Virginia Teen Says He Just Wants to Use Restroom Like Everyone Else
The Glouchester County School Board has just filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which directed them to stop discriminating against a 16-year old transgender boy. Gavin Grimm, who is now a high school senior, says he just wants to use the boys’ restroom like any other male student.
The Virginia School Board is asking the Supreme Court to review its case, in which the appeals court ruled in favor of Grimm and the Obama administration,” Buzzfeed reports.
The Board earlier asked the Supreme Court to place a stay on the 4th Circuit’s ruling, effectively allowing them to continue discriminating against Grim and any other transgender students in the district, until the Court hears and rules on its case, or while it is still in appeal. That request was granted.
“The current composition of the Supreme Court — it has operated with only eight justices since Antonin Scalia’s death in February — could become a key factor in what happens next with the case,” Buzzfeed’s Chris Geidner notes. “It takes four justices to grant the certiorari petition and hear an appeal. It takes five votes, however, to reach a majority opinion.”
“If the court accepted the case,” Geidner postulates, “and split down ideological grounds 4-4, the lower court’s decision in favor of Grimm and the administration would be left in place — but no national precedent would be set by the case,” he observes.”
EARLIER:
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Breaking: Supreme Court Intervenes, Halts Transgender Student From Using Boys Restroom
Yet Another Win for Virginia Transgender Teen Gavin Grimm at 4th Circuit
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Image by Deanna LeBlanc via Twitter