A gay and transgender rights group and the ACLU are working to get a lawsuit against the Dallas School District dismissed. At issue is whether transgender students should have access to restrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
Last fall, a group calling themselves “Parents for Privacy” sued the district. Their attorney says allowing a transgender student to use a boy’s restroom violated the civil rights of students who didn’t identify as such.
Julie Rodriguez is with Basic Rights Oregon, which wants the case thrown out.
"It could impact the protections for these vulnerable students throughout the state," says Rodriguez. "A really disturbing number of transgender people, if they aren’t in an affirming environment, end up attempting suicide. It’s something like 40 percent.”
The ACLU has filed a motion to intervene in the case. The Dallas School District has also filed a motion to dismiss the suit.
Parents for Privacy did not reply to a request for comment. Similar challenges to restroom access for transgender students have failed in Chicago and Pittsburgh in the last year.
Copyright 2018, KLCC.
