The United States Supreme Court on Monday offered a definitive victory to a transgender student who fought for years to use the men’s toilet at his high school.
The highest American court has refused to take up an appeal brought by school authorities in Virginia opposed to allowing transgender adolescents to use toilets that reflect their identity.
In accordance with custom, she did not justify her choice, but two of her nine wise men – conservatives – specified that they would have accepted the appeal.
The ruling leaves in place the judgment handed down last summer by a federal appeals court in favor of Gavin Grimm, born female but who identifies as a man. The court ruled that his high school violated anti-discrimination measures by not allowing him to enter the boys’ toilets.
“I am happy that my battle for my identity to be recognized ends after all these years,” reacted the young man, now 22 years old and who began his legal fight at the age of 15.
“Trans youth deserve to be able to use sanitation in peace, without being humiliated and stigmatized by their own schools and elected officials,” he added in a statement.
Transgender people are very much in the minority in the United States, but their rights are the subject of fierce political battles and “the toilet battle” has been one of its most significant episodes in recent years.
The government of Democrat Barack Obama had, in a circular, asked public schools to let their students use the toilets and sports locker rooms according to the gender with which they identified. The administration of Republican Donald Trump had canceled these directives in February 2017.
More recently, the Conservative offensive has shifted towards access to stadiums for transgender athletes and medical care for transgender minors.
–
