Wisconsin Transgender Victory

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a groundbreaking ruling Tuesday in favor of Ash Whitaker the transgender student plaintiff in Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District. In a unanimous decision authored by Judge Ann Claire Williams the court upheld the preliminary injunction issued by a federal district court in September 2016 that has allowed Ash a senior at Tremper High School in the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) in Kenosha, Wisconsin to use the boys’ restrooms at school throughout his senior year without fear of discipline or invasive surveillance by school officials. Whitaker stated, "I am thrilled that the Seventh Circuit recognized my right to be treated as the boy that I am at school. After facing daily humiliation at school last year from being threatened with discipline & being constantly monitored by school staff just to use the bathroom, the district court’s injunction in September allowed me to be a typical senior in high school & to focus on my classes, after-school activities, applying to college & building lasting friendships. As I look forward to college next year, I hope my case will help other transgender students in Kenosha & elsewhere to just be treated the same as everyone else without facing discrimination & harassment from school administrators.” Kris Hayashi, Executive Director Transgender Law Center concluded, “This is a great victory for transgender students. The battleground may be bathrooms, but the real issue is fairness & transgender people’s ability to go to school, to work & simply to exist in public spaces. This win makes that more possible for more people.”
For More Info: transgenderlawcenter.org
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