Update: Student has recanted his story. More here →
HERCULES, Calif. — A 15-year-old transgender student says he was attacked and sexually assaulted Monday at the same Hercules, Calif., school where another transgender student was involved in a fight four months ago.
The student said he was leaving the boys’ bathroom when he was confronted by three male juveniles, “forced into the handicap stall and physically and sexually assaulted,” according to Hercules police Detective Connie Van Putten.
A new California law allows students in public schools to use the bathrooms that match the gender with which they identify, and the teen had opted to use the boy’s bathroom.
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Hercules police said no suspects have been identified, but Van Putten said the attackers reportedly made disparaging remarks to the student, allowing police to treat the incident as a hate crime.
Hercules High School is the same campus where 16-year-old transgender student Jewlyes Gutierrez got into a fight last November with three girls, who she said were bullying and taunting her.
Battery charges against Gutierrez are expected to be dropped when she completes a conflict resolution program.
