Equality For Transgender Students

An amicus brief has been filed on behalf of medical & mental health associations by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) & Goodwin Procter LLP in G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board. The case filed in federal district court in Virginia by the American Civil Liberties Union involves Gavin Grimm a 16-year-old transgender Virginia boy whose use of the boys’ room prompted the school board to enact a policy excluding transgender students from using the same restrooms as their peers. Jennifer Levi, Transgender Rights Project Director for GLAD stated, “When a school separates a transgender boy from his peer group it does terrible damage. The school’s actions stigmatize & isolate the boy, telling him & his peers that he is different from all other boys thereby disrupting social relationships. All of this compromises his educational opportunities, in violation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act and constitutional guarantees of equal protection.” Asaf Orr NCLR Transgender Youth Project Attorney concluded, “Schools must take a proactive role in supporting transgender students. Unfortunately, in this case, the school board allowed their own misconceptions & fears about transgender youth, as well as those of the community, to drive policy. As a result, the school board’s policy perpetuates negative stereotypes, isolates & harms transgender students instead of creating welcoming school environment for all students. This is not only contrary to the professional obligation of educators & administrators but ignores the medical & mental health research on child development & the standards of care for transgender youth. Stigmatizing transgender students is not only wrong, but illegal.”
Read Amicus Brief…
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