Transgender teen sues school over discriminatory bathroom policy
- 8 years ago
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN — After successfully winning the right to run for school prom king, a transgender teen is now taking on a Wisconsin school district.
The Washington Post reports that Ashton Whitaker, who was born female but began identifying as a boy in middle school, is taking the Kenosha Unified School District to court to fight for his bathroom rights.
The 16-year-old had been using the boys’ bathroom at Kenosha Tremper High School for months until the school suddenly denied him access in February 2016.
Staff were instructed to monitor their bathroom use and made Whitaker and other transgender peers wear green wristbands so they could be easily spotted.
The teen limited his fluid intake to avoid going to the bathroom at school, which made him suffer migraines and aggravated a medical condition that made him faint.
Apart from the bathroom policy, Whitaker claims teachers continued to use his female birth name, and during an orchestra trip to Europe forced him to room with girls.
The lawsuit alleges that the school’s actions were discriminatory and violated federal law Title IX. But according to a statement released to Fox 6 News, the district’s lawyer is confident that they will win the lawsuit since they were following the law.
The Washington Post reports that Ashton Whitaker, who was born female but began identifying as a boy in middle school, is taking the Kenosha Unified School District to court to fight for his bathroom rights.
The 16-year-old had been using the boys’ bathroom at Kenosha Tremper High School for months until the school suddenly denied him access in February 2016.
Staff were instructed to monitor their bathroom use and made Whitaker and other transgender peers wear green wristbands so they could be easily spotted.
The teen limited his fluid intake to avoid going to the bathroom at school, which made him suffer migraines and aggravated a medical condition that made him faint.
Apart from the bathroom policy, Whitaker claims teachers continued to use his female birth name, and during an orchestra trip to Europe forced him to room with girls.
The lawsuit alleges that the school’s actions were discriminatory and violated federal law Title IX. But according to a statement released to Fox 6 News, the district’s lawyer is confident that they will win the lawsuit since they were following the law.