Medford students protest against Obama's transgender bathroom directive

A group of students from Medford's Hedrick Middle School took to the streets on Monday, May 16 to protest against President Barack Obama's transgender bathroom directive issued last week allowing all U.S. public school students to use the bathroom according to their gender identities rather than their biological sex.

"They came home, and one of our girls was crying and didn't feel safe because she didn't feel safe going into the girl's bathroom or locker room," Renee Molder, one of the parents who were also present, told KTVL-TV about how Monday's protest came about.

One of the student protesters, Grace Milligan, admitted that she's still too young to understand what transgender means and is more worried over boys taking advantage of the inclusive bathroom policy.

"I feel like they were more using it to their benefit ... kind of just being perverts rather than actually using it because they were uncomfortable with going into the bathroom of birth," Milligan told the station.

Cardilina DeVille, a transgender activist, approached the protesters and was described by the station as fighting off tears as she argued her rights.

"Every day someone tries to hurt us or kill us. It's such a simple thing. I've lived my life as a woman for years. You're taking away our rights," she told the protesters. DeVille also recounted her experience as a transgender student in sixth grade when she flunked P.E. just because she was no longer comfortable going into the boys' locker room.

Medford School District spokeswoman Natalie Hurd said that Hedrick currently has two single gender-neutral bathroom stalls and that the school is always trying to make sure that students feel comfortable, accepted, and safe. She also assured that the school district is currently reviewing its bathroom policy.

"We're having conversations with our administrators, with our school board. And we're not going to rush this process," Hurd said.

The Oregon Department of Education has issued on May 5 its "Guidance to School Districts: Creating a Safe and Supportive School Environment for Transgender Students," allowing transgender females to play girl sports and to use their preferred names on transcripts and diplomas with no need for birth certificate or such documentation. The document also clarified that this applies to transgender males.