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U.S. NEWS Friday 6 december 2019

Federal court considers bathroom

use by transgender student

By JEFF AMY Georgia and Alabama, ing, echoing what Borelli
Associated Press and could carry the issue told Pryor.
ATLANTA (AP) — A student to the U.S. Supreme Court. Adams, now a student at
has the right to use the The 4th Circuit had ruled in the University of Central
bathroom that corresponds favor of a transgender Vir- Florida, told reporters that
to his gender identity, a ginia student, but the U.S. he’s never had a problem
lawyer told a federal court Supreme Court sent the using a men’s bathroom.
Thursday, arguing that the case back down for further “Before this became an is-
issue is about the right of consideration after the U.S. sue, nobody knew who I
transgender students to Department of Education, was, nobody cared what
“equal dignity.” under President Donald bathroom I used,” Adams
But the Florida school dis- Trump, withdrew guidance said. “Most people when
trict that’s appealing a that said federal law called they use the bathroom, Transgender student Drew Adams speaks with reporters outside
lower court order in favor for treating transgender don’t look twice at who’s of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019,
of the transgender boy students equally, including in there with them. So, this in Atlanta.
told three judges on the allowing them to use the really wasn’t an issue until Associated Press
11th U.S. Circuit Court of bathroom that matches the school board made it right in the law to not have gender students,” she
Appeals that they should their gender identity. an issue.” to share space with trans- argued.q
overturn the ruling and let All the parties in the At- A lawyer for St. Johns Coun-
the school district restrict lanta courtroom Thursday ty urged judges to reverse
students to the bathroom were aware of the possibil- the ruling and uphold the SC deputy unintentionally
matching their at-birth sex ity that the ruling will set an policy restricting students
to protect the privacy of important precedent. Law- to the bathroom of their shoots mother of suspect
other students. yer Tara Borelli of Lambda at-birth sex, saying the trial
The case involves Drew Ad- Legal, who represents Ad- court judge overstepped. GREER, S.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s deputy in South Caro-
ams, who has since gradu- ams, said after the hearing “Differences between the lina unintentionally shot and wounded a shoplifting
ated from Nease High she was hoping schools will sexes are real and it neces- suspect’s mother during a confrontation inside a
School outside Jackson- get “a clear statement that sitates this kind of separa- home in October, authorities said.
ville. Adams transitioned the law requires that trans- tion between the sexes,” The unidentified deputy was found to have violat-
from a girl to a boy before gender students be treat- lawyer Jeff Slanker told ed department policy governing arrests, Greenville
his freshman year, and used ed equally.” judges. “This has always County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Ryan Flood
the boys’ room at the Pon- But Circuit Judge Bill Pryor been the way it’s been said in an email. He did not elaborate on how policy
te Vedra, Florida, school for hammered Borelli, asking done.” was violated.
a few weeks before several her how the judges could Judge Beverly Martin re- Flood was quoted byThe Greenville News as say-
girls complained. Adminis- uphold the lower court peatedly asked Slanker if he ingthat the deputy’s discipline included counseling
trators barred him from the ruling without setting the could provide any specific and remedial training. He said she was briefly placed
boys’ restroom and instead stage to allow anyone complaints that spurred on administrative duty but had since been cleared
steered him toward single- to ask for access to any the policy. Slanker could for regular duty.
user gender neutral rest- bathroom or finding all sex- not, saying the school dis- “This is an effort to ensure the deputy is ready follow-
rooms. A lower court last based distinctions illegal. trict acted “proactively” to ing ... a critical incident,” Flood’s statement said.
year overturned that policy “These rationales apply to protect students’ privacy The deputy was diagnosed with a concussion and
after a bench trial, ordering any form of sex-based seg- interests. received several bruises as a result of the confronta-
the St. Johns County school regation,” Pryor said. The trial judge rejected this tion, said Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Tim
district to let Adams use the Borelli, though, repeatedly argument, finding that Ad- Brown.
boys’ restroom. underscored that Adams ams would use a stall and The video shows Kaiser and the deputy involved in
The 11th Circuit could is not seeking to abolish that no breach of privacy a struggle while Kaiser’s mother, whom his lawyer
become the first federal distinctions between men would occur. identified as Dianne Maros, is in the room. Maros at-
appeals court to issue a and women. Borelli told judges the dis- tempts to hold Kaiser back but he is later seen com-
binding ruling on the issue, “This case is only about me, trict’s policy would “heap ing toward the deputy, who then fires her service
which has arisen in several a boy, being allowed to discrimination on transgen- weapon. The first gunshot strikes Maros.
states. The ruling would use the boys’ bathroom,” der students.” A second shot fired by the deputy doesn’t hit any-
cover schools in Florida, Adams said after the hear- “There is no recognized one. q