Chris Christie Signs Transgender Student Rights Bill

CBS News reports:

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 from using bathrooms that conflict with their gender identities. The civil rights group Garden State Equality applauded the Republican governor for signing the measure saying that Christie took a stand for LGBT 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 bathroom 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 students using the name, pronoun and dress that corresponds with their gender identities. Schools would be blocked from requiring transgender students from using bathrooms that conflict with their gender identities and at a minimum would have to find “reasonable alternative arrangements.”

Christie also signed a bill barring the sale of cigarettes to those under 21 years old. New Jersey is fourth state to do so, following New York, California, and Hawaii.