Statement from Amy Hunter, Transgender Advocacy Coordinator, ACLU of Michigan, on Senator Tom Casperson’s Anti-Transgender Legislation

Sen. Tom Casperson today introduced a bill that will endanger the health and safety of transgender students, place Michigan’s federal education funding at risk, and subject our state to the same overwhelming backlash occurring in North Carolina and Mississippi in response to similar anti-LGBT legislation.

The “reasonable accommodation” proposed by Casperson is anything but reasonable. Transgender students – already at great risk from bullying, harassment and violence – will be placed at further risk by singling them out to be treated differently by their peers if this ill-conceived piece of legislation becomes law.

Casperson’s bill accomplishes the exact opposite of what students in Michigan need: An educational environment where ALL students are safe; treated with dignity and respect for who they are and encouraged to reach their full potential.