A Statement from Center for Arizona Policy President, Cathi Herrod, Esq.

PHOENIX – “As the school year begins, students in Arizona and throughout the country do not have to sacrifice their dignity, privacy, or safety to appease the Obama administration’s extreme political agenda – at least for now.

Federal Court Judge Reed O’Connor ruled today to preliminarily enjoin President Obama’s directive to open all public school locker rooms, showers, and bathrooms to both boys and girls. This ruling shows common sense is alive in the midst of political overreach.

The threat to withhold federal funding to schools that refuse to force boys and girls to share locker rooms, showers, and bathrooms is the epitome of irresponsible government bullying.

We agree with the judge’s opinion that President Obama cannot go back in time and rewrite a 44-year-old law. Title IX went through the appropriate legislative process and cannot be unilaterally upended by the President.

We further agree with the judge’s conclusion: ‘Without question, permitting educational institutions to provide separate housing to male and female students, and separate educational instruction concerning human sexuality, was to protect students’ personal privacy, or discussion of their personal privacy, while in the presence of members of the opposite biological sex.’

Arizona can be thankful for elected officials such as Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas for standing up for students and against this federal overreach by joining other states in taking legal action against the president’s directive.

Although this ruling is temporary, we are confident that in the end commonsense solutions can be agreed upon that will protect all students’ privacy, dignity, and safety.”

Center for Arizona Policy promotes and defends the foundational values of life, marriage and family, and religious freedom. For more information, visit azpolicy.org.

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