HB2 Impact On Transgender Youth In Schools

CHARLOTTE, NC– “I know of trans youth in almost every school that I work in,” said Parker Smith with Time Out Youth.

Parker Smith counsels transgender kids and teens at Time Out Youth and says the impact of HB2 in schools is more widespread and severe than many realize.

“Sometimes youth don’t go to the bathroom at school for 8-12 hours don’t eat, don’t drink at lunch so they don’t use the bathroom because they’re terrified,” said Smith.

Which is why Parker says they hope Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools follow President Obama’s bathroom policy and not current state law. CMS received the letter from the justice department Friday telling WCCB:

“CMS will continue to support every student and family to provide a safe, welcoming and caring learning environment in each of our schools.”

Democratic state lawmakers spoke out again Friday over threats North Carolina could lose federal education dollars because of the transgender bathroom battle.

“Right now North Carolina is 48th in the nation in per pupil spending if we lose federal education funding due to HB2 we will be a distant last place,” said Senator Jeff Jackson.

Congressman Robert Pittenger says Republican lawmakers from North Carolina are not going to back down. Saying they send a letter to the Administration and the Department of Education saying that they had no legal right to withhold education funds.

“We’re going to stand strong, this president is aggressive and that’s his style and approach but we’re going to counter him,” said Republican Congreeman, Robert Pittenger.

Parker says transgenders are more at risk in bathrooms than anyone who’s scared of them.

“For trans kids this is an issue of assault, this is an issue of being harassed violently in a place where everybody should feel comfortable,” said Smith.