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MAKING THE LEAP FROM BULLYING TO
EQUALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF
TRANSGENDER STUDENT RIGHTS
Nathan Adest
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 45
II. TRANSGENDER STUDENTS IN EDUCATION .................................. 48
III. LEGAL BACKGROUND ............................................................... 51
IV. ANALYZING THE GUIDELINES AND THEIR EFFECTS ...................... 56
V. IMPLICATIONS ........................................................................... 67
V I. PROPOSAL ................................................................................ 70
VII. CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 76
I. INTRODUCTION
t J.D. Candidate, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Class of 2020. The author would like
to thank his parents Betty and Joseph Ades for their continued support of his endeavors.
I Noah Rothman, Wasserman Schultz: Gay Marriage is 'The Civil Rights Issue of Our
Generation, MEDIAITE (May 15, 2012), http://www.mediaite.com/tv/wasserman-schultz-gay-
marriage-is-the-civil-rights-issue-of-our-gencration/ [http://perma.cc/8L4B-B4RR].
2 Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Cnty. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 506 (1969).
3 Id. at 507; Chapter One: Pro-Gay and Anti-Gay Speech in Schools, 127 HARV. L. REV.
1698, 1698 (2014).
46 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
4 Tinker, 393 U.S. at 513 (1969) (citing Burnside v. Byars, 363 F.2d 744, 749 (5th Cir.
1966)); see also Chapter One: Pro-Gay and Anti-Gay Speech in Schools, 127 HARV. L. REV.
1698, 1698 (2014).
5 Doe v. Brockton Sch. Comm.,2000-J-638, 2000 WL 33342399, at *1 (Mass. App. 2000)
6 Id.
7 Id.
8 Id.
9 Letter to Emily Prince from James A. Fcrg-Cadima, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Policy, Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education (Jan. 7, 2015),
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201702-title-ix.docx.
10 Bd. of Educ. of the Highland Local Sch. Dist. v. United States Dep't of Educ., 208 F. Supp.
3d 850, 869 (S.D. Ohio 2016) ("For the Court to find that the statute was ambiguous, it need not
find that the agencies' interpretation is the only plausible reading of "sex" in the statute, but,
rather, that it is one of the plausible readings.").
I Letter to Emily Prince from James A. Ferg-Cadima, supra note 9.
12 Id.
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 47
Title IX, nor do they undergo any formal public process."1 3 Thus
President Trump's administration determined that it was better to
withdraw the documents, and leave the decision making determinations
regarding transgender students to state legislatures.
However, courts, states, and individuals disagree with Trump's
determination.14 The Obama guidelines had tangible effects on law and
politics. In fact, the removal of these guidelines has led to confusion in
courts on questions of sex and discrimination. 15 Additionally, despite
the current executive branch opposition, states like New York have been
unwavering in upholding their own legislative, executive, and judicial
schemes regarding educational guarantees grounded both in state's
rights and Federal law.' 6 Specifically, New York's state laws and state
guidance letters provide clear protections of a student's gender identity
and solutions designed to assure safe and supportive environments for
7
transgender students. '
Focusing on transgender students in education is both ripe and
crucial to understanding student rights and how the legislative process
contemplates the rights of diverse students. Education stands as the
cornerstone of forming America's youth. Former Secretary of State
Colin Powell described education's importance stating, "Children need
to get a high-quality education, avoid violence and the criminal-justice
system, and gain jobs. But they deserve more. We want them to learn
not only reading and math, but fairness, caring, self-respect, family
commitment, and civic duty."' 18 Children need to be taught self-respect
and respect for others. Ensuring an environment that teaches both must
be a cornerstone of American foundation. By focusing on transgender
students, we see how current policies apply to the individual rights of
diverse individuals. This Note will analyze President Trump's policies
through both an academic and a legal lens, to explore the implications
of his actions. Elected and future leaders thus will be able to understand
the implications of where transgender students stand today, and how
they can help shape a better future for the individual rights of students.
13 Id.
14 1 Education Law §t4:13 (West 2019).
