Supreme Court to Hear Gavin Grimm Case; Huge Implications for Trans Students

Gavin Grimm

The Supreme Court today announced it will hear Grimm's discrimination case — and while he would have preferred that it simply let a lower court's pro-trans ruling stand, he's not discouraged or afraid.

BY TRUDY RING
OCTOBER 28 2016 3:37 PM EDT
UPDATED OCTOBER 28 2016 6:41 PM EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday it will hear a school board’s appeal of a lower court decision affirming transgender students’ access to facilities appropriate for their gender identity — and if it lets that decision stand, it will be a major victory for trans students.

Gavin Grimm, a transgender boy who attends Gloucester High School in Virginia, and his legal team would have preferred that the high court not take up the case, as that would have meant the earlier decision stood and could go into effect immediately.

On a conference call with reporters and one of his his attorneys Friday afternoon, Grimm said he was disappointed that he will have to continue going through high school being singled out from other students and constantly planning his restroom trips. "But I'm not afraid and I'm not discouraged," he added.

If the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit had gone into effect, Grimm would have been assured of access to the boys' restrooms; he is currently restricted to using single-occupancy restrooms, and he must plan his day around the location of those. The Fourth Circuit ruling does stand and remains precedential for the entire circuit, which consists of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. But a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court would affect the whole nation.

http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/10/27/gavin-grimm-case-has-major-implications-transgender-students