Appeals Court Rules Virginia School Districts May Sue Education Department in Federal Court Over Transgender Facilities Finding
RICHMOND, Va. — A U.S. appeals court on Thursday revived challenges by two Virginia school districts to the U.S. Department of Education's finding that it was illegal for them to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and other facilities matching their gender identity, according to Reuters.
The Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, said a judge was wrong to rule that the lawsuits by the Arlington and Fairfax County school boards could only be heard in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims rather than in Virginia federal court. The court said the cases include other claims and seek broader relief, including injunctions barring future enforcement. The 4th Circuit sits at the Lewis F. Powell Jr. U.S. Courthouse at 1000 E. Main St. in Richmond.
The Education Department and lawyers for the school boards did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported. Both districts have policies allowing transgender students to use bathrooms, locker rooms and other accommodations matching their gender identity.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration has threatened to cut funding to schools in at least three states over policies that bar disclosing students' transgender status to parents, and last month sued public schools in Kansas City, Kansas, to block them from facilitating gender transitioning for transgender students.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 位于里士满的第四巡回上诉法院所在地刘易斯·F·鲍威尔 Jr. 联邦法院大楼与市中心天际线（Acroterion 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，维基共享资源）