15 Grimm v. Gloucester Cty. Sch. Bd., 869 F.3d 286, 289 (4th Cir. 2017).
16 See Scott R. Bauries, A Common Law Constitutionalism for the Right to Education, 48 GA.
L. REV. 949, 955 (2014); Scott R. Bauries, State Constitutions and Individual Rights: Conceptual
Convergence in School Finance Litigation, 18 GEO. MASON L. REV. 301, 321-25 (2011).
17 See STATE EDUC. DEP'T, GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR CREATING A SAFE AND
SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING
STUDENTS (2015),
http://www.pl2.nysed.gov/dignityact/documents/TransgGNCGuidanceFINAL.pdf; see also
N.Y. EDUC. LAW §t 11(6) (defining "gender" as a "person's actual or perceived sex and includes
a person's gender identity or expression").
18 Claire Howorth, Gen. Colin Powell On His New Effort to Help Kids Succeed, TIME (April
13, 2017), http://time.com/4737968/colin-powell-americas-promise-alliance/.
48 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol. 26:1
The fight for gay and lesbian rights was and continues to be
instrumental in paving the path for the recognition of transgender
individuals and their rights. Landmark cases such as Lawrence v. Texas,
U.S. v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges all led to the recognition of
equal rights for gay and lesbian people under the Fourteenth
Amendment, Title VII, and Title IX. 40 Even though Obergefell found a
right to marry rather than the rights of individuals to have any particular
sexual orientation, the "tone and language of the Obergefell decision
potentially indicate much broader implications for the rights of the 41
LGBTQ community than the Court's holdings regarding marriage.
Obergefell decided an important constitutional issue, but it also stood as
a pivotal marker of shifting opinion in the judicial area of statutory
interpretation, as well in applying Title IX to apply to male-on-male
42
sexual harassment.
Title VII and Tile IX are two of the most important Federal laws
protecting against sex discrimination. Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 provides, in part, that "[n]o person in the United
States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
education program or activity receiving Federal financial
assistancet.t.t.t. ' '43 In simplified terms, Title IX protects against sex
discrimination in educational environments, and Title VII protects
against it in the workplace. 44
Title IX has been interpreted in traditional terms of protecting
women against discrimination from the men. 45 In order to properly
allege a violation of Title IX in the context of education, a plaintiff must
allege that they were excluded from an education program because of
their sex, the educational institution received financial assistance from
Federal funding at the time of that exclusion, and the discrimination
caused harm to the individual. 46 Title IX's protection of transgender
individuals has been established through a series of cases. 47 Importantly,
40 Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75, 118 (1998) ("[Slame sex
marriage was covered by Title VII's prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex.");
Lawrence v. Texas, 123 U.S. 2472, 2484 (2003); U.S. v. Windsor, 133 U.S. 2675, 2693 (2013);
Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 U.S. 2584, 2597 (2015).
41 1 Education Law §t4:13.
42 See infra, notes 46-69, and discussion.
43 20 U.S.C.A. §t1681(a).
44 Civil Rights Act of 1964, §t701 (codified as 42 U.S.C.A. §t2000e); Education
Amendments of 1972, §t901, (codified as 20 U.S.C.A. §t1681).
45 Finch v. Xavier Univ., 689 F. Supp. 2d 955, 966 (S.D. Ohio 2010)
46 Preston v. Com.of Va. ex rel. New River Cmty. Coll., 31 F.3d 203, 205 (4th Cir. 1994).
47 1 Education Law §t4:13 (citing Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75,
52 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
117 (1998)).
48 Id.
49 Oncale, 523 U.S. at 118. Oncale was cited with approval in Davis Next FriendLaShonda
D. v. Monroe County Bd. of Educ., 526 U.S. 629, 631, U.S. (1999) and Gebser v. Logo Vista
Independent School Dist., 524 U.S. 274, 118 U.S. (1998), both Title IX cases. See I Education
Law §t4:13.
50 Oncale, 523 U.S. at 80.
51 Id. at 100 (citing 78 Stat. 255 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §t2000e-2(a)(1)).
52 Id. at 102.
53 Jennings v. Univ. of North Carolina, 482 F.3d 686, 695 (4th Cir. 2007) (holding that a
school violated Title IX by denying a transgendcr student access to an appropriate restroom).
