$4.2 Million Award Heads Back to Trial Court
A Missouri appeals court has revived a transgender student’s discrimination lawsuit against the Blue Springs School District. The lawsuit, originally decided by a jury in 2021, awarded the student $4.2 million in damages.
Appeals Court Overturns New Trial Order
The Western District Missouri Court of Appeals determined on Tuesday that a lower court judge erred when ordering a new trial. The appeals court’s unanimous decision, authored by Judge Anthony Rex Gabbert, sends the case back to the original trial court. The focus will now be on determining the appropriateness of the $4.2 million award.
Court Recognizes Gender Identity Discrimination
Judge Gabbert’s written decision explicitly states that the school district discriminated against the student, identified in court documents as R.M.A., because he did not conform to their expectations of masculinity. The decision equates this type of discrimination to denying opportunities based on factors like height or muscularity.
School District Expresses Disappointment
In a released statement, the Blue Springs School District acknowledged their disappointment with the recent ruling and indicated they are exploring their legal options. Citing the ongoing case, the district declined further comment.
Student Denied Access to Boys’ Facilities
The lawsuit, filed in 2015, details how R.M.A., who legally changed his name in 2010 and updated his birth certificate in 2014 to reflect his male identity, was denied access to boys’ restrooms and locker rooms at both Delta Woods Middle School and the Freshman Center. Despite being recognized as male by the state, the district restricted him to a single-occupancy restroom outside the boys’ locker room during middle school. This limitation reportedly caused him to forgo participation in fall sports at the Freshman Center.
Landmark Decision for Transgender Rights
The appeals court’s decision comes on the heels of a significant 2019 ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court. That decision determined that the state’s human rights protections against sex discrimination can also apply to individuals who do not conform to traditional gender stereotypes. This ruling was hailed as a victory for transgender rights advocates.
