Parents of transgendered 9 year old claim discrimination, sues school

The parents claim officials in Komarek School District 94 in North Riverside discriminated against the third grader.
The parents of a transgender boy file a petition against a west suburban school district, claiming their son was denied use of the boys' restroom.


The child was born female, but diagnosed with gender dysphoria and now identifies as a boy.

The petition states the student was told to use a restroom for adult faculty members

The parents contacted the school social worker in January 2015 about their child’s change in gender identity, and since then he has participated in all school activities as a male, according to the petition.

However, school administrators barred him from the boys’ restroom and instead arranged for him to use a bathroom designated for adult faculty and staff, causing him anxiety and depression “surrounding his lack of complete acceptance as a boy at the school,” the petition says.

“We work with every family to support the unique needs of our students,” a district spokesman said in a statement Friday. “In doing so, our paramount concern is maintaining a supportive and safe learning environment for all of our students.”

The parents filed a discrimination complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which certified their case last week as a civil rights violation, the petition says.

They are seeking an injunction that would allow the child to use the boys’ restroom for the upcoming school year, which starts Aug. 26.


Chicago Sun Times