The Supreme Court will not address the case of transgender bathrooms in Indiana schools

The Supreme Court has decided not to review a case involving the use of bathrooms by transgender students in an Indiana School District. The Martinsville School District hoped the court would rule in favor of restricting trans students to bathrooms that align with their biological sex, rather than allowing them to choose freely.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 by Williams Perdomo on Scribd

The case dates back to a lawsuit against the Martinsville Metropolitan School District in December 2021 for not allowing trans students to enter a bathroom other than their birth gender. In a 2023 decision, The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals determined that children could access the bathroom they choose. "Litigation over transgender rights is occurring all over the country, and we assume that at some point the Supreme Court will step in with more guidance than it has furnished so far," the judge explained in her decision. However, the Supreme Court has decided not to act, so the decision of the Court of Appeals will remain in force.

Decision by Williams Perdomo on Scribd

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) celebrated the measure, calling it "a victory" for the LGBT community. "This case is about the fundamental right of every student to a safe and inclusive learning environment, and the policy at its core is an affront to the freedom of transgender youth to be themselves," said Kenneth Falk, Legal Director of the ACLU of Indiana, in a statement posted on its official website.

The Supreme Court's decision not to get involved in this case comes at a time when legal battles over transgender people are taking place in several states. An AP account detailed that at least nine states have restrictions in place regarding transgender students and the use of bathrooms.