WAVY Staff – GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — A federal district court in Virginia ordered the Gloucester County School Board to allow Gavin Grimm to use the same restrooms as other boys at his school Thursday.
Grimm was born female but identifies as a male. He wants to use the boys' restroom, but the school system had barred him from doing so.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Virginia filed a lawsuit on behalf of Grimm, arguing that the school board's policy violates the Constitution and Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination by school.
"I am elated to hear that I'll be able to attend my senior year of high school with my full rights restored,"Â Grimm said. "After nearly two years of humiliation and intense struggle, equality has finally prevailed. Now hopefully other transgender people will not have to face this type of discrimination."
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia had previously dismissed Grimm's Title IX claim and denied his request for a preliminary injunction.
In April, an appeals court reinstated Grimm's Title IX claim. The three-judge panel ruled that protects the rights of transgender students to use school restrooms consistent with their gender identity.
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