"All schools must ensure that all students, including LGBT students, are able to learn and thrive in a safe environment," it said. Advocates say federal law will still prohibit discrimination against students based on their gender or sexual orientation. The Obama administration's guidance was based on its determination that Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education, also applies to gender identity. Dan Patrick equated it to blackmail and said his state was ready to forfeit federal education money rather than comply. It has the possibility of hurting transgender students and transgender people.

Source: Fox News February 23, 2017 00:22 UTC