54 Id.
55 1 Education Law §t4:13
56 Id.
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 53
57 Emily Q. Shults, Sharply Drawn Lines: An Examination of Title IX, Intersex, and
Transgender, 12 CARDOZO J.L. & GENDER 337 (2005) (citing Miles v. N.Y.U., 979 F.Supp. 248
(S.D.N.Y. 1997) (although the court did support the transgender student, the teacher did not know
that the student was transgender)).
58 Miles, 979 F.Supp. at 248.
59 1 Education Law §t4:13.
60 Id.
61 Id.
62 Johnston v. Univ. of Pittsburgh of Com. Sys. of Higher Educ., 97 F. Supp. 3d 657, 662
(W.D. Pa. 2015).
63 Id.
64 Philpott v. New York, 252 F. Supp. 3d 313, 316, (S.D. N.Y. 2017) (citing Hively v. Ivy
Tech Community College of Indiana, 853 F.3d 339, 342 (7th Cir. 2017)).
65 1 Education Law §t4:13
66 Doe v. Brimfield Grade School, 552 F. Supp. 2d 816, 823 (2008).
54 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
67 Videckis v. Pepperdine University, 150 F. Supp. 3d 1151, 1159 (2015) (noting that "[o]ther
courts have acknowledged the difficulty of distinguishing sexual orientation discrimination from
discrimination based on sex or gender stereotypes" and "[i]t is impossible to categorically
separate 'sexual orientation discrimination' from discrimination on the basis of sex or from
gender stereotypes; to do so would result in a false choice").
68 U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Title IX Resource Guide (Apr.
2015). For a more in-depth analysis of the OCR's effect on judicial decision making, see, infra,
Part III,
69 The first amendment right to free speech will be seen later in the "Right to Dress"
70 Carcafio v. MeCrory, 203 F. Supp. 3d 615, 640 (M.D.N.C. 2016) (citing U.S. CONST.
amend. XIV, §tl).
71 Id.; Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620, 631 (1996).
72 See e.g., Carcaho,203 F. Supp. 3d at 640; Romer, 517 U.S. at 631.
73 Carcaho, 203 F. Supp. 3d at 640 (citing United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515, 532-33
(1996)).
74 Id. (citing Virginia, 518 U.S. at 533; Mississippi Univ. for Women v. Hogan, 458 U.S. 718,
724 (1982)).
75 Id.
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 55
76 Id. at 617.
77 Faulkner v. Jones, 10 F.3d 226, 232 (4th Cir.1993).
78 Beard v. Whitmore Lake Sch. Dist., 402 F.3d 598, 604 (6th Cir.2005).
79 Carcaho,203 F. Supp. 3d at 641 ("Not surprisingly, then, the parties disagree about which
definition of "sex" promotes the State's interest in bodily privacy.").
80 Id. at 642.
81 Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620, 631 (1996).
82 Id.
83 Carcaho, 203 F. Supp. 3d at 646 (citing Outdoor Media Grp., Inc. v. City of Beaumont,
506 F.3d 895, 907 (9th Cir. 2007)).
84 42 U.S.C.A. §t1983; 83 Causes of Action 2d 249 at §f3 (West 2019).
85 Fitzgerald v. Barnstable Sch. Comm., 555 U.S. 246, 257-58 (2009).
86 Id. at 257 ("For example, Title LX exempts elementary and secondary schools from its
prohibition against discrimination in admissions, §t1681(a)(1); it exempts military service
schools and traditionally single-sex public colleges from all of its provisions, §§t1681(a)(4)-
56 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol. 26:1
The first relevant release by the OCR and DOE was the December
2014 document titled, "Questions and Answers on Title IX and Single-
Sex Elementary and Secondary Classes and Extracurricular
Activities. '92 The Departments have determined that this document, and
later additional documents, have the status of a "significant guidance
document" under the Office of Management and Budget's Final
(5)").
87 Doe v. Boyertown Area Sch. Dist., 276 F. Supp. 3d 324, 379 (E.D. Pa. 2017), affd, 890
F.3d 1124 (3d Cir. 2018), and aff'd, 897 F.3d 518 (3d Cir. 2018).
