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State joins lawsuit challenging bathroom mandate

Posted at 11:55 AM, May 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-25 20:17:16-04

Arizona is one of 11 states suing the federal government over President Barack Obama's mandate that public schools will allow transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender identities.

In a press release, Arizona Attorney General seemingly mocked the concept, putting the term "gender identity" in quotes.

"President Obama has no business setting locker room and restroom policies for our schools," Brnovich wrote. "Deciding how to protect our children and preserve their privacy, while balancing these complicated issues, is best done locally and not by some knee-jerk decree from Washington."

Arizona education chief Diane Douglas also chimed in with her support of the suit.

"When Arizona students attend school, they deserve a safe environment that is free from bullying and discrimination, regardless of their gender identity,” Douglas said in the same release. "I know that our districts and schools have policies in place to ensure that is the case. The fact that the federal government has yet again decided that it knows what is best for every one of our local communities is insulting and, quite frankly, intolerable."

Click here to view the suit.