In May of 2016, the Obama Administration sent a letter out to every high school in the country, stating that transgender students must be permitted to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity. This was one of many progressive steps taken by the Obama Administration, pushing for a truly equal and free country, where everyone can feel more comfortable in their own skin. Prior to this being a federal issue brought up by Obama, it was something left to the states. States typically known to be primarily conservative are assumed to stand against this sort of issue, and it was comforting to know that no matter where in the country you were, you were guaranteed to feel comfortable with your gender identity.

Things took a turn this week, as Trump overturned Obama’s decision and pushed the power of the decision in the state’s hands. While many may argue that it isn’t an issue enough to be a serious federal concern, it is to be noted that it only becomes a more serious issue when it is different in all 50 states. Transgender students may feel safe in one state that has laws protecting them, while there could be transgender students across the country who aren’t protected and end up not being happy or comfortable in high school.

While it may seem intimidating that Trump made this decision, it is to be kept in mind that your state government now holds the power to make transgender rights possible. He is not taking any particular stance on the issue, just stating that he doesn’t feel it should be of the federal government’s concern. Trump has made many eyebrow raising decisions in his first month of presidency, but it is hard to say that this is one of them, as he hasn’t removed anyone’s protection. He simply left it to the states.