Twitterverse Debates Gov. Abbott's Tweet On Obama's Trans Bathroom Order

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TWITTERVERSE (CBSDFW.COM) - A tweet sent Tuesday by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) (from his personal feed) comparing the Obama administration's transgender bathroom accommodations to the moon landing under former President John F. Kennedy left many people shaking their heads. #SMH

The tweet was likely in response to last week's letter sent to public schools across the country from The White House, directing them to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice.

Here it is:

Abbott is one of many conservatives who denounced Obama's letter, including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick who spoke out against it when in Dallas for the Texas Republican Convention last week. Calling the transgender student accommodation the biggest issue since prayer was taken out of school Patrick said the move is political and that President Obama is "paying back the gay and lesbian community that helped him defeat Hillary Clinton in 2008."

The decree is not law, but does suggest possible legal action or a loss of federal aid for schools that do not comply.

The backlash to Abbott's odd tweet was pretty swift, and as blunt as one can expect on social media. But it also garnered support, with 2,400 "likes".

Here in North Texas, the transgender bathroom debate started in April, when officials in the City of Rockwall considered an ordinance to would require residents to use the restroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate, not the sex which they identify with as an adult. Ultimately, the City Council rejected Mayor Jim Pruitt's proposal that would have had violators facing a fine of up to $500.

Earlier this month Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner established new guidelines stating that students in the district should be recognized and have access to the bathroom that is consistent with "the gender identity that each student consistently and uniformly asserts."

Just days after the FWISD change, Patrick called for Dr. Scribner's resignation and made his way to North Texas to attend a regularly scheduled school board meeting.

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