BANGOR, Maine (AP) - The Maine Human Rights Commission says the Orono School Department discriminated against a transgender child who was denied access to the girls' restroom.
The commission's ruling came in the case of a fifth-grader who was initially allowed to use the girls' bathroom even though she's biologically male. Educators later required her to begin using a unisex restroom after she was harassed by a male student.
Melissa Hewey, attorney for the Orono School Department, tells the Bangor Daily News that the decision may make sense on an intellectual level. But she says she's not sure it "takes into account practicalities that face educators around the state."
The human rights panel's decision is not binding. But the case could be brought to court by the agency if conciliation efforts fail.
Report a correction
verified
In order to make comments, you must verify your account.
In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.
Login or create an account here.
Our policy prohibits comments that are:
- Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
- Excessively foul and/or vulgar
- Inappropriately sexual
- Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
- Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
- Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.