The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to an Indiana school district on Tuesday in their fight against a transgender student who was prohibited from using the boys' bathroom.
The court denied to hear arguments in the METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT V. A. C case, allowing a lower court ruling, which sided with the transgender student, to stand.
"BREAKING: The Supreme Court lets a lower-court ruling stand siding with a transgender student challenging an anti-trans bathroom policy. The justices denied the school district's request to hear an appeal," Chris Geidner of LawDork wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The decision comes several months after the lawsuit was filed by the student, who is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Indiana, against the Metropolitan School District in Martinsville, Indiana.
"A.C. is a transgender boy who attended a middle school within the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, Indiana, who was barred from using the boys' restrooms with other boys," the ACLU said. "Starting in 2021, A.C. was required to use either the girls' restrooms or the single-person restroom in the nurse's office, which was far from his classes."
In a statement following the decision, ACLU Indiana Legal Director Kenneth Falk said: "We're thankful the Court allowed this momentous victory for the transgender youth of Indiana to stand...This case is about the fundamental right of every student to a safe and inclusive learning environment, and the policy at its core is an affront to the freedom of transgender youth to be themselves."
On the other hand, in a statement sent to Newsweek, Eric Bowlen, the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville Superintendent said the district "is deeply disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied its petition to resolve an issue that has divided federal courts and left school districts across the country in disarray."
"As the education system continues to evolve rapidly, local school boards must be empowered to navigate sensitive emerging issues with discretion to serve the best interests of students...The District will now consult closely with legal counsel to determine appropriate next steps that are both in compliance with the law and what is best for our students and community," Bowlen added.
According to the ACLU in Indiana, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in August 2023 that the "school district failed to provide A.C. with access to restroom consistent with his gender in violation of his rights under Title IX, the law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs, and the Equal Protection Clause."
The opinion by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals said that the school district did accommodate the student "by refraining from punishing him for tardiness caused by his use of the health clinic bathroom," and also offered the student the option to attend school virtually, but the student declined.
"For a time, A.C. defied the school's orders and used the boys' bathrooms. He immediately felt more comfortable at school and better about himself. No students raised any issues or questioned A.C.'s presence, but a staff member reported him. The school responded by telling A.C. that he would be disciplined if he continued using the boys' bathrooms," the opinion said.
In July 2023, a similar situation occurred in Wisconsin when a judge ruled in favor of a transgender student, requiring the Mukwonago Area School District to allow the student to use the girls' bathroom. In June, the school district imposed a new policy requiring students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth. However, the transgender student filed a lawsuit and was successful, with a judge announcing a temporary restraining order against the school's policy.
Update 1/17/24, 7:26 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from the ACLU and the school district.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
