Doe v. Regional School Unit 26
Doe v. Regional School Unit 26[1] (also referred to as Doe v. Clenchy) was an anti-discrimination case decided by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in June 2013. In that case, transgender teenager Nicole Maines won the right to use the female bathroom in her high school.[2] Upon initial filing, Maines was referenced by the pseudonym "Susan Doe" in court papers to protect her identity. This case marked the first time that a state court ruled denying a transgender student access to the bathroom consistent with their gender identity is unlawful.[3][4][5][6]
The case stemmed from an incident when Maines was in elementary school and the grandfather of a classmate complaining after learning that Maines used the female washroom. Following this, Maines was forced to use the staff bathroom, which resulted in her parents suing the school district for discrimination.[2] In June 2014, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the school district violated the Human Rights Act, and prohibited the district from barring transgender students access to bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Maines and her family were awarded $75,000.[2][7]
References
- JOHN DOE et al. v. REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT 26 (Maine Supreme Judicial Court January 30, 2014). Text
- Stout, David (December 3, 2014). "Transgender Teen Awarded $75,000 in School Restroom Lawsuit". Time. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- Molloy, Parker Marie (January 30, 2014). "Maine Trans Student Wins Landmark Discrimination Case". The Advocate. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- Sharp, David (January 30, 2014). "Court: Transgender student's rights were violated". Associated Press. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- Sharp, David (January 31, 2014). "Maine court rules in favor of transgender pupil". Associated Press. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- Wetzstein, Cheryl (January 30, 2014). "Potty parity: Transgender girl wins fight for bathroom of her choice". The Washington Times. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- Stout, David (December 3, 2014). "Transgender Teen Awarded $75,000 in Lawsuit". Time. Retrieved July 23, 2018.