California’s Downey Unified School District has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s office for civil rights after a complaint alleged one of its schools discriminated against a transgender student.
The complaint alleged the school discriminated by “failing to respond adequately to complaints that the student was subjected to verbal harassment by peers and that staff members disciplined her for wearing makeup, discouraged her from speaking about her gender identity with classmates, and suggested she transfer to another school.”
Under the agreement, the Downey district will, among other measures, work with a consultant on gender identity to address discrimination; hold age-appropriate discussions with students about gender identity with the help of a consultant; and grant the student access to the girls’ restrooms, sex-segregated facilities, and girls’ sports teams.
