Watch: Texas Lt Governor Invokes Religion to Tell Schools to Ignore Obama Transgender Directive

Dan Patrick Says Allowing Transgender Students Equality Is the ‘Biggest Issue Facing Families and Schools in America Since Prayer Was Taken Out of Public Schools’

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick Friday morning told reporters that he is instructing all Texas school districts to ignore the Obama administration directive to protect transgender students from discrimination. (Video above, about one minute in.) The directive states schools must allow transgender students to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. 

“I believe it is the biggest issue facing families and schools in America since prayer was taken out of public schools,” the Texas Tea Party Republican said, insisting the directive will “will divide the country not along political lines but along family values and school districts.”

“He says he’s going to withhold funding if schools do not follow the policy,” Patrick said. “Well, in Texas, he can keep his 30 pieces of silver,” referring to what Judas was paid to betray Jesus Christ, according to the Christian bible. “We will not yield to blackmail from the president of the United States.”

He told superintendents to not follow the Obama administration directive.

Patrick then told reporters that most federal school funding for education in Texas goes to free breakfast and lunch programs for students from low-income families.

“So Barack Obama, if schools don’t knuckle down to force girls showering with boys and force 8-year-old girls to have to endure boys coming into their bathroom, he’s taking money from the poorest of the poor,” Patrick said. “The president of the United States will be ending the free breakfast and free lunch program. That’s what he’s saying.”

“We will not sell out our children to the federal government. And the people of Texas and the legislature will find a way to find as much of that money as we can if we are forced to. There is no compromise on this issue,” he said. “This is a modern-day come-and-take-it issue and the president of the United States,” he warned, “is not coming and taking our children.”

EARLIER:

Texas Superintendent Says Obama Directive on Transgender Students ‘Going Straight to the Shredder’

BREAKING: Obama Admin to Issue Sweeping Decree Protecting Transgender Students From Discrimination

 

Hat tip: Politico
Video: Texas Tribune/Facebook
Image by andrea rega via Twitter