88 Memorandum from Eric T Schneiderman and Mary Ellen Elia to New York School
Districts (February 18, 2018) (on file with the New York School Education Database).
89 ld.
90 Id.; Dignity for All Students Act, 2010 Sess. Laws of N.Y. ch. 482 (McKinney's) (codified
at N.Y. EDUC. LAW §t10 et seq.); see also N.Y. EDUC. LAW §t11(6) (defining "gender" as a
"person's actual or perceived sex and includes a person's gender identity or expression").
91 STATE OF NEW YORK DEP'T OF EDU., GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR CREATING A
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER
NONCONFORMING STUDENTS (July 2015),
http://www.pl2.nysed.gov/dignityact/documents/TransgGNCGuidanccFINAL.pdf.
92 DEP'T OF EDU. OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON TITLE IX AND
SINGLE-SEX ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY CLASSES AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
(Dec. 1, 2014), https://www2.ed.gov/about/officcs/list/ocr/docs/faqs-title-ix-single-sex-
201412.pdf.
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 57
93 Id. at 2.
94 Id.
95 Id. at 6.
96 Id. at 7.
97 Grimm v. Gloucester Cty. Sch. Bd., 822 F.3d 709, 718 (4th Cir.), cert. grantedin part, 137
S.Ct. 369 (2016), vacated and remanded, 137 S. Ct. 1239 (2017).
98 OCR Dear Colleague Letter on Single-Sex Title IX Regulations (Jan. 31, 2007),
http://www.ed.gov/ocr/lectters/single-sex-20070131 .pdf
99 Id. at 2.
100 Id.
101 Id. at 3.
102 Letter to Emily Prince from James A. Ferg-Cadima, supra note 9.
58 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
103 Id.
104 Id.at 1.
105 Id. at 2.
106 Letter from Adele Rapport, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Education, Office for
Civil Rights, to Daniel E. Cates, Superintendent, Township High School District 211, OCR Case
No. 05-14-1055 (Nov. 2, 2015), http://www.chicagotribunc.com/ct-doe-report-on-district-211-
20151102-htmlstory.html.
107 U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division & U.S. Department of Education Office
for Civil Rights, Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students (May 13, 2016),
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf
[hereinafter May 13 Letter].
108 Id.
109 Id. at 8 ("A school may provide separate facilities on the basis of sex, but must allow
transgcnder students access to such facilities consistent with their gender identityt.t.t.t. . A
school may not, however, adopt or adhere to requirements that rely on overly broad
generalizations or stereotypes about the differences between transgender students and other
students of the same sex (i.e., the same gender identity) or others' discomfort with transgender
studcntst.t.t.t. But a school must allow transgender students to access housing consistent with
their gender identity and may not require transgender students to stay in single-occupancy
accommodations or to disclose personal information when not required of other studentst.t.t.t.
[A] a school may not segregate or otherwise distinguish students on the basis of their sex,
including gender identity, in any school activities or the application of any school rulet.t.t.t.").
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 59
identities. 110 Second, the OCR not only recognizes the balancing test,
but it holds and recommends with "significant guidance" that in order to
not violate Title IX, schools must prioritize bathroom use, programs,
and activities for transgender students even when there may result a
significant disruption.'l' Most importantly, the letter spells out the fact
that gender identity equals sex for the purposes of Title LX.112 Third,
without specifically endorsing any polices, the DOE attached a
supplement including policies from other districts in support of the
guidelines. 113
On February 22, 2017, the Trump administration withdrew the
previous "Dear Colleague Letter from May 2016 and the Letter to
Emily Prince from January of 2015.114 On one hand, proponents of the
letters argue that its withdrawal removes critical interpretation of Title
IX and removes necessary rules and policy guidance helping to protect
transgender students. 1 5 Many have argued that removing the letters
leaves young and scared students vulnerable to abuse." 16 Without clear
interpretation of Title IX, courts and school municipalities may deny
transgender students' equal rights. On the other hand, for example, in
the press briefing following the rescinding of the guidelines, press
secretary Sean Spicer stated that the Title IX from 1972 framers did not
contemplate transgender students." 17 Approving the removal of the
Obama guidelines, Spicer commented that the Obama era letters was an
instance of the Federal government making a decision "forcing schools
to make a huge accommodation" without a proper "comment period."' 1 8
Spicer implied that instead of a guidelines release, state legislatures
should amend Title IX, but as a Federal statute. 119
Right to Dress
110 Id.at2.
111 Id.at 1.
112 Id. at 2 (stating that the "Departments treat a student's gender identity as the student's sex
for purposes of Title IX").
