Maine District to Pay $75,000 in Transgender Restroom Suit
- Carrie Dedrick
- Updated Dec 05, 2014
![Maine District to Pay $75,000 in Transgender Restroom Suit](https://i.swncdn.com/media/700w/crosswalk/resource/areas/crosswalk/resources/images/defaultimages/article-large-landscape.png)
A school district in Maine has been ordered to pay $75,000 to a homosexuality advocacy group after a seven-year legal battle regarding a transgender student’s right to use the restroom of his choice.
17-year-old student Wyatt Maines began living as a girl in third grade. The Orono school district allowed Maines to go by the name “Nicole” and use the girls’ restroom. After a bullying incident at Asa Adams Elementary School, Maines was required to use single-stall restrooms normally reserved for faculty and staff and was assigned an adult to escort him for his safety.
Maines’ lawyers from the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) argued that the special arrangements led to bullying and forced Maines to become an outsider.
The district must now award money to GLAD for legal costs as well as a financial reward.
Publication date: December 5, 2014