‘Transgender’ dictionary lookups surge after Justice Department letter to schools

Transgender rights have become a national conversation topic since North Carolina passed its controversial “bathroom bill,” and search data reveals that many Americans may be struggling to learn more about LGBT issues and understand what being transgender means.

Merriam-Webster revealed that searches for “transgender” in its online dictionary surged 630 percent after the Obama administration on Friday sent an open letter to public schools across the country with guidelines for supporting transgender students. The letter, signed by officials from the U.S. Justice and Education Departments, calls for public schools to allow transgender students to use the restrooms that align with their gender identities. READ MORE