The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has asked to join a lawsuit accusing the Anoka-Hennepin School District of discriminating against a transgender student.
N.H., as the former student and swimmer at Coon Rapids High School is identified in the lawsuit, says the school district ordered him to change clothes in a private locker room instead of the boys locker room. He says that when he continued to use the boys locker room, he was told he could be disciplined.
After a public battle with the school board, he ultimately transferred to another district.
N.H. in August 2017 filed a discrimination charge with the Department of Human Rights, which began to investigate.
Last month, the student dropped that charge to file a lawsuit in Anoka County District Court, with help from Gender Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union.
On Tuesday, the Department of Human Rights filed in that case as an intervenor, saying it agrees with the student.
“School districts should have policies and procedures that enable all students to thrive, free from discrimination. We stand proudly with transgender and gender nonconforming students across the state,” deputy commissioner Irina Vaynerman said in a news release.
The new complaint accuses the school district of treating N.H. differently because of his gender identity; creating a hostile school environment; and threatening to punish the student.
The department asked the judge for an order that would to force Anoka-Hennepin to revise its policies; require training for district staff and school board members; impose five years of monitoring by the Department of Human Rights; and impose a civil penalty paid to the state and monetary damages paid to the family.
Anoka-Hennepin said last month it is confident its case-by-case handling of restroom and locker room accommodations is legal.
Separately, the Department of Human Rights earlier this month sued CSL Plasma, claiming the company refused to allow a transgender woman to donate plasma.