On Tuesday, a significant win for fighting LGBT rights came as a US appeals court ruled for the transgender student from Virginia who's looking to get access in bathrooms in line with his gender identity. The case is seen to have a major impact in the battle between gay rights activists and social conservatives.
According to The Guardian, a federal court has ruled that a Virginia school board is violating anti-discrimination laws by barring a transgender boy from entering the boys' restroom. The rulings make the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals as the highest court to weigh in on the fight for access to restrooms, locker rooms and other spaces restricted by gender. The Department of Education and Department of Justice both said that under Title IX, schools must allow transgender students to have access in bathrooms that match their gender identity.
Reuters reported that the plaintiff of the case is Gavin Grimm who was barred in the boys' bathroom in his high school located at Gloucester County, Virginia. Grimm was born as female but identifies himself as a male. Grimm said "Today's decision gives me hope that my fight will help other kids avoid discriminatory treatment at school," indicating that the decision is a relief and vindication. Meanwhile, the superintendent of Gloucester County Public Schools, Walter Clemons, declined to give a statement regarding the decision.
Yahoo published that US President Barack Obama's administration has reached out their support for Grimm. The decision is said to be the first wave of the wide impact as it is the first time in a federal court to use Title IX to protect transgender students from discrimination.
Matt Sharp of the non-profit, Alliance Defending Freedom, said that "The Fourth Circuit decision is truly unprecedented." He added that "Schools are going to be told that you have to allow biological males to share bathrooms and locker rooms and other private facilities with females."
The court's decision includes North Carolina which recently became the first state in nation to restrict access to bathrooms that don't pertain to individuals' sex at birth. Republican Governor Pat McCrory issued that he's going to review the case since it would be a major change in social norms.
