On Tuesday, a federal appeals court in Richmond, Va. ruled in favor of Gavin Grimm, a 16-year-old transgender man who sued his high school for their decision to not allow him to use to men’s restroom.
“Today’s decision gives me hope that my fight will help other kids avoid discriminatory treatment at school,” Grimm said in a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.
Last month, North Carolina, which has been at the center of controversy lately for its anti-transgender legislation, enacted a law that forbids transgender men and women from using restrooms that do not correspond to the gender on their birth certificate. In the wake of passing the law, musicians have canceled their concerts in North Carolina, companies have taken their business elsewhere, and some governors have even issued travel bans to the state. This case may have some impact on North Carolina.
Grimm, who was born female but now identifies as male, claimed that this law completely violates Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in schools. The U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the policy in a 2-1 ruling that comes as many institutions are struggling to decide whether or not transgender men and women should be allowed to use public restrooms that correspond with their gender identities.
The Court of Appeals’ decision isn’t the end of Grimm’s fight, though. Though the policy has officially been overturned, the school board can still appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Grimm is not immediately able to use the men’s restroom, and is aware that the fight for his rights may take some time.
“Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of the situation,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. “I’m just going to take things one day at a time.”