N.J. to guide school bathroom policies

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation Friday requiring the state to give guidance to public schools about policies for transgender students, including blocking the schools from forcing the students to use restrooms that conflict with their gender identities.

Garden State Equality, a civil-rights group, applauded the Republican governor for signing the measure, saying Christie took a stand for gay and transgender youth.

The law was passed by the Democrat-led Legislature after school districts around the state began passing their own rules to allow transgender students to use whichever restroom they choose. The state education department said last year that districts should pass policies to explain how they handle gender identity issues, but didn’t suggest what they should say.

Among the requirements of the law is that the state give guidance on working with students by using the name, pronoun and dress that corresponds with their gender identities.

Schools would be blocked from requiring transgender students from using restrooms that conflict with their gender identities and at a minimum would have to find “reasonable alternative arrangements.”