Federal court rules that trans sister of Trump inauguration performer can use gender-appropriate bathroom
A federal district court has ruled that a school district must allow transgender students use a bathroom matching their gender identity.
The court ruled that the Pine-Richlands High School and its district must allow three trans students use a gender-appropriate bathroom.
A motion for preliminary injunction had been filed by Lambda Legal on behalf of the students.
The court ruled that the district must stop enforcement of a new policy introduced last year.
The policy was voted in in September, and meant that students must use a bathroom that corresponds to the sex stated on their birth certificate.
It also meant that students could use a single-stall or unisex bathroom.
But Judge Mark R Hornak on Monday wrote: “The Plaintiffs appear to the Court to be young people seeking to do what young people try to do every day-go to school, obtain an education, and interact as equals with their peers. …[T] he Plaintiffs have shown a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits of their claim that the District’s enforcement of Resolution 2 as to their use of common school restrooms does not afford them equal protection of the law as guaranteed to them by the Fourteenth Amendment.”
One student at the school, Elissa Ridenour, said the ruling was a huge victory.
“This is wonderful news and a tremendous relief that we can now use the bathroom without feeling isolated and humiliated.”
She added: “The past months have been incredibly stressful, and this was all so unnecessary. There was no problem before, and we are confident there will be no problem now.”
The ruling also applies to Juliet Evancho, whose sister performed at the Trump inauguration, and a minor student named A.S.
“Not-with-standing the Trump Administration’s misguided and cruel actions last week, the court today found that the school’s policy barring transgender students from the restroom that matches who they are violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution…such policies are not only wrong, they are illegal. The rescission of a guidance by the Trump administration cannot change that,” adds Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan.
Teenage reality star Jackie Evancho, who flouted a celebrity boycott to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, is “welcome” to a meeting with the President after she complained that he targeted her trans sister’s rights.