113 Id.
114 See Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education, Dear Colleague Letter
Withdrawing the Dear Colleague Letter of May 13, 2016 and the Letter to Emily Prince from
James A. Ferg-Cadima of Jan. 7, 2015 (Feb. 22, 2017),
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/collcague-201702-titlc-ix.pdf.
115 1 Education Law §t4:13.
116 See, e.g.,Logan Casey, After Trump Rescinds Title IX Guidance, What's Next for
Transgender Students' Rights?, Brookings Institute: Brown Center Chalkboard (Mar. 1, 2017),
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2017/03/01/after-trump-rescinds-title-
ix-guidance-whats-next-for-transgender-students-rights/; see also Press Briefing by Press
Secretary Sean Spicer, THE WHITE HOUSE (Feb. 23, 2017),
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-press-secretary-sean-spicer-
022317/.
117 Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer, supra note 116.
118 Id.
119 Id.
60 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol. 26:1
120 Doe v. Yunits, No. 001060A, 2000 WL 33162199, *1 (Mass. Super. Ct. Oct. 11,
2000), aff'dsub nom. Doe v. Brockton Sch. Comm., No. 2000-J-638, 2000 WL 33342399 (Mass.
App. Ct. Nov. 30, 2000).
121 Id.
122 Id.
123 Id.
124 Id.;
The Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, art. XVI (as amended by art. 77).
125 Yunits, 2000 WL 33162199, at *1.
126 Id.
127 Id.
128 Id.
129 United States v. O'Brien 391 U.S. 367, 377 (1968).
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 61
relied upon Tinker v. Des Moines Community School District and its
balancing of interests test. 130 The court in Tinker, found that denying the
31
student's ability to wear controversial armbands did suppress speech.1
It accordingly held that although there is a violation of students' rights
when they are denied the ability to wear the armbands, "suppression of
speech that 'materially and substantially interferes with the work of the
school' is permissible."' 132 Hence clarifying above, a school can
interfere with speech if such speech substantially interferes with the
work of school.
In another leading case, Yunitz, despite the school's contentions,
the plaintiff's speech was well understood by not only the staff but the
student body. 133 The court found by requiring her to change, the school
suppressed her speech. 134 Additionally, any argument that the school's
policy was neutral was defeated by the fact that, since the plaintiff was a
girl, she should in the very least have been able to dress like one. 135 Yet,
the school still argued that her dress and actions around school not only
disrupted classrooms, but her safety was also at risk when she dressed
more femininely. The court responded with two rebuttals. First, it found
that threats the student received fall under normal school bullying
protocol. 136 If a student is bullied because of how they dress in school,
the school will discipline the bully for their actions. Second, the court
emphasized that in considering the individual student's rights, the
disapproval of masses will have no bearing on the student's ability to
dress according to her identity. 37 Thus, the court held that a school
should not be allowed to bar students from dressing when their wish is
to dress consistent with their gender identity when that activity does not
138
substantially interfere with the running of the school.
Many courts had followed in the direction of Yunitz, Tinker, and
O'Brien before the release of the Obama era documents. 139 For
example, the court Yunitz expanded its holding to the topic of gender
rather than to the issue of "sexual orientation, transsexualism, and
transvestitism."' 140 However, the Court of Appeals for the Second
130 Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969).
131 Id.
132 Id.
133 Doe v. Yunits, No. 001060A, 2000 WL 33162199, at *1 (Mass. Super. Ct. Oct. 11,
2000), aff'd sub nom. Doe v. Brockton Sch. Comm., No. 2000-J-638, 2000 WL 33342399 (Mass.
App. Ct. Nov. 30, 2000).
