Update:  Colo. School Story Sparks Backlash by LGBT Activists

Florence, Colo.—A story broken last week by Pacific Justice Institute and picked up by media outlets around the world has inspired near-panic among transgender advocates who have now begun their own counter-campaign in an attempt to pert attention away from the story.

PJI sent a legal demand letter to Florence High School, near Colorado Springs, raising serious questions and concerns about the school’s decision to allow a boy who sometimes identifies as female to have full access to female bathrooms on campus.  PJI represents students and their families whose privacy rights are being violated by the school’s decision.

PJI urged school officials to immediately identify any factual allegations they considered to be disputed.  School officials have yet to respond to this invitation, but Superintendent Rhonda Vendetti instead gave an interview to a transgender activist in which she was defensive of the school’s actions and dismissive of some of the allegations.  This interview was seized upon by advocates, who claimed it somehow proved the story to be a fabrication.  Under intense pressure, several news sites took down or retracted their stories rather than investigating further.  Not so fast, say PJI attorneys.

“Transgender activists are in full damage control mode because they know how explosive and damaging to their cause this story is,” noted Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute.  “The central issue in this case—a high school’s decision to give a biological teenage boy full access to teenage girls’ bathrooms is both disturbing and not seriously disputed.  It is very revealing that the Superintendent is seeking sympathy from transgender activists instead of addressing the serious concerns raised in our letter.”

PJI has requested a detailed response from school officials by the end of this week. 

Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit legal organization dedicated to defending religious, parental, and other constitutional rights.