A proposal to bar Montana's first transgender legislator, Rep. Zooey Zephyr, from using the women's restroom at the State Capitol was rejected by the House Rules Committee. The measure, introduced by Republican Rep. Jerry Schillinger, aimed to require legislators to use restrooms corresponding to their birth sex. It failed to pass as several Republicans voted against it, viewing it as a distraction from legislative duties. Zephyr expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized her commitment to representing her constituents.
Utah joins 10 other states in regulating bathroom access for transgender people with a new law requiring individuals to use facilities that match their sex assigned at birth, unless they have undergone gender-affirming surgery and changed their birth certificate. The legislation also mandates schools to create "privacy plans" for trans students and others uncomfortable using group bathrooms, while requiring new government buildings to include single-occupant bathrooms. Critics argue the law perpetuates discrimination and imposes unnecessary barriers, while supporters aim to increase privacy protections and address safety concerns.
The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville expresses deep disappointment in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to not intervene in a lower court's ruling allowing transgender students in Indiana to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. The district's petition to uphold its policy of requiring transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding to their assigned biological sex was denied, sparking a response from the district. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by a transgender boy and his parents, with the district now considering its next steps in compliance with the law and the best interests of its students and community.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from an Indiana school district regarding a policy that restricted transgender students' bathroom access based on their biological sex. The lower court had ruled that the policy violated students' constitutional rights and federal anti-discrimination law. This decision adds to the mixed rulings on school policies affecting transgender students, with some courts allowing bathroom use based on gender identity and others requiring gender-neutral facilities.
The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in the debate over bathrooms for transgender students by rejecting an appeal from an Indiana public school district. This decision comes as federal appeals courts remain divided over whether school policies restricting transgender students' bathroom access violate federal law or the Constitution, with ongoing legal battles across the country. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld an order granting transgender boys access to the boys' bathroom, and Judge Diane Wood wrote that the Supreme Court's involvement in providing more guidance on transgender rights seems inevitable.
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from an Indiana school district regarding bathroom access for transgender students, leaving in place a ruling that allowed a transgender boy to use the bathroom corresponding with his gender identity. The decision means that litigation in lower courts nationwide will continue, with judges reaching differing conclusions, and the Supreme Court is likely to weigh in on the issue at some point. The case raises questions about whether Title IX protects transgender students in the context of bathroom access, and comes after the Biden administration issued guidance stating that Title IX protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that transgender students in Indiana must have access to bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identities. The ruling, which ordered two school districts to provide such access, was welcomed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana. The court opinion suggests that the U.S. Supreme Court will likely step in to provide further guidance on transgender rights. While Indiana does not have laws restricting bathroom access for transgender students, nearly a dozen other states have enacted such laws. The case was originally brought by the ACLU and Indiana Legal Services on behalf of a transgender student.
A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that transgender students in Indiana must have access to bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identities. The ruling, which applies to the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville and the Vigo County Schools, was welcomed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana. The court opinion suggests that the US Supreme Court will likely step in to provide further guidance on transgender rights. While Indiana does not have laws restricting bathroom access for transgender students, nearly a dozen other states have enacted such laws. The case was originally brought by the ACLU and Indiana Legal Services on behalf of a transgender student.
Japan's Supreme Court has ruled against a government agency that had prohibited a transgender employee from using the women's bathroom. This landmark decision marks the top court's first ruling on the rights of sexual minorities in the workplace. The plaintiff, an employee at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, had requested permission to use the women's bathroom but was only granted access to a bathroom two floors away. After a legal battle, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the employee, ordering the government to pay damages. However, the Tokyo High Court later overturned the decision, leading the plaintiff to take the case to the Supreme Court. The ruling highlights ongoing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in Japan, where conservative views persist and legal protections for same-sex unions are lacking.
Republican-controlled states are passing laws that restrict transgender students in the name of parental rights or protecting other students. Indiana has signed a law requiring schools to notify parents when their student asks to be called a different name or uses pronouns that correspond with their gender, not their sex. Florida lawmakers have given final passage to a bill that would prevent students and teachers from being required to use pronouns that don’t correspond to someone’s sex. At least nine states have adopted laws to keep transgender students out of bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identities, and laws adopted in at least 21 states would keep transgender girls and women from playing on girls and women’s sports teams.
North Dakota's Republican Governor, Doug Burgum, has signed a bill that restricts access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms for transgender and gender-nonconforming people in several state facilities. The new law affects dorms and living facilities controlled by the state board of higher education, as well as correctional facilities for youths and adults. Transgender or gender-nonconforming people would need to get approval from a staff member to use the restroom or shower room of their choice. This is one of more than 450 bills attacking the rights of transgender people that have been introduced in state legislatures so far this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