134 Id.
135 Id.
136 Id.
137 Id.
138 Id.
139 United States v. 0' Brien 391 U.S. 367,377 (1989); Tinker v. Des Moines Community
School Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 739 (1969); Yunits, 2000 WL 33162199, at * 1.
140 Yunits, 2000 WL 33162199, at *6.
62 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
141 Zalcwska v. Cty. of Sullivan, New York, 316 F.3d 314, 319 (2d Cir. 2003).
142 Aver v. Robbins, 519 U.S. 452, 117, 137 (1997).
143 Smith v. Salem, Ohio, 369 F.3d 912, 922 (6th Cir. 2004).
144 May 13 Letter, supra note 107.
145 Id.
146 Fricke v. Lynch, 491 F. Supp. 381 (1980).
147 May 13 Letter, supra note 107.
148 Applcberry v. Blue Springs R-IV Sch. Dist., (2017) ("EEOC determinations like that
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 63
Facility Use
The debate over sex and gender discrimination in relation to
facility use is a strikingly new topic. Although it is not the first-time
facilities have been used in discriminatory ways, it is the first time in
history that the debate has centered around a distinction of gender and
sex. In 2016, North Carolina was the first state to address transgender
bathroom rights. 50 By creating a new law stating that public bathrooms
are accessible only to people of the same biological sex, they directly
prohibited transgender individuals from using the restroom that
corresponded to their gender.1 5 1 This law later became known as the
152
"bathroom bill."'
In pre-guideline cases, courts have continually held that when it
comes to constitutional questions of gender and sexuality, sex will be
determined on the basis of physiology. 53 Although many of these cases
come from pre-guideline era, even in 2016, the Fourth Circuit cited
Virginia in support of treating men and women differently because of
physiological differences. 154 Additionally, in Carcaho, applying the
intermediate scrutiny test, the court held that segregation of bathrooms
based on physiological difference did not violate plaintiffs'
constitutional rights. It held, "[w]ithout reducing the "reasonable fit"
requirement to a numerical comparison, it seems unlikely that a law that
classifies individuals with 99.7% accuracy is insufficient to survive
intermediate scrutiny.155
Until very recently no "authority existed regarding the application
of Title LX and its related regulations to transgender students and
employees. ' ' 156 Although denying the plaintiffs Fourteenth amendment
claims, the court in Carcaho held that the new state law barring
transgender individuals from using public restrooms of their gender did
violate Tile IX. 157 In relation to schools, courts have been reluctant to
bar transgender students from bathrooms matching their gender. The
court in Carcaho also relied upon the court's guidance in Highland,
158
which also relied on the guidelines.
In Whitaker, the court took a strong stance on protecting
transgender rights. First, by providing a preliminary injunction, an
"extraordinary remedy," the court recognized the necessity and
importance of the harm that could be caused to the student from the
discriminatory practices. 159 Second, the Supreme Court relied on Oncale
in embracing an expansive view of Title VII, admitting that although
the framers didn't have transgender student's in mind, it is the duty of
1 60
the court to protect against "comparable evils."
It is important to note that when a school only makes a single-
occupancy bathroom available or makes the transgender student use the
bathroom of their sex assigned at birth, there is a violation of Title
IX.16 1 Although separate, single-occupancy, facilities may seem to
create a solution, the problem is that the school is treating the
162
transgender students differently from students of the same gender.
Noting this, the court in Evancho rejected the school's argument that the
failure of law makers' to include the word "transgender" in Title VII or
IX despite the opportunity to do so as determinative. 63 Thus, the court
held that the balance of harms favored the student, and the school
violated his Title IX claims.164
In 2016, in a groundbreaking case in the category, the Fourth
Circuit directly required that courts defer to the DOE's
165 Grimm v. Gloucester Cty. Sch. Bd., 869 F.3d 286, 289 (4th Cir. 2017).
166 Id at 287.
167 Id.
168 Id.
169 Id.
170 Id. at 290.
171 Id.
172 Evancho v. Pine-Richland Sch. Dist., 237 F. Supp. 3d 267, 298 (W.D. Pa. 2017).
173 Id.
174 Id.
66 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
guidelines stated. 175 Importantly, the court did not treat the withdrawal
as overruling cases that have drawn on the guidelines; rather, it
followed in the precedent of those that have not acknowledged the
176
guidelines as judicial instructions.
