LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Tom Casperson announced Tuesday that he will introduce legislation in response to a state Department of Education Draft Guidance document, “Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students.”

The document outlined guidance for the state’s school districts on how to address the issues of these students, including restroom and locker room use, among others.

The bill, which has been requested but yet to be introduced, would require Michigan students to only use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their birth gender.

“It is hard to believe that a state board, which is clearly out of touch with Michigan residents, got assistance from equally out of touch unelected bureaucrats to develop such a document to fundamentally change Michigan’s public education system without the public’s prior knowledge or consent,” said Casperson, R-Escanaba. “In the pursuit of social justice, this so-called draft guidance document creates numerous problems, from the elimination of parental authority and notification to threatening student safety and beyond. My bill would stop this policy dead in its tracks.”

Under the bill proposal, students who do not identify with their birth gender would be accommodated if the student has written consent from a parent or guardian. The proposed legislation would not permit these students to use restrooms or locker rooms of the opposite sex if those facilities are in use or could be in use. Instead, the student would be able to use a single-occupancy restroom, staff facility or some other reasonable accommodation.

Additionally, Casperson sponsored a resolution urging the department to officially rescind the proposed policies.

“The Department of Education document was poorly conceived, poorly written and should not be used,” Casperson said. “I encourage all residents who wish to have their voices heard on this matter to contact the department and make your opinions known.”

According to the department, a period of public comment on the document is open until April 11. Those wishing to speak should visit everyvoicecountsmi.org for more information.

A bill and resolution number will be assigned when the measures are formally introduced.

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