Supreme Court Will Rule on Transgender Access

All Gavin Grimm wanted was to use the student bathroom.

by Danielle Sinay

Groundbreaking news for the LGBTQ Community! The Supreme Court has taken up a case regarding transgender teen Gavin Grimm, who identifies as male, and his right to use the men’s bathroom at school. This is the first time the Supreme Court will have ruled on transgender access.

At first, there was no issue with Gavin’s using the men’s bathroom — as he and his mother had spoken to school officials regarding his previous transition — but the school revoked his right to use the correct bathroom when community members indicated unease with the situation.

The case gained nationwide attention, most notably from religious groups and activists, like the “Alliance Defending Freedom,” who took it upon themselves to contact the school board. According to their letter, which was penned by the group’s lawyers: only a “miniscule percentage” of people are transgender, and the board must preserve “other students’ privacy and free exercise rights,” whatever that means.

Gavin is now banned from using the men’s bathroom, though the school did offer a mediocre compromise: Gavin can use the single-stall bathrooms behind the nurse’s office. But not only does this make Gavin the only student at school mandated to use these bathrooms, but he’s “not unisex,” as he told CNN, and shouldn’t be treated as such.

Upon the implementation of this ridiculous requirement, Gavin’s lawyers filed a lawsuit against the school. A federal appeals court ruled in his favor, and now it’s up to justice of the Supreme Court to approve or deny this ruling.

“I will do everything I can to make sure that other transgender students don’t have to go through the same experience,” Gavin said in a statement.

We’re thrilled to hear that the Supreme Court is finally willing to acknowledge, and possibly fight for, the LGBTQ community. Here’s to hoping that the trend catches on.

Good luck, Gavin! We’re rooting for you!

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1?800?273?TALK (8255) or Live Online Chat. If you identify as LGBTQ and are looking for support, call the GLBT National Youth Talkline at 1-800-246-PRIDE (1-800-246-7745).