Transgender Students

People stand on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 11, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
People stand on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 11, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Declines to Hear School District's Transgender Restroom Case
The case asked whether federal law protects transgender students on the use of school facilities that correspond to their gender identity.
Mark Walsh, January 16, 2024
4 min read
Bloomfield High School transgender athlete Terry Miller, second from left, wins the final of the 55-meter dash over transgender athlete Andraya Yearwood, far left, and other runners in the Connecticut girls Class S indoor track meet at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Conn on Feb. 7, 2019.
Bloomfield High School transgender athlete Terry Miller, second from left, wins the final of the 55-meter dash over transgender athlete Andraya Yearwood, far left, and other runners in the Connecticut girls Class S indoor track meet at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Conn., on Feb. 7, 2019.
Pat Eaton-Robb/AP
Law & Courts Lawsuit Over a Transgender School Sports Policy Revived by Federal Appeals Court
The 2nd Circuit court stressed that it was not deciding the underlying issue in the case of whether Title IX bars such a policy.
Mark Walsh, December 15, 2023
3 min read
Student Well-Being In Their Own Words LGBTQ+ Student Perspective: At School, ‘My Safety Didn’t Feel Like the Priority’
For Landon Callahan, mental health challenges and substance use became easier to manage once he came out as a transgender man.
Lauraine Langreo, October 16, 2023
5 min read
Student Well-Being In Their Own Words LGBTQ+ Student Perspective: ‘My School’s GSA Saved My Life’
Esmée Silverman came to the realization that they were transgender in high school, but thought about suicide constantly during their freshman year.
Lauraine Langreo, October 16, 2023
3 min read
Image of a gavel and a family symbol.
marchmeena29/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts District Can't Let Students Change Pronouns Without Parental Consent, Judge Rules
A Wisconsin judge said gender transitions are a medical issue over which parents have fundamental control, including on pronouns in school.
Mark Walsh, October 5, 2023
4 min read
A poster is held at the Iowa Queer Student Alliance "We say gay" rally inside the Iowa State Capitol on March 8, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Iowa Queer Student Alliance holds a "We say gay" rally inside the Iowa State Capitol on March 8, 2023, in Des Moines. The legislature passed a bill last spring that prohibits school districts from providing false or misleading information to parents regarding their children's gender identity. A federal appeals court ruled that the new law made parts of a lawsuit against the Linn-Mar Community School District's policy moot, though the court revived a challenge to one part of the policy.
Margaret Kispert/The Des Moines Register via AP
Law & Courts Appeals Court Blocks District Policy That Requires Students to 'Respect' Gender Identity
The federal appeals court panel holds that the policy is likely unconstitutionally vague under the First Amendment.
Mark Walsh, September 29, 2023
4 min read
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 25, 2023. The new term of the high court begins Oct. 2, 2023.
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 25, 2023. The new term of the high court begins Oct. 2, 2023.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law & Courts In New Term, Supreme Court Set to Tackle Case on School Board Members' Social Media Use
The docket for education cases looks more modest than last term, but cases on magnet schools and transgender students could be added.
Mark Walsh, September 28, 2023
11 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
States State Laws Restricting Curriculum, Pronoun Use Cause Confusion and Chaos in Schools
Educators say state laws that limit teaching about race, gender identity, and sexuality are vague, with little help from state departments.
Libby Stanford & Ileana Najarro, September 21, 2023
8 min read
Isaya S. waves out the window of a Seattle Public Schools bus while participating in the annual Seattle Pride Parade on June 25, 2023, in Seattle.
Isaya S. waves out the window of a Seattle Public Schools bus while participating in the annual Seattle Pride Parade on June 25, 2023, in Seattle.
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Federal A Flood of Public Feedback Has Delayed a Title IX Change Covering Trans Athletes—Again
The Biden administration has not taken the final step to adopt long-awaited Title IX changes that would explicitly protect LGBTQ+ students.
Libby Stanford, September 20, 2023
5 min read
California Attorney General Rob Bonta fields questions during a press conference on Aug. 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. California's attorney general sued a Southern California school district Monday over its recently adopted policy that requires schools to notify parents if their children change their gender identification or pronouns.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta answers questions from the media on Aug. 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Bonta is suing the Chino Valley Unified school district over a policy that requires schools to notify parents if their children change their gender identification or pronouns.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Law & Courts California Sues to Stop District From Disclosing Trans Students' Name Changes or Pronouns
The lawsuit challenges the Chino Valley district's policy requiring schools to notify parents about requests for gender changes.
Mark Walsh, August 28, 2023
5 min read
Four of the 30 copies of the six Harry Potter books remain on a shelf at the Crawfordsville District Public Library in Crawfordsville, Ind., on July 18, 2007. The newest release, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will not even make it to the shelf when it is released on Saturday because of a waiting list to check out the book, according to a library spokesman in Crawfordsville.
Harry Potter books sit on a shelf at the Crawfordsville District Public Library in Crawfordsville, Ind., on July 18, 2007. Some educators are rethinking their inclusion of the popular book series in their classrooms because of the author's comments about transgender people.
Michael Conroy/AP
Reading & Literacy Is It Time to Retire 'Harry Potter'-Themed Classrooms and Libraries?
Author J.K. Rowling's comments on transgender people have left some educators uneasy about promoting the series.
Madeline Will, August 21, 2023
6 min read
Illustration of person sitting with knees to chest and hands pointing at them and one have reaching out and open to offer help.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Equity & Diversity District Failed to Protect Nonbinary Student From Harassment, Federal Investigation Finds
A Wisconsin district may owe compensatory instruction to a nonbinary student for excluding them from some in-person instruction.
Eesha Pendharkar, August 4, 2023
5 min read
A group of around 200 people who turned out for a rally inside the Nebraska State Capitol hold up signs in support of the transgender community on March 24, 2023 in Lincoln, Neb. A Wisconsin district can't enforce a policy banning trans students from using the bathrooms of their choice, a judge said.
A group of around 200 people who turned out for a rally inside the Nebraska State Capitol hold up signs in support of the transgender community on March 24, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. A Wisconsin district can't enforce a policy banning trans students from using the bathrooms of their choice, a judge said.
Margery Beck/AP
Equity & Diversity District Can't Restrict Transgender Student's Bathroom Use, Federal Judge Says
A Wisconsin district must allow trans students to use bathrooms aligning with their gender identity, according to a new ruling.
Eesha Pendharkar, July 31, 2023
5 min read
The doors to public restrooms are propped open at an office complex on May 9, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif.
The doors to public restrooms are propped open at an office complex on May 9, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. Florida's state board of education passed new rules restricting transgender students' bathroom access at school.
Chris Carlson/AP
Equity & Diversity Florida Board of Education Restricts Bathroom Access and Pronoun Use for Trans Students
Florida's state board of education passed rules banning bathroom access and pronoun use for trans and nonbinary students and teachers.
Eesha Pendharkar, July 21, 2023
5 min read