Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA federal judge has found that an Indiana school district violated a transgender student’s civil rights by not allowing him to use male bathrooms at school.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana sued the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation last year after the teenager was told to use the female bathroom or bathrooms in the nurse’s office.
He was told he would face discipline for using men’s bathrooms without permission.
But Senior Judge William T. Lawrence of the Southern District of Indiana ruled Friday the district’s actions violated the student’s 14th Amendment civil rights protections.
The Evansville Courier & Press reports the judge also found the district violated the federal Title IX law by allowing transgender students to use gender-neutral bathrooms but not bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity.
The district’s attorney said the district respectfully disagrees with the ruling.
“Many Indiana school corporations already allow students to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity,” said Ken Falk, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, which brought the suit on behalf of student J.A.W. “But for those schools that continue to have discriminatory policies in place, they should heed this decision and create an academic environment that is accommodating of all students.”
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.