In a recent development, the family of a transgender middle school student has taken legal action against Idaho’s law that mandates public school students to use restrooms according to their assigned sex at birth. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boise, accuses the law of gender identity discrimination and violation of students’ right to privacy. The plaintiffs, accompanied by a student association, argue that the law fosters an environment that targets transgender youth.
This lawsuit is part of an ongoing battle over state laws targeting transgender individuals, particularly youth. In the past couple of years, several Republican-led states have passed bills aimed at restricting the rights of trans youth, including so-called “bathroom bills” similar to the one in Idaho, as well as bans on gender-affirming medical treatments for minors.
The controversial Idaho law not only restricts restroom usage but also allows students to sue schools for $5,000 if they encounter a transgender student in a restroom that the law prohibits. The lawsuit highlights how this provision effectively creates a “bounty” on transgender students, encouraging others to identify and report them. Such practices can subject transgender students to significant stigma, posing an increased risk of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and self-harm, according to the motion filed alongside the lawsuit.
The defendants named in the lawsuit, including Republican Governor Brad Little and Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, have chosen not to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. The Idaho Board of Education, also named as a defendant, is yet to respond to requests for comment.
Advocates for transgender rights stress that inclusive policies allowing students to use facilities aligned with their gender identity have not caused any problems in the past. On the contrary, such policies have fostered safer and more inclusive environments for transgender youth. Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs, emphasizes that for years, Idaho schools have successfully implemented inclusive policies without harming anyone.
Under the new law, schools are required to provide a “reasonable accommodation” for transgender students who are unwilling or unable to use restrooms corresponding to their assigned sex at birth. However, this provision has become the subject of contention in the legal battle surrounding the rights and privacy of transgender students.
As the lawsuit progresses, it will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the transgender community in Idaho, setting a precedent for similar legal challenges across the United States.