When last we heard a report from Palatine High School District 211, the district had been found to be in violation of federal law in regards to Title IX with respect to a transgender student identified only as Student A.
Administrators agreed to give Student A access to the girls’ locker room while installing privacy walls, but a group of parents who opposed such accommodations then sued the district and federal government in federal court, arguing that this violated the constitutional right to privacy and created a hostile environment for other students. That lawsuit is ongoing.
Student A has graduated, but that does not resolve the issues. Yesterday, Nova Maday, 18, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court "claiming that Palatine-based Township High School District 211 has in the past denied her use of the girls’ locker room during physical education class, hurting her grade as well as her mental health."
More recently, the district allowed the Palatine High School senior to change in facilities matching her gender identity but only if she agreed to dress in an “unspecified private changing area within the locker room,” which the lawsuit says is not required of other students.
The suit contends the district has treated Maday differently than other female students, which it asserts is in violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
I just want to be treated like every other girl in our school.
--Maday
The lawsuit says Maday has presented as female since October 2014, consistently dressing as a girl and using a female name and pronouns.
Nova’s ability to live as a girl in all aspects of her life has been essential for treating her gender dysphoria. Before treatment, Nova had severe depression. Since her treatment began, Nova’s depression has improved, her grades have gotten better in all of her classes besides P.E., and she has become more social.
--the lawsuit
Under the District’s policy … Nova must be conspicuously separated from her fellow students and singled out for differential treatment by being required to dress separately from them, either in a separate facility or in a separate area within the locker room. The District’s actions signal to Nova that she is not really a girl and should feel ashamed of who she is and about her body, in particular.
--the lawsuit
The student is a biological male, and we separate these students by biology and anatomy for good reason. Schools have a duty to protect the well-being and dignity of all students.
--Vicki Wilson, D211 Parents for Privacy
Nova is being represented by the ACLU of Illinois and the law firm Mandell Menkes LLC.