WASHINGTON — A lawyer for a Stafford County transgender girl is hoping that his client can benefit from a federal judge’s ruling in Gloucester County in favor of a transgender boy.
The judge ordered Thursday that 16-year-old transgender student Gavin Grimm — who was assigned female at birth but identifies as a boy — be allowed to use the boys’ bathroom.
A Stafford County rising sixth grader — who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a girl — was barred this past school year from using the girls’ bathroom.
“Currently our client is being required to use the nurse’s restroom when she is in school,” said Asaf Orr, Transgender Youth Project Staff Attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Stafford County has not said publicly if the ruling in Gloucester County for the transgender boy will change its bathroom policy for the transgender girl. But Orr believes the Gloucester County case sets a precedent.
“It is essentially the same legal issue and so — for consistency — would be interpreted that same way by the judges in the same district,” Orr said.
While school is out for summer, it’s unclear whether Stafford County intends to stick to its policy or change it following the latest federal ruling.
“I’m hoping that Stafford County realizes that it’s in their best interest as well as all their students to adopt a trans-inclusive policy,” Orr said.
