WASHINGTON, United States: The United States Supreme Court granted a final win to a transgender high school student, Monday, who had fought for years to use the boys’ bathroom.
The Supreme Court of the United States has declined to hear an appeal filed by Virginia school administrators who oppose allowing transgender teens to use bathrooms that fit their gender identity.
The court did not disclose reasons for its decision, as is typical, although two of the court’s nine judges, both conservatives, suggested they would have allowed the appeal.
The decision upholds a federal appeals court decision from last summer in favor of Gavin Grimm, a transgender man who was born female but identifies as male.
His high school had broken anti-discrimination legislation by refusing to let him use the boys’ bathroom, according to the court.
“I am glad that my years-long fight to have my school see me for who I am is over,” said the 22-year-old, who started his legal battle at the age of 15.
“Trans youth deserve to use the bathroom in peace without being humiliated and stigmatized by their own school boards and elected officials,” he added in a statement.
In the United States, transgender rights are the topic of bitter political struggles between progressives and conservatives, with the “toilet wars” being one of the most recent examples.
