Three years ago, Gavin Grimm, then a high-school freshman in Virginia, struggled with his gender identity. Deemed a girl at birth, but feeling like a boy, Gavin’s stress was so great that he often found himself skipping class. After talking to a psychologist and receiving a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, Mr Grimm began to live as a boy, with a treatment plan that asked others to treat him “as a boy in all respects, including when using the restroom. This did not go over well with other parents of students and the complaints lead the school board to make this statement: "male and female restroom and locker room facilities...shall be limited to the corresponding biological genders”. Grimm decided to sue the school board and the case eventually made it to the supreme court. In August, the Supreme Court stayed this ruling, keeping Mr Grimm out of the boys’ restroom at the beginning of his senior year while the justices decided whether to take the case. However, in October the court announced it would consider the matter during its current term.
What do you believe is at stake for this specific supreme court case?
What do you think the supreme court will rule on this case and why?
What is your stance on Transgender rights?
I think transgender rights are very important and we should follow what the person believes they are instead of their biological gender. In this supreme court case, I think they should let Grimm be what he wants to be and use the boys bathroom. The court should at least order the school to make a transgender or boys/girls bathroom for him and other transgenders at the school.
ReplyDeleteI support transgender rights and believe that people should be treated according to how they view themselves. Even though he was born a girl, he identifies as a male and should be treated as so, not according to his biological gender. He obviously struggled through coming to turns with his identity and it is unfair to continue pushing him to be and act like someone he is not. Thus, I personally think transgender or co-ed bathrooms should be put in place and he should be allowed to use male bathrooms.
ReplyDeleteI think this case will be extremely controversial, and won’t be able to be decided until a new Supreme Court Justice is appointed. It seems reasonable that the liberal justices will uphold rights for transgender people, but it will be interesting to see the reaction of conservative justices. There is obviously nothing about transgender rights in the Constitution, and if there are no transgender case precedents, the judges will have to essentially create law. Especially since the case of transgender people is so unique, it will be interesting to see which parts of the constitution and the bill of rights that the supreme court chooses to use to argue for their positions. However, since the Court did just recently pass a law legalizing gay marriage, it’s possible that that trend could continue and they could continue to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.
ReplyDeleteI support transgender rights and think no matter how you identify yourself it should not affect the way you are able to live your life. I do not think the way you are born should restrict the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel you should act. I believe this case will allow transgenders to act the way they feel fits their personality and in the way they identify themselves.
ReplyDeleteGrimm's case is based on the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection as well as Title IX, a federal law that bars sex discrimination in education. Transgender rights should be accepted in our society. Sadly, there are some states who do not advocate for transgender rights. However as our society is becoming more progressive, I think transgender rights should be advocated for.
ReplyDeleteI believe these rights should fall to the state level. Although some discrimination against transgender citizens could entail from that, transgender should be protected under the Equal Protection Act. The bathroom decision should be made state, by state.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. The bathroom issue for transgender citizens has become too big of an issue nation-wide to deem a state issue. If certain states allow transgenders to use the bathroom of their preference, while others do not that will only continue to divide our country.
DeleteI think this is a very important supreme court decision because just like gay-marriage rights, it's going to be a very big deal. I believe transgender kids should be respected even if people don't agree with their gender choice. It shouldn't concern people how transgenders choose to live their life and it's downright cruel to ruin someone's life just because some don't like it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the one thing at risk in this case is setting the precedent for future cases. Whatever way the Court rules in this case will influence all things regarding transgender rights because whatever the Court rules has precedent over everything else.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think the court will rule against this case, keeping the current ruling. However, I personally do not think this is right. The simple numbers in support and against transgender rights currently are slanted against, and that represents the sentiments of the court as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your stance on Transgender rights? I think that while every person deserves equal rights, the idea of forcing 99% of the population to feel discomfort in order to serve a tiny minority is not logical. The amount of money that would need to go into infrastructure to change every bathroom and locker room in public schools and facilities would be ridiculous, and it is not necessary. This should not be an issue, if you feel and act differently it is acceptable, and I believe others should respect that, but forcing your presence on others who feel uncomfortable is not the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI believe that transgender rights are a difficult subject to make a strong stance on. The easiest alternative is to have either a third option of gender neutral, or only gender neutral bathrooms, however even that does not bode well with everyone. Changing the signs on the bathrooms isn't particularly expensive, however changing the opinions of some of the less accepting people on this topic is far more difficult.
ReplyDeleteI think that the court will rule on this case and set a precedent for future transgender related cases in the future. Depending on when they rule on this case it could have two very different outcomes. My stance on transgender rights is that they should be allowed the same rights as everybody else. While it may be awhile before equal rights are achieved, steps must be taken now to ensure their rights in the future. As far as bathroom usage goes, I believe that it should be affected by contemporary social standards of the location.In a place like San Fransisco integration of the bathrooms would be swifter than it would be for a town in Texas for example. But have a goal to integrate the bathrooms as societal norms change.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot is at stake in this case. This could set a very important precedent for the rights of transgender individuals in the US. If the court rule against Grimm in this case the fight for transgender rights could be stalled for a serious portion of the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteMy stance on transgender rights in this case is that transgender individuals should have the right to use whatever bathroom they feel comfortable with. Many people may feel uncomfortable by this, but change isn't comfortable. Change isn't comfortable, but it's necessary. Not letting Gavin Grimm use the restroom he pleases goes against the values of the United States. Many people were not comfortable when schools became segregated, but it was necessary and it was right, just like this case.
ReplyDeleteI believe that transgender individuals should be able to use whatever bathroom they believe they should use. If people are respectful and understanding, they should be okay with this. It shouldn't be normal for people to be abused in a bathroom, especially if they already feel uncomfortable being in there.
ReplyDeleteI feel that transgender folk are entitled to the same civil rights and liberties as any other citizen of the United States. They are no different than males or females, and should be treated as equal peers in society and under the law. However, I don't think that transgender people need or deserve special treatment, and instead should live their life as they please and use whichever restroom they feel is best for them. There are larger groups of people who require more urgent and important attention, such as veterans, racial minorities and the disabled, and as a nation we ought to direct our efforts to the larger groups who need it most.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that transgenders are entitled to the same rights as all other US citizen. As a result I don't really understand all the negative reactions to transgenders. Allowing them to choose whatever bathroom not only makes sense but allows them to feel accepted and encourages mental health.
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