In response to the order to stay in G.G., the court in Evancho was
hesitant to conclude that petitioner had a likelihood of success on the
merits in order to present a preliminary injunction.177 However, in dicta,
the court narrowed this decision to the facts of the case in determining
relief and emphasized the plaintiff's mission "to do what young people
try to do every day-go to school, obtain an education, and interact as
equals with their peers." 178 Notably, a small win in the battle, the court
ruled that the plaintiffs will wear graduation garb and shall be identified
179
with pronouns matching their gender identities.
Athletics
Title LX has been recognized in large part in relation to expanding
opportunities for female athletes. 180 Although Title IX doesn't
specifically address athletics, athletics are considered integral to the
education process and thus are subject to Fourteenth Amendment
constitutional protection. 81 As female participation in athletics
increases every year, Title IX has provided remedy to women seeking
equal treatment in all levels of education, including collegiate. 82 Case
law has recognized that sex discrimination in athletics is protected by
83
Title X.1
To date, there have been few-if any-cases brought by a
transgender student athlete. However, there are cases that suggest that
sexual orientation in the field of athletics may stretch over to
transgender rights. In 2006, a Federal district court held that "language,
184
with sexual orientation overtones, amounts to gender discrimination."'
This court adopted an expansive view of Title IX, protecting against
actions which speak to more than just a male-female physiological
distinction. 185 Additionally, Title IX protections which have been
recognized in preventing against hostile environments, can also protect
175 id.
176 Id.
177 Id.at 301.
178 Id. at 302.
179 Id. at 267.
180 Elaine Chamberlain ct al., Athletics & Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, 19
GEO. J. GENDER & L. 231, 232 (2018)
181 Id. (citing Swann v. Charlottc-Mecklenburg Bd. of Educ., 402 U.S. 1, 18 (1971)).
182 NAT'L. COAL. FOR WOMEN & GIRLS IN EDUC., TiTLE IX AT 40, at 8 (2012),
https://ncwge.org/archive/TitlcIX40/TitlelX-print.pdf.
183 See generally Jackson v. Birmingham Bd. of Educ., 544 U.S. 167, 168 (2005).
184 Chamberlain et al., supra note 180, at 236 (citing Riccio v. New Haven Bd. of Educ, 467 F.
Supp. 2d 219, 226 (2006)).
185 Id.
2019] MAKING THE LEAP FROMBULLYING TO EQUALITY 67
V. IMPLICATIONS
186 Mary M. v. N. Lawrence Cnty. Seh. Corp., 131 F.3d 1220, 1226 (7th Cir. 1997); Fitzgerald
v. Bamstable Sch. Comm., 555 U.S. 246, 246 (2009).
187 WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION, PARTICIPATION OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN
WOMEN'S SPORTS 3 (2011); NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, LEGAL GUIDANCE ON
TRANSGENDER STUDENT RIGHTS (2006),
https://www.nea.org/assets/docs/20184_Transgender/ 20Guidc_v4.pdf.
188 NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, supra note 187.
189 Id. (citing Clark v. Arizona Interscholastic Ass'n, 695 F.2d 1126, 1130 (9th Cir. 1982)
(holding that "denial of an opportunity in a specific sport, even when overall opportunities are
equal can violate equal protection")).
190 Id.
191 Id.
192 Id.
68 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
193 Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75, 118 (1998); Carcaflo v.
McCrory, 203 F. Supp. 3d 615, 643 (M.D.N.C. 2016); Bd. of Educ. of the Highland Local Sch.
Dist. v. United States Dcp't of Educ., 208 F. Supp. 3d 850, 869 (S.D. Ohio 2016).
194 Chamberlain et al., supra note 180, at 236.
195 U.S. Dep't of Education Office for Civil Rights, Dear Colleague Letter (Feb. 22, 2017),
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201702-title-ix.docx.
196 Chamberlain et al., supra note 180, at 257.
197 Id. at 249.
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perhaps LGBTQ student may still have a claim of right of action under
20 5
Title IX that can be supported by the guideline's interpretation.
