Mother Sues School District for Prohibiting Daughter Who Identifies as Boy From Using Boys’ Locker Room

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Minnesota mother has filed suit against the Anoka-Hennepin School District and School Board for prohibiting her daughter, who identifies as a boy, from using the boys’ locker room.

According to the official complaint, the teen, who is only being identified as N.H., came out to her family in 2015 and began seeing a therapist. She was encouraged to “socially transition,” which included presenting herself outwardly as a boy and taking on a new name.

The family soon moved to Coon Rapids, where N.H. attended Coon Rapids High School and joined the swim team. She was permitted to compete with the boys and use the boys’ locker room to change her clothes.

Months later, the board decided that the changing arrangement could not continue. School officials contacted N.H.’s family and advised that that the teen could no longer use the boys’ changing facilities.

“While the board temporarily reversed its decision later that night, they also made clear that after the swim season was over N.H.
would not be able to use the boys’ locker room,” the legal filing explains.

The teen was soon admitted to the hospital due to mental health concerns.

In 2016, the school remodeled its boys’ locker rooms and also created a new “enhanced privacy” restroom and changing area, which was separate from the boys’ room.

The teen and her mother expressed objection while being given a tour of the new facility, stating that “segregating N.H. from the other students singled [her] out and could be unsafe.” N.H. was soon directed to use the new enhanced privacy changing area.

N.H. continued using the boys’ locker room anyway, and her mother was allegedly informed that the student would be disciplined if she continued to defy the school board’s order.

Eventually, out of concern for being able to complete her physical education requirement for graduation, N.H. grudgingly used the enhanced privacy locker room as instructed, and soon had to be readmitted to the hospital due to mental health issues.

The teen’s mother contends that the hospitalization was “aggravated by [the district’s] discriminatory conduct,” and so she transferred her out of the district to another school.

N.H.’s mother later filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and has now taken the Anoka-Hennepin School District and Board to court over the matter. The family is seeking a declaration that the school board and district violated N.H’s rights and an injunction against any future denial of students’ use of the restroom and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.

Compensatory and punitive damages are also being sought in the case.

Read the lawsuit in full here.

“I didn’t choose this battle,” the mother said in a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed suit on behalf of the family. “The school board chose us. They used their power and went out of their way to create a problem where there wasn’t a problem to begin with. They conspired to isolate my son and ultimately their actions altered the course of his life—and our family’s life. Through all of this, they robbed him of a normal high school experience.”

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has now also asked to enter the legal challenge.

“Anoka-Hennepin Schools is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment and to providing an education that supports all students and families, including transgender and gender nonconforming students,” the Anoka-Hennepin School Board said in a statement, as reported by Yahoo Lifestyle.

“The use of restrooms and locker rooms are determined on a case-by-case basis. The goal is to ensure that all students feel safe and comfortable. Plans for accommodation for restroom and locker room use are made in consultation with school building administrators, the Title IX coordinator and superintendent in compliance with state and federal law,” it said.

“This approach is consistent with guidance from the National School Boards Association and the Minnesota School Boards Association. Providing privacy for all students is an important consideration. … Anoka-Hennepin is confident our actions conform with state and federal law.”

As previously reported, Christians believe that all men are in the same predicament: All are born with the Adamic sin nature, having various inherent inclinations that are contrary to the law of God and being utterly incapable of changing themselves. It is why Jesus outlined in John 3:5-7 that men must be regenerated by the second birth, or they cannot see the kingdom of Heaven.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus saith unto him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ‘Ye must be born again.’”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 also outlines, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.”

Become a Christian News Network Supporter…

Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, would you please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God’s word widely and freely published and distributed? May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!