Opposing Narratives: Trump's Withdrawal from Obama's Transgender Bathroom Guidelines

The discussion of President Trump’s decision to withdraw from Obama’s guidelines that allowed transgender students the freedom to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity, under Title IX protecting students from discrimination based on their sex, was a highly salacious hot-topic. After a Google search in order to discover more articles regarding this action by Mr. Trump, I struggled to find an article released after February 24, 2017. This goes to prove that this, at the time monumental, political move has already faded from the media’s eye. However, this is a still mentioned throughout the ongoing fight and narrative surrounding transgender rights. From the point of view of the LGBTQ community and advocates this withdrawal is a major step back in civil rights, but conservatives believe this is a simply loosening the grip the federal government has on public schools.

An article posted on MSN news by Moriah Balingit, Emma Brown, and Sandhya Somashekhar of the Washington Post encourages sympathy for transgender students. This article is more left-leaning, which is represented through supportive statements for the Obama administration and skepticism towards the Trump administration. Another article from Fox news, a right-leaning source, written by Ryan Gaydos shows more support for Trump and is hopeful for his future plans regarding transgender students in public schools as a result of his withdrawal. To begin, both contrasting articles feature a quote from White House spokesman Sean Spicer, but the context surrounding the quotes differs. After withdrawing from the Obama administration’s guidelines, Spicer said, “I think that all you have to do is look at what the president’s view has been for a long time, that this is not something that the federal government should be involved in, this is a states’ rights issue.” The MSN article follows this quote with an explanation of Obama’s strides in transgender rights and suggests that even though Trump supported gay and transgender rights throughout his campaign, his actions are representative of typical conservative values. The article continues to explain negative implications of Trump’s withdrawal and victimize transgender students while demonizing this legislation. In the Fox article, the context of the quote implies that this has always been Trump’s viewpoint so his withdrawal should not be surprising. This seems to be an attempt to shift responsibility when it comes to supporting transgender rights from President Trump, as he claimed throughout his campaign, to states.

The narrative of the Fox article focuses on the effects this policy change will have on states and school administrators. It also refers to an interview with Trump where he explains that this will only affect a “tiny, tiny” percentage of the population. He further explains that he just simply does not have an opinion on this issue and that he would prefer the states to decide. The article ends with an attempt at positivity that schools could simply work out a “win-win” solution at a local level. The narrative of MSN is vastly different. It is extremely sympathetic of transgender students in public schools, and claims this withdrawal is stripping transgender students of their rights. This article focuses on stories from parents of transgender students and the students themselves explaining how this legislation roll-back will affect their lives. These are the two major opposing narratives I have discovered will reading about Trump’s decision.

Balingit, M., Brown, E., & Somashekhar, S. (2017, February 22). Trump administration poised to change transgender student bathroom guidelines. The Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-administration-poised-to-change-transgender-student-bathroom-guidelines/ar-AAnbJVx

Gaydos, R. (2017, February 22). Trump administration working on new transgender bathroom directive. Fox News. Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/22/trump-administration-working-on-new-transgender-bathroom-directive.html

Opposing Narratives: Trump Drops Federal Legislation Protecting Transgender Students

     Earlier this month, Donald Trump decided to withdraw from federal guidelines established during Obama's administration that protect transgender children attending public schools rights to use the bathroom of their choice. President Trump has dropped these guidelines from a federal level and is allowing states to decide for themselves. These guidelines allowed children the choice to use whichever restroom matches their gender identity. This ruling now makes transgender children in more conservative states vulnerable to discrimination. The past few years transgender rights have made there way to the mainstream media, and in turn opposing narratives emerge from "conservative" vs. "liberal" media outlets. It appears that the past presidential campaign, election, and new administration has created fertile ground for biased news or press that works to maintain the echo chamber of the party it is supporting.
      The conservative or alt-right news outlet Breitbart has become popular recently for it's extreme and controversial views. Joel B. Pollak of Breitbart released an article on February 23, 2017 titled "California Defies Trump On Transgender Bathrooms for Kids." The headline immediately is attempting to shift the blame onto the California Department of Education, rather than President Trump. The use of the word "defies," to openly resist or refuse to obey, is used in order to make the opponents appear radical and uncooperative rather than angry at Trump's decision. The opening paragraph of this article continues to state, "The Obama administration urged schools to allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms according to their 'gender identity,' as opposed to biological sex" (Pollak, 2017). The use of quotes around gender identity insinuates that the author does not believe in a difference between gender identity and biological sex. Pollak continues to warn readers that this legislation could result in "anatomically male students undressing in front of female students" (Pollak, 2017). I believe this is a tactic used to make the readers feel worried or concerned for their children, even though this example is not realistic. To close the article, Pollak claims that only "0.6% of American adults identify as 'transgender'" (2017) though he does not state how or where this statistic was created. This article seems to be targeted toward the sympathetic audience, that supports Trump's decision to withdraw from the guidelines, in order to rile up the hostiles. Moderates that read this article, or frankly any article from Breitbart, will receive a biased explanation of the event. They are taking advantage of their ignorance and providing them with poorly stated alternative facts. Pollak uses the peripheral root and heuristic triggers to persuade his audience. Clearly, this article by Joel Pollack is directed towards a conservative audience, and uses emotional appeals more than factual information.
     The New York Times is considered a more left-leaning news outlet. Liam Stack published an article on February 11, 2017 titled "Trump Drops Defense of Obama Guidelines on Transgender Students." In contrast to Pollak's headline, the NYT headline places blame on President Trump and implies that the transgender students are the victims in this case. Stack takes a more sympathetic approach to this issue, but also includes facts to explain the situation rather than opinion. This article attempts to push the blame more on Trump, including quotes from the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality Mara Keisling, calling this a "callous attack on the dignity and safety of transgender students" (Stack, 2017). The rhetoric of this article uses language that unites to audience and identifies Trump as the common enemy. Stack writes, "The Obama administration evolved into an ardent defender of transgender students" (2017). Stack utilizes the central root to persuade his audience by carefully considering the evidence and facts of the situation.




Pollak, J. B. (2017 February 23). California defies Trump on transgender bathrooms for kids.  Retrieved from: http://www.breitbart.com/california/2017/02/23/transgender-california-defies-trump-  directive-repeal/

Stack, L. (2017, February 11). Trump drops defense of Obama guidelines on transgender students.      The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/11/us/politics/trump-    transgender-students-injunction.html?_r=0