Protecting Students From Discrimination

In June, the Maine Law Court will hear arguments in an important case about the rights of students to be free from discrimination. The case involves a girl who was denied access to the girl's bathroom at her elementary school because she is transgender. The girl and her family recently received support from the Maine chapter of the American Association of Pediatricians, which filed an amici curiae brief with other state and national organizations in support of their claim. In the brief, the doctors and other organizations argued that girls who are transgender should be treated like any other girl. To do otherwise is to subject them to harmful discrimination that is also contrary to the established medical standard of care. The Court will decide whether such discrimination is illegal as well.

The ACLU of Maine and the ACLU LGBT & AIDS Project also filed an amicus curiae brief in the case, which argues for the importance of protecting minorities from discrimination in contexts where there is public controversy or antipathy.

The family is represented by the Maine Human Rights Commission and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.