Victory was short-lived for a transgender student in Virginia. After winning at the federal court, the Supreme Court has ruled to temporarily block the Lower Court's order which means the student will be once again banned from using the male restroom.
In April, The Washington Post reports Gavin Grimm's win over the school board of Gloucester High School. Gavin Grimm, born with female organs, became a transgender and started using the male's bathroom when he turned a sophomore.
However, it wasn't easy for the transgender. Parents complained to the schoool board that Grimm's use of the male's bathroom violates the privacy of their boys.
They poured out this anger to the school board, who in response, passed a policy that access to bathrooms would be determined through their "biological gender." Transgender students would have to use a separate, unisex bathroom.
Because of this, Grimm filed a lawsuit against Gloucester High School. The judges ruled in favor of him, saying that the interpretation of federal discrimination policies should be handled by politicians which is why they directed their decision to the U.S. Department of Education. As per the department, Title IX should be honored: no sexual discrimination on schools that receive federal funding would be practiced or tolerated.
Grimm and the LGBT community were happy with the lower court's decision. However, before June ended, WAVY News 10 reported that the Gloucester County School board has appealed to the courts the previous ruling. The board says that it's their obligation to impose policies that would ensure the privacy and safety of all students.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court has made its decision to grant certiorari over the Lower Court's ruling. One justice, Stephen Breyer, granted the application as a courtesy.
Because of this, the matter may only be settled once a ninth justice is appointed, according to CNN. Until then, the Supreme Court's take on the relationship between transgender identity and sex discrimination would remain unknown.
The decision to grant certiorari dismayed Grimm's side. Lawyer Joshua Block said as quoted by CNN "We are disappointed that the court has issued a stay and that Gavin will have to begin another school year isolated from his peers and stigmatized by the Gloucester County school board just because he's a boy who is transgender. We remain hopeful that Gavin will ultimately prevail."
In the transgender public bathroom discourse, whose side are you on? Do you think everyone should be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice even if some feel that their privacy and security are invaded?Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
