Fed court considers bathroom use by transgender student

Case involves UCF student Drew Adams

ATLANTA — A student has the right to use the bathroom that corresponds to his gender identity, a lawyer told a federal court Thursday, arguing that the issue is about the right of transgender students to “equal dignity.”

But the Florida school district that’s appealing a lower court order in favor of the transgender boy told three judges on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that they should overturn the ruling and let the school district restrict students to the bathroom matching their at-birth sex to protect the privacy of other students.

The case involves Drew Adams, who has since graduated from Nease High School outside Jacksonville. Adams transitioned from a girl to a boy before his freshman year, and used the boys’ room at the Ponte Vedra, Florida, school for a few weeks before several girls complained. Administrators barred him from the boys’ restroom and instead steered him toward singleuser gender neutral restrooms. A lower court last year overturned that policy after a bench trial, ordering the St. Johns County school district to let Adams use the boys’ restroom.

The 11th Circuit could become the first federal appeals court to issue a binding ruling on the issue, which has arisen in several states. The ruling would cover schools in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and could carry the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 4th Circuit had ruled in favor of a transgender Virginia student, but the U.S. Supreme Court sent the case back down for further

Adams consideration after the U.S. Department of Education, under President Donald Trump, withdrew guidance that said federal law called for treating transgender students equally, including allowing them to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

All the parties in the Atlanta courtroom Thursday were aware of the possibility that the ruling will set an important precedent. Lawyer Tara Borelli of Lambda Legal, who represents Adams, said after the hearing she was hoping schools will get “a clear statement that the law requires that transgender students be treated equally.”

But Circuit Judge Bill Pryor hammered Borelli, asking her how the judges could uphold the lower court ruling without setting the stage to allow anyone to ask for access to any bathroom or finding all sexbased distinctions illegal.

“These rationales apply to any form of sex-based segregation,” Pryor said.

Borelli, though, repeatedly underscored that Adams is not seeking to abolish distinctions between men and women.

“This case is only about me, a boy, being allowed to use the boys’ bathroom,” Adams said after the hearing, echoing what Borelli told Pryor.

Adams, now a student at the University of Central Florida, told reporters that he’s never had a problem using a men’s bathroom.

“Before this became an issue, nobody knew who I was, nobody cared what bathroom I used,” Adams said. “Most people when they use the bathroom, don’t look twice at who’s in there with them. So, this really wasn’t an issue until the school board made it an issue.”

Sunday

9-11 a.m., Dec. 8. Monthly meeting of Korean War vets. Weisman Community Center, 7091 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-369-8698. $2 covers coffee and bagels.

10 a.m.-noon, Dec. 8-15. Shop for handcrafted gifts made by Holly House Ladies. First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach.

561-702-0245. Free admission.

10:30

a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dec. 8. Activities for children preschool through fifth grade. Levis JCC, 9801 Donna Klein Blvd., Boca Raton. 561-852-3200. Free. 2:30-4:30 p.m., Dec. 8. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. 561-278-6003. music.stpaulsdelray.org. Free.

Monday

6-10 p.m., Holiday display nightly through Dec. 30 (except Dec. 25), presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Features 125,000 LED lights illuminating the chocolate factory and shoppe, as well as the ice cream parlor and gardens.

5190 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres City. Free to browse and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Tuesday

7:30-9:30 p.m., Dec. 10. Join Nova Singers for “Glad Tidings,” a holiday concert of sacred and secular favorites. St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 2000 Marietta Drive, Fort Lauderdale. 954-530-8496. nova.edu/novasingers. $20.

Wednesday

Dec. 11. Exploration for seniors through science. South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach. 561-370-7740. sfsciencecenter.org. $10.

10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 11. MOCA is proud to present a new exhibition featuring works by this French-Mexican surrealist painter. Exhibit runs through March 29. Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 NE 125th St., North Miami.

305-893-2624. $10.

7-8:30 p.m., Dec. 11. Calvary Chapel Boynton Beach, 3190 Hypoluxo Road, Boynton Beach. 561-304-1449. calvaryftl.org. Free.

Thursday

10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 12; runs through Jan. 25. An exhibition of works by artist Simon Procter featuring photography from his book. Rosenbaum Contemporary, 150 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. 561-994-9180. rosenbaumcontemporary.com. Free.

11

a.m.-10 p.m., Dec. 12-25. Daily Christmas tree lights shows, waterfront rollerskating, local vendors, nightly music and food and drinks available. Bayfront Park,

301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.

305-461-2700. bayfrontholidayvillage.com. Free.

6-9 p.m., Dec.

12. The Valerie Tyson Band is a soulful and electrifying band, that performs classic and modern music. West Palm Beach Waterfront, 100 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. 561-822-1515. Free.

6:30-8:30 p.m., Dec. 12. Speaker presentation. Downtown Library,

400 NW Second Ave., Boca Raton.

561-807-7141. bocalibrary.org. Free.

7-8 p.m., Dec. 12. The Boca Raton Stamp & Coin Club presents and discusses philatelic topics. Stratford Courts Auditorium, 6343 Via de Sonrisa del Sur, Boca Raton. 561-752-4922. Free; public invited.

Friday