Supreme Court hearing transgender rights case could be milestone, policy scholar says


Mon, 10/31/2016

author

George Diepenbrock

LAWRENCE — The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear a case next year regarding transgender students' right to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity will likely be a milestone for the transgender movement, according to a University of Kansas expert who studies transgender politics and policy.

However, it's possible a divided court won't establish a national precedent in the case, he said.

Don Haider-Markel, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, can discuss what the Supreme Court hearing the case will mean for the transgender political and social movement. He is co-editor of the book "Transgender Rights and Politics: Groups, Issue Framing & Policy Adoption." C-SPAN's Book TV in a 2015 segment featured the research. His research and teaching are focused on the representation of interests in the policy process and the dynamics among public opinion, political behavior and public policy.

"This is a huge case for the transgender community because it has the potential to establish a national precedent on what has become the central issue for trans equality — the use of public facilities," Haider-Markel said. "That said, I can easily see the Supreme Court issuing a divided decision in this case, which would uphold the lower court ruling and allow the student to use the boy's bathroom, but fail to establish a national precedent. Either way, this case will be a notable milestone in the debate over transgender rights."

Haider-Markel has more than 20 years of experience in survey research, interviews and in policy studies. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 journal articles, more than a dozen book chapters and several books in a range of issue areas, including civil rights, race and inequality, religion and the culture wars, criminal justice policy, counterterrorism and environmental policy.

To arrange an interview with Haider-Markel, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.

Mon, 10/31/2016

author

George Diepenbrock

Media Contacts

George Diepenbrock

KU News Service

785-864-8853