Is It Discrimination? Transgendered Girl Causes Major Debate After She’s Banned From Using Female Toilet In School

A transgendered first class student from Colorado has caused major debate over anti-discrimination laws in the US since she was banned from using the girls’ bathroom in her elementary school.

The Huffington Post reports that little Coy Mathis is now being home schooled after the Eagleside Elementary School told her that her only options were to use the nurse’s bathroom, the boy’s bathroom or the staff bathroom.

“We’e temporarily pulled her from school until we can hopefully try to get the school to understand that being able to use the girls’ bathroom is a very important part of her development because it’s helping her affirm that people know that she is a girl,” said Coy’s mother, Kathryn Mathis.

Kathryn has said that both herself and her husband have had to work to be patient and understanding with their child as she continues to identify herself as being transgendered.

“It was kind of a long process because she had been telling us [that she was girl] for some time, and we thought, ‘Well maybe it’s a phase, maybe if we just confirm to her that she really is a boy?’ you know, try and encourage her toward boy things, then her phase would be over maybe,” said Kathryn.

“So it really took a lot of learning, research on our part because she was consistently telling us the same thing, that she was a girl. So we read lots of books, we contacted lots of support groups. We contacted her pediatrician and a child psychologist and it was very lengthy. And eventually we were told that we needed to support her and how she was, and you know, how she really was,” Kathryn added.

Transgendered-friendly bathrooms have been springing up in various parts of America

According to reports, Coy’s school had originally been supportive however, it wasn’t long before they told Coy’s family that she wouldn’t be able to use the girls’ bathroom any more.

“Colorado is one of the 16 states across the country that has an anti-discrimination law that protects transgender people,” said Michael Silverman, the executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.

“Not only does it say you can’t discriminate, it says you can’t discriminate in places like schools...” Mr Silverman added.

Coy’s parents have already filed a complaint against the local school district with the Colorado Civil Rights Division. However, the school district has refused to enter into mediation with the family.

“They’e creating a giant divide and that’s a huge loss for the school because theyhave a really good opportunity for their students. They’re using it as a way to discriminate instead,” said Kathryn.

The school is arguing that allowing Coy to use the female restrooms would make other students and their parents “uncomfortable” especially as Coy grows older and begins to develop a male body.

But Coy’s family is maintaining that separating their daughter from the rest of her classmates sends a message that it is okay to discriminate.

The story has sparked some fierce debate across the United States. While some argue that it’s flat-out discrimination, others are of the opinion that it’s simply considering the comfort of other students. Either way, we imagine that this is a debate that will carry on for a very long time until a resolution is reached.