GOP lawmaker got so mad at a school for protecting trans kids...

[Jessica_Rose]

GOP lawmaker got so mad at a school for protecting trans kids that he's trying to impose fines

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gop-lawmaker-got-so-mad-at-a-school-for-protecting-trans-kids-that-he-s-trying-to-impose-fines/ar-AA1y4PEd?ocid=windirect&cvid=dd615149432443949522b19d8c5886c1&ei=11

Story by Greg Owen (29 Jan 2025)

A North Dakota lawmaker introduced legislation on Monday to punish the Fargo Public Schools district and their superintendent for standing up for LGBTQ+ students in defiance of the state's draconian bathroom law.

The proposed measure, House Bill 1144, would require the state Attorney General's Office to penalize schools that allow transgender students to use their preferred bathroom or locker room. The AG would be directed to take them to court, where a judge could impose a penalty of up to $2,500 per violation.

The bill also adds impediments to accommodating students by banning "multi-stall" gender-neutral bathrooms and shower rooms, and adds further restrictions to policies related to preferred pronouns.

In an emotional speech to the school board following enactment of the law, Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Rupak Gandhi said, "We're going to do what's right for our kids" and "double down to advocate for our youth."

"Unless the board tells us otherwise, we will not openly out any student because of one law if we know that's going to cause harm to that child. Unless dictated by the board otherwise, we will not participate in anything that we think is going to subject them to further discrimination or increase their self-harm," he said.

The school board backed Gandhi's open resistance.