender identity," she said.
According to Gregory, over 200 schools in Wisconsin have put in place policies to support transgender students without the guidance of the federal government, and she along with many other advocates hope to see this kind of support and protection continue across the county.
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