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On Aug. 6, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issued a decision finding that House Bill (HB) 68, legislation banning the use of certain medical interventions for transgender youth and barring the participation of transgender girls in girls’ and women’s sports, was constitutional. The court vacated the temporary restraining order which had been blocking its enforcement since the spring. This means that the bill in its entirety has gone into immediate effect.

The bill contains two separate provisions related to transgender youth, both of which impact schools. The first…

Late yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Education issued a new proposed regulation on Title IX and a related fact sheet. The proposed rule would affect the rights of transgender students to participate on athletic teams that align with their gender…

Last week, amid a flurry of opinions and other actions, the U.S. Supreme Court made a notable decision not to act when it declined to review Gloucester Cty. School District. v. Grimm, a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision involving the rights of transgender students. The court’s decision was not unanimous – Justice Alito and Justice Thomas would have reviewed the case – but the 7-2 vote means the 4th…

Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR)  issued a …

While most of the conversations in schools about gender transition has been focused on students, schools need to be aware that transgender employees may be involved in gender transition as well.  Federal laws against sex and disability discrimination make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, harass, or otherwise discriminate against transgender employees…

On Jan. 20, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating…

A federal district judge recently issued a final ruling in favor of transgender student Gavin Grimm. The ruling marks an end to a long legal process that began in 2015, with stops in the district court, court of appeals and U.S. Supreme Court along the way.…

Recently, a Virginia middle school held a lockdown drill as part of its safety plan. During the drill, a 14-year-old transgender student was prevented from accessing the safety of the…

Earlier this month, two federal courts issued decisions in cases involving the rights of transgender students. These decisions should help school districts understand their legal obligations as they apply to all students. 

Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board 

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On March 7, a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel held that employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their transgender or transitioning status, notwithstanding the employer’s sincere religious objections.

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