VI. PROPOSAL
205 Id.
206 NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, supra note 187 (citing Grimm v. Gloucester Cty.
Sch. Bd., 869 F.3d 286, 289 (4th Cir. 2017)).
207 Julie Moreau, No Link Between Trans-Inclusive Policies and Bathroom Safety, Study
Finds, CBS News (Sept. 19, 2018).
208 Id.
209 See supra notes 32-39 and discussion.
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219 Resolution Agreement Between the Arcadia Unified Sch. Dist. & the Office for Civil
Rights, U.S. DEP'T OF EDUC., AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION, U.S. DEP'T OF JUSTICE, OCR
Case No. 09-12-1020, at 1 (July 24, 2013),
https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2013/07/26/arcadiaagree.pdf.
220 Id.
221 Evancho v. Pine-Richland Sch. Dist., 237 F. Supp. 3d 267, 285 (W.D. Pa. 2017).
222 Id.
223 Oncale v, Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75, 118 (1998).
74 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
230 Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer, THE WHITE HOUSE (Feb. 23, 2017),
https://www.whitchouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-bricfing-press-scretary-scan-spicer-
022317/.
231 Id.
232 NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TRANSGENDER STUDENT GUIDANCE FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS (Sept. 2018),
https://nj.gov/cducation/students/safcty/sandp/transgender/Guidance.pdf.
233 Id.
234 Id.
235 Id.
76 EQUAL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE [Vol.26:1
stereotypes. 236 Recently, the New York Legislature passed the Gender
Expression Non-Discrimination Act ("GENDA") and a ban on
conversion therapy. 237 GENDA solidifies "[e]xisting law by explicitly
adding gender identity and expression to the New York Human Rights
Law." 238 On January 15, 2019 the bill was passed by both chambers of
the New York Assembly. The passage of the bill is a clear indication of
a state taking an interpretation of "sex" in opposition with gender biases
and preconceived gender norms. Additionally, by banning conversion
therapy the state is sending "powerful message to LGBTQ young
people across New York that they are seen, loved, and will soon be
protected-we thank transgender advocates from across the state for
their years of workt.t.t.t. ' ' 239 This constant advocacy and education on
the importance of acceptance of different genders, sexes, and identities
has spurred the reaction in the legislature today.
Many other states have acted in support of these actions. States like
California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have presented guidelines
similar to the Obama-era guidelines detailing fair facilities use
recommendations for transgender students. 240 Such informal law-
making is a great first step states can take towards progressive
24 1
change.
VII. CONCLUSION
In the next few years, the picture for transgender students remains
a mystery. With the new Supreme Court appointment, there is the
potential that controlling precedent may rule against transgender
236 LGBTQ Sex Ed & Safety: A Survey of New York City High School Students, NYCLU
(March 20, 2017), https://www.nyclu.org/en/publications/gbtq-sex-ed-safety-survey-new-york-
city-high-school-students.
237 S. 1047, 2019-2020 Legis. Sess. (N.Y. 2019); S. 1046, 2019-2020 Legis. Sess. (N.Y.
2019); see also Nick Morrow, New York Passes Gender Expression Non-DiscriminationAct &
Protections Against Conversion Therapy, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (Jan. 15, 2019),
https://www.hrc.orgblog/historic-ny-legislature-passes-gender-expression-non-discrimination-
act-ban.
238 Morrow, supra note 237.
239 Id.
240 NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, supra note 187 (citing Susanne Beauchaine ct al.,
Equity and Civil Rights Office, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Prohibiting
Discrimination in Washington Public Schools: Guidelines for School Districts to Implement
Chapters 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCS and Chapter 329-190 WAC, at 28-31 (2012),
http://www.kl 2.wa.us/Equity/pubdocs/ProhibitingDiscriminationlnPublicSchools.pdf;
Connecticut Safe School Coalition, Guidelines for Connecticut Schools to Comply with Gender
Identity and Expression Non-Discrimination Laws (2012),
http://www.ct.gov/chro/lib/chro/Guidelines-for Schools on GenderIdentityandExprcssionfi
nal 4-24-12.pdf).
241 NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, supra note 187.
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