Donald Trump is rescinding a directive from his predecessor, Barack Obama, as he and officials from the Departments of Education and Justice contest the rule by saying that the previous administration did not make enough of a case, citing "significant litigation."
Obama's administration had been the polar opposite of Trump's, as it tried to protect students' rights by requiring public schools to treat their transgender students accordingly - that is, according to their preferred gender, this is especially important regarding their restroom and locker room use. Obama then said that denying these students of such privilege is against Title IX, which forbade schools funded by the federal government from discriminating based on sexual identity.
To protect their students from Trump's new directive, Attorney-General Jeff Sessions said in a statement via the Los Angeles Times that local and state governments, including the Congress, could take it upon themselves to adopt "appropriate policies" or laws that could address some of the problems that LGBT students face, including, but not limited to discrimination, bullying, and harassment.
A letter to schools clearly stated that there is a need to protect all students. The Washington Post said that it also clearly stated that the withdrawal of Obama's guidance will not excuse anyone from bullying or harassing members of the LGBT community in their schools. "Schools must ensure that transgender students, like all students, are able to learn in a safe environment," the letter said.
The reversal poses a setback for the Gay Rights movement, but according to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the change will not affect students immediately, especially considering that the guidance was blocked by a court order in Texas last August. However, it will instantly affect a few legal cases, one of which is Gavin Grimm's, who sued his school for barring him from using the boy's bathroom.