With the Trump administration plans being prepared to dismantle the Obama guidance created to protect the hundreds of thousands of transgender students nationwide, an Obama official has chosen to speak out.

Vanita Gupta led the DoJ Civil Rights Division under Obama. You can read more about her here.

This administration cannot strip away the rights of transgender students by retracting the guidance — the issue is before the courts now and the law has not changed. To cloak this in federalism ignores the vital and historic role that federal law plays in ensuring that all children (including LGBT students) are able to attend school free from discrimination.

--Gupta

Schools repeatedly asked for guidance on how to support transgender students and create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all. The guidance has been, and will continue to be, an important and practical resource for schools.

--Anurima Bhargava, who helmed the educational opportunities section of Justice Department’s civil rights division under Obama

No young person should wake up in the morning fearful of the school day ahead. When this guidance was issued last year, it provided our families — and other families like our own across the country — with the knowledge and security that our government was determined to protect our children from bullying and discrimination. Please do not take that away from us.

--Parents for Transgender Equality

You never give up hope that if people — including elected officials — hear from people at the center of the policy debate, that their hearts will be opened and their minds will be changed.

--Sarah McBride, Human Rights Campaign

While the Trump Administration calls into question its support for transgender students, GLSEN won't. And neither will the thousands of teachers, administrators and parents around the country who work with GLSEN and our local chapters to ensure that transgender students everywhere have the opportunity to simply be themselves and live better lives.

--Eliza Baird, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

Such clear action directed at children would be a brazen and shameless attack on hundreds of thousands of young Americans who must already defend themselves against schoolyard bullies, but are ill-equipped to fight bullies on the floors of their state legislatures and in the White House.

Title IX already protected trans students before [Obama's] guidance, that's why they issued it. The schools still have an obligation to do that.

We will look at all our options, including the legal aspects.

--Mara Keisling, NCTE

Trump, Sessions and DeVos may not want to ensure the safety of trans youth but they cannot change federal law. But transgender youth and their families are scared.

--Chris Strangio, ACLU