Obama orders public schools to allow transgender students access to bathrooms

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The White House is sending a strong message to every school in the Bay Area and across the country about transgender rights.

RELATED: Obama administration tells schools to let transgender students pick own bathrooms

The Obama Administration sent a letter to districts that instructs schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity - not their birth certificate.

Officials will offer a list of practices, of how to deal with transgender issues like using a child's preferred pronoun to make sure all students feel accepted.

RELATED: South Bay Rep. mike Honda embraces transgender grandchild

Congressman Mike Honda, who has an 8-year-old transgender granddaughter, applauds the government stepping in.

"We've been raised to look at gender as binary, male and female. Once we become aware the individuals vary, then you have a spectrum between the two genders," he said.

RELATED: Democratic reps seek to replace House Bill 2 in North Carolina

The U.S. Secretary of Education underscored "gender identity is under Title IX."

The U.S. Department of Justice says it offers significant guidance.

Even though the guidelines don't have the force of law, schools that don't comply are at risk of losing federal funding.