Transgender Student Awarded $4M After Missouri School Refused To Let Him Use The Boys’ Bathrooms Or Locker Rooms
A Jackson County, Missouri, jury has ordered a school district in the state to pay a transgender student $4 million for discriminating against him based on sex.
According to court papers observed by the Associated Press, the jury announced in a ruling last week that Blue Springs School District discriminated against former student RJ Appleberry by not letting him use the boys’ bathrooms or locker rooms in the school district’s middle school.
“We are all excited and very happy with the outcome. We are excited that it was a 12-0 unanimous decision from the jury in our favor,” The Appleberry Family’s attorney, Mary Madeline Johnson, told Insider.
‘Defendants again denied (Appleberry) access to the boys’ restrooms and locker rooms even though he is recognized as a boy under the laws of the state of Missouri,’ the court summary stated according to Kansas City NBC-affiliate KSHB.
‘Defendants continue to deny (Appleberry) access to the boys’ restrooms and locker rooms as of the filing of this Petition,’ the lawsuit added.
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‘Upon information and belief, Defendants do not speculate, inspect, or otherwise inquire as to the genitalia of other male students,’ the lawsuit said.
‘Defendants have discriminated and continue to discriminate against Plaintiff RMA based on his sex.’