Texas will sue to stop transgender bathrooms

(Credit: NBC News) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

KXAN Staff – AUSTIN (KXAN) — Attorney General Ken Paxton is expected to challenge the directive by President Barack Obama's administration regarding transgender student bathroom guidelines. Paxton is scheduled to announce what his office calls a "major lawsuit" at a 3 p.m. news conference in Austin.

Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted around 12 p.m. confirming the announcement.

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Two weeks ago, the Obama administration called on every school in the country to let students use the bathroom and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity. While a legal requirement was not implemented, districts who refuse are at risk of losing federal funding.

At the time, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said Texas was willing to forgo funding. "We will not be blackmailed by the President's 30 pieces of silver. We will not sell out our children to the federal government," said Patrick. "And the people of Texas the legislature will find a way to find as much of that money as we can if we are forced to."