Education Secretary John B. King Jr. spoke yesterday at the Education Writers Association national conference in Boston. He was asked about the laws in North Carolina and Mississippi restricting the rights of transgender Americans.

Asked about the laws King called them hateful and said gender identity should be protected.

He said the laws send a problematic message to students and he is calling on state legislatures to repeal them.

My hope is legislators will realize they've made a terrible mistake.

--Sec King