The Latest: Ohio district appeals ruling rejecting challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Latest on a federal judge’s ruling rejecting an Ohio school district’s challenge to President Barack Obama’s rule on transgender bathrooms (all times local):

9:30 p.m.

An Ohio school district says it is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that rejected its challenge to Democratic President Barack Obama’s rule on transgender bathrooms.

In a decision Monday, Judge Algenon Marbley ordered the Highland Local School District in Morrow County to treat an 11-year-old student who is biologically male but identifies as female “as the girl she is.” That includes calling the student by a female name and female pronouns and giving the student access to the girls’ restroom.

Highland sought to block enforcement of the Obama administration rule on the grounds that it made alternative bathroom accommodations for the student and that use of the girls’ restroom would infringe on other students’ rights.

The district’s legal team says the school has a duty to protect the privacy, safety and dignity of students, and that the judge’s ruling doesn’t permit the district to do that.

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9 p.m.

A federal judge has rejected an Ohio school district’s challenge to Democratic President Barack Obama’s rule on transgender bathrooms, and an attorney for the student at the centre of the dispute says the court has taken an important step in protecting the student’s rights.

In a decision Monday, Judge Algenon Marbley ordered the Highland Local School District in Morrow County to treat an 11-year-old student who is biologically male but identifies as female “as the girl she is.” That includes calling the student by a female name and female pronouns and giving the student access to the girls’ restroom.

Highland sought to block enforcement of the Obama administration rule on the grounds that it made alternative bathroom accommodations for the student and that use of the girls’ restroom would infringe on other students’ rights.

Joseph Weissman, an attorney for the student, says in a statement that “every student has a right to be free from discrimination and harassment while at school,” and that the court protected the student’s rights.

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6:20 a.m.

A federal judge has rejected an Ohio school district’s challenge to Democratic President Barack Obama’s rule on transgender bathrooms.

In a decision Monday, Judge Algenon Marbley ordered the Highland Local School District in Morrow County to treat an 11-year-old student who is biologically male but identifies as female “as the girl she is.” That includes calling the student by a female name and female pronouns and giving the student access to the girls’ restroom.

Highland sought to block enforcement of the Obama administration rule on the grounds that it made alternative bathroom accommodations for the student and that use of the girls’ restroom would infringe on other students’ rights.

Messages seeking comment from the Department of Justice and attorneys for the school district and the student haven’t been returned.