A federal magistrate judge released an 82-page ruling Oct. 18 recommending that an Illinois public school district be permitted to retain a policy that allows transgender students to use the facilities that match their gender identity.
Alliance Defending Freedom and the Thomas More Society, two Religious Right legal organizations, filed a lawsuit in May against the policy at the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 on behalf of a local citizens’ group, Students and Parents for Privacy.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert wrote in his findings that it’s unlikely that the plaintiffs can prove that a U.S. Department of Education guidance that requires public schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity violates the rights of other students.
For now, the anonymous student who raised the issue can continue using the restroom and locker room of her choice, which has not caused any incidents.
