MARTINSVILLE — The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville has been ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to allow a 13-year-old transgender student to use the boys’ bathroom at John R. Wooden Middle School.
The injunction filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana (ACLU), required the middle school to provide equal treatment to the transgender student after they were denied access to the boys’ bathroom at the school.
“The law is clear: denying transgender students their right to use the correct restroom is discrimination,” Stevie Pactor, ACLU of Indiana Attorney said. “We hope that public schools and legislators will take notice and forgo future challenges by providing equal treatment to all students.”
The court ruled that preventing the student from using the school restroom based on the student’s gender identity violated Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The student, who was designated a female at birth, realized he identified as a boy since he was eight years old.
He was granted permission to legally change his name, according to the judge’s order.
When the student began attending John. R. Wooden Middle School, they were offered the use of the school’s single-sex restroom in the clinic. Due to tardy warnings and the singling out of peers, the student determined the location would not work.
After suffering from anxiety and depression, the father of the student requested they be allowed to use the boys’ restroom. This request was denied, according to the judge’s order. The school instead offered the student to switch to e-learning or to have tardiness warnings dismissed.
No issues or complaints were reported from classmates, according to the court. However, a staff member witnessed the student using the boys’ bathroom and reported him to the school administration.
The judge’s ruling states that due to the student’s reporting to suffer from irreparable harm, and the school district being unable to provide support for prospective harm, the student will be allowed to use the boys’ bathroom.
-
AG Rokita sues Hubbard Gardens Apartments for dire living conditions
WRTV first visited Hubbard Gardens Apartments in Sept. where residents told us they had been living with raw sewage coming out of their sinks for over a month.
Deputy Prosecutor fired for social media posts after presidential election
The Hancock County Prosecutor has fired one of his deputy prosecutors for Facebook posts she made saying Trump supporters “disgust” her and comparing them to Nazis.
US government worker charged for leaking docs on Israel's plans to strike Iran
A man who worked for the U.S. government has been charged with leaking classified information assessing Israel's earlier plans to attack Iran.
GM recalls pickups, SUVs because rear wheels can lock up, increasing crash risk
General Motors is recalling nearly 462,000 pickup trucks and big SUVs with diesel engines because the rear wheels can lock up, increasing the risk of a crash.
