Boston Mayor Marty Walsh reaffirmed his support for the transgender community in response to the Trump administration's removal of federal protections that allow students to use school bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identities.
Walsh took to Twitter Thursday morning to decry Trump's actions against the Obama-era directive.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and other state officials and LGBTQ advocacy groups spoke out against Trump's decision at a 2 p.m. press conference at Healey's office.
Healey said Trump's latest action went after children and sent a message that discrimination is acceptable.
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She said that Massachusetts will continue to fight for rights for transgendered persons.
“If the federal government can't protect your rights, we can and we will,” she said.
It will now be up to states and school districts to interpret a federal anti-discrimination law and determine whether students should have access to restrooms that match their expressed gender identity and not just their biological sex.
In a letter to the nation's schools, the Justice and Education departments said the earlier guidance "has given rise to significant litigation regarding school restrooms and locker rooms."
