Transgender bathroom court order appealed by school board in Virginia
The Gloucester County School Board in Virginia has filed an appeal against a federal judge's order that allows a transgender student to use the boys' restroom, saying it could cause possible disruption in the school.
The school board stated in its appeal that it has provided unisex restrooms in the school that the student can use. Issuing the injunction "strips it of its basic authority to enact policies safeguarding student privacy and safety," the school board said, according to the Daily Press.
The case began when Gavin Grimm, a 16-year-old transgender high school student, filed a lawsuit against the school board last year through the American Civil Liberties Union for not allowing him to use the boys' restroom, citing civil rights violation.
The lawsuit argued that the school policy, approved in December 2014, is unconstitutional and is in violation of Title IX, which orders schools to not discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
However, the U.S. District Court Judge Robert Doumar dropped Gavin's claim on the Title IX violation and denied his request for a preliminary injunction while his case is being heard.
Grimm appealed the judge's decision, and in April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reinstated his Title IX claim and sent the case to Doumar for reconsideration.
On June 23, Doumar ordered the Gloucester County School Board to allow Grimm to use the boys' restroom. The mandate does not include locker rooms.
"This Court is bound by the Judgment of the Court of Appeals," Doumar's order states, according to the Daily Press.
Grimm said he was "elated" that the judge's decision last month will finally allow him to use restrooms according to his gender identity while his case proceeds.
"After nearly two years of humiliation and intense struggle, equality has finally prevailed," Grimm said, according to WTVR. "Now hopefully other transgender people will not have to face this type of discrimination."
The school board is planning to take Grimm's case to the Supreme Court.
