EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WAND) – A federal judge ruled a transgender teen can use male bathrooms at school.
The Evansville Vanderburgh school district said it would only allow the 17-year-old student to use the male bathroom if his birth certificate reflected a male gender. The teen, who filed a lawsuit, says the district violated his rights.
Judge William Lawrence signed an injunction after deciding the student’s claims of experiencing distress when using female bathrooms were credible. The district only allowed him to use female bathrooms or a bathroom in the school nurse’s office.
The American Civil Liberties Union says the teen would have to complete transition surgery before the state of Indiana would allow a birth certificate change. He is currently taking hormone therapy.
Evansville Vanderburgh schools return to class in the next several weeks.
