On August 3, 2016, the US Supreme Court voted 5-3 to put on hold a lower federal court ruling that a transgender male student be allowed to use the bathroom of his gender identity.
The Virginia student, who was born a girl and now identifies as a male, had been granted the right to use the boys’ bathroom during the coming school year. The Supreme Court’s order on Wednesday now means that the student will not be able to use the restroom of his gender identity when school starts.
In April of this year, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that not allowing the student to use the bathroom of his gender identity was a violation of Title IX, a federal law which prohibits sex or gender discrimination at any educational institution that receives federal funds. The school board asked the US Supreme Court to block the ruling arguing that it deprived parents of the right to direct the education and upbringing of their children.
The Supreme Court will take this up in the fall but, in the meantime, it would appear that this young man cannot use the school restroom of his gender identity.
For further reading, click the links below:
“Supreme Court Blocks Transgender Bathroom Ruling” by Pete Williams