((CIVIL RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE UNDER ATTACK FROM ALL TYPES
OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND AN
ATTACK ON ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE IS
AN ATTACK ON EVERYBODY.))
RIGHT NOW AT 10 -- MORE THAN A
HUNDRED PEOPLE RALLIED FOR
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS OUTSIDE CITY
HALL TODAY. IT COMES AFTER THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVERSED
THE TRANSGENDER BATHROOM POLICY
FOR STUDENTS LAST WEEK.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE
OBAMA-ERA FEDERAL GUIDELINES
SAID STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO
USE BATHROOMS THAT ALIGN WITH
THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. NEWS 4'S
ANGELA CHRISTOFOROS WAS AT THE
RALLY TODAY-- AND TALKED TO
PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS
DECISION..ANGELA?
CALLAN MORE THAN A HUNDRED
PEOPLE RALLIED TODAY IN RESPONSE
TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION
THAT DROPPED FEDERAL PROTECTIONS
FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS IN
SCHOOLS. BUT MANY PEOPLE WHO
WERE AT THE RALLY SAY THIS ISN'T
JUST ABOUT BATHROOMS - IT'S
ABOUT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
DOZENS OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN
NIAGARA SQUARE, HOLDING SIGNS IN
SUPPORT OF TRANS STUDENTS.
((TRANSGENDER YOUTH ARE ALREADY
UNDER ENOUGH PRESSURE AND
ENOUGH TURMOIL IN THEIR LIVES
BECAUSE 1 OUT OF 2
TRANSGENDER CHILDREN WILL
ATTEMPT SUICIDE BY THE TIME THEY
REACH AGE 18.))
((AS A STRAIGHT ALLY I FEEL
EVERYBODY DESERVES TO FEEL LIKE
THEY BELONG.))
((IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT
BATHROOMS IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU
INDENTIFY AND WHERE YOU
BELONG.)) PEOPLE RALLIED IN
RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
REVERSAL OF THE TRANSGENDER
BATHROOM POLICY FOR STUDENTS.
THE DECISION TAKES AWAY FEDERAL
PROTECTIONS THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS
TO USE BATHROOMS THAT MATCH
THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. FOR DYLAN
SCHLOSSER IT HITS CLOSE TO HOME.
((GOING INTO A BATHROOM WAS
ALWAYS FEARFUL FOR ME AND BEFORE
I WAS TRANSITIONING I DIDN'T
FEEL COMFORTABLE IN
EITHER BATHROOM BECAUSE IN BOTH
PEOPLE WOULD LEER AT ME OR GIVE
ME LOOKS OR SOMETHING.))
SCHLOSSER SAYS THE DECISION
MAKES AN ALREADY VULNERABLE
POPULATION EVEN
MORE VULNERABLE.
((BATHROOMS ARE A PUBLIC PLACE
AND IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT
SOMEONE CAN'T ACCESS A CERTAIN
PUBLIC SPACE THEN YOU'RE SAYING
THAT THEY DON'T BELONG IN
PUBLIC.))
((IT'S ABOUT BASIC HUMAN
DIGINITY, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO
LIVE THE LIVES THAT THEY WERE
BORN TO LIVE.))
HERE IN NEW YORK STATE THERE ARE
PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER
YOUTH. LAST WEEK GOVERNOR CUOMO
SENT A LETTER TO THE STATE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT
REGARDLESS OF ACTION IN
WASHINGTON - THE RIGHTS AND
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE EXTENDED TO
ALL STUDENTS IN THE STATE WILL
