On Sept. 10, United States District Judge Landya McCafferty continued her case involving two trans teens by issuing an injunction partially blocking the enforcement of a New Hampshire law that bars some transgender students from competing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity, NBC News reported.
Last month, transgender teenage girls Iris Turmelle and Parker Tirrell (as well as their families) sued New Hampshire education officials, arguing that House Bill 1205 violates Title IX civil rights rules, which prevent sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.
The latest injunction solely applies to Turmelle and Tirrell.
In August, McCafferty issued a similar emergency order that applied only to Tirrell, allowing her to join her high school’s soccer team for practice and the first games of the season. This time, the judge broadened her previous order and stated that the “plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their Title IX claims” and that they “are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction.”
In a press release that Windy City Times received from GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, Tirrell said, “I just want to go to school like other kids, play the game I love, and hang out with my friends. I’m really happy this decision means I don’t have to let my team down for the rest of the season.”
GLAD Senior Staff Attorney Chris Erchull added, “Today’s ruling is clear: New Hampshire cannot justify singling out students to deny them essential educational benefits simply because they are transgender. We are pleased the court understands that Parker and Iris, along with all other transgender students in New Hampshire, deserve access to the countless benefits school sports provide, including physical and mental health, leadership skills, and social development.”