The ACLU has asked to join a battle over gendered bathrooms at a suburban Dayton school, representing a 14-year old transgender student at Bethel High School.
Bethel Local Schools are enmeshed in a fight with the the conservative group America Legal First, founded by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller, over a decision to allow students to use the communal bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Miller's group says that decision was made behind closed doors, and threatens students' safety, privacy, modesty, and in some cases, religious beliefs.
The ACLU supports the district's decision and says they want to make sure the voice of trans students is represented in the suit. They also want to voice opposition to the idea of installing single stall bathrooms, a compromise proposal that has been suggested. The 14-year old trans girl the ACLU represents says she was forced to use a single stall bathroom in middle school, which effectively outed her to other students and subjected her to bullying.
The court has asked plantiffs and defendants to respond to the ACLU's request by January 19th. the next court hearing is scheduled for February 7th.
