COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A Colorado school district is refusing to agree to mediation with the family of a transgender girl who wants to return to school.
Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 officials are refusing to comment on a complaint filed by the New York-based Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. The complaint was filed on behalf of Kathryn and Jeremy Mathis, claiming that 6-year-old Coy Mathis has been discriminated against.
Since kindergarten, Coy has worn girls’ clothing to school, and her classmates and teachers have used female pronouns to refer to her and she has used the girls’ bathrooms, just like any other girl in her school.
But since December, Eagleside Elementary School officials have told Coy’s parents that she can no longer use the female facilities and ordered Coy to use the boys’ or nurse’s restroom.
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The TLDEF says the school’s action violates the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination against transgender students in public schools.
Coy’s parents have since removed her from school and are home schooling her until the complaint is resolved.
“By forcing Coy to use a different bathroom than all the other girls, Coy’s school is targeting her for stigma, bullying and harassment,” said Michael Silverman, TLDEF’s executive director, and one of Coy’s lawyers.
The district has until March 17 to respond to the commission complaint.
