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Federal appeals court rules in favor of trans kids in public schools.



A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that public schools must allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity, the first such decision of its kind.

The ruling is a victory for a Virginia high school student, Gavin Grimm, who was born female but identifies as male, has undergone hormone therapy, and has legally changed his name.

School officials were supportive and allowed him to use the boys' restrooms, but the school board later barred the school from making that accommodation.

On Tuesday, by a 2-1 vote, a panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond reversed a lower court decision that had been in favor of the school board.

"Tuesday's ruling says quite clearly that forcing transgender students to use the wrong restroom, one that doesn't accord with their gender identity, is sex discrimination," said the ACLU's James Esseks.