Gay GOP group urges Trump to reinstate transgender protections

A gay GOP group is pressing President Trump’s administration to reinstate controversial protections for transgender students.

The Log Cabin Republicans on Friday raised “deep concerns” about last week’s move to rescind an Obama administration directive telling schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice and demanding officials refrain from making decisions “that would harm transgender youth or impede upon their ability to receive an education.”

“As transgender members of the Log Cabin Republicans and Republican parents of transgender students, we have deep concerns about your decision,” the group wrote in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The Education and Justice departments teamed up in rescinding the order.

{mosads}“Log Cabin Republicans is proud to help play a part in the President Trump’s goal to ‘Make America Great Again,’ ” the letter said. “To this end, we request that the Trump administration and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights reconsider rescinding” the protections for transgender students.

President Obama stepped into a heated political debate last May when he sent a Dear Colleague letter that included protections for transgender students. The Trump administration came under scrutiny from LGBT groups last week for reversing the order.

“Last week, while liberals were howling at the heavens, Log Cabin Republicans had our heads down working to develop common-sense conservative solutions to protect transgender students,” said Gregory T. Angelo, the group’s president.

The Log Cabin Republicans recommend Trump “sustain the positive elements of the previous Obama administration guidance, while refining those parts that have become flash points for controversy.”

The letter was signed by Angelo, as well as several members of the group who are either transgender or have a child who is transgender.

“Log Cabin Republicans stands in support of our country’s transgender students,” the group said.