Crosstalk: May 16, 2016

​Jim Schneider ended the week with an edition of Crosstalk that featured information concerning the following headlines: --The U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Education have released a joint letter to school systems telling them that they need to open restrooms to both genders. Schools that don't comply could lose their federal funding. --Fox News reports that one public official describes President Obama's letter to school systems as presidential blackmail. --The U.S. government issued a final rule to reduce disparities in the care that minority groups receive. The rule implements a section of the Affordable Care Act that prohibits discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, gender identity and sex stereotyping and federally funded health programs. --President Obama has appointed Barbara Satin as a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She is the Assistant Faith Work Director for the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Task Force, an active member of the United Church of Christ and served on the denomination's executive council as its first openly transgender member. --The Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network (GLSEN) thanked the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Education for issuing guidance to school districts regarding how to accommodate transgender and gender non-conforming students. --U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appears in a video supporting LGBT rights to mark the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on May 17th. --The White House congratulates voters in London for electing a Muslim mayor into office. --Britain's largest Islamic charity wants to break down barriers and portray Islam positively by launching a new advertising campaign that will place the phrase 'Glory to Allah' on the side of busses. --Donald Trump backs away from his proposal to temporarily stop Muslims from emigrating to the U.S. --The Council on American/Islamic Relations (CAIR) says its considering legal options against the Citadel after the military school rejected a request by a prospective Muslim student to wear the hijab with her uniform. --A bill to brand the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization appears to be on a fast track on Capitol Hill. --A Muslim screaming 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Infidel you must die' stabbed 4 people killing one at train station near Munich. Nonetheless, Bavarian security officials immediately denied he had any Islamic extremist motive. --Islamic State executes a 7 year old boy for cursing divinity in Syria last Thursday. --Islamic terrorists have entered Germany by hiding amongst recent flows of migrants from the Middle East. --Police in Kenya say they have foiled a potentially large scale terrorist plot to kill innocent civilians using anthrax. --The E.U. is raising up and training its own transnational military police force.