Mississippi Schools Can Make Trans Girl Dress as Boy for Graduation

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) A federal judge says he will not block a Mississippi school district from requiring a transgender girl to dress as a boy to graduate high school.

US District Judge Taylor McNeel filed his order late Friday after holding a hearing on a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the 17-year-old girl against the Harrison County School District.

The girl, listed in court papers with her initials LB, had chosen the dress to wear with her hat and gown on Saturday at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, a beach town about 260 kilometers south of Jackson. Male graduates are expected to wear white shirts and black trousers, while females are expected to wear white gowns.

Harrison County School District officials told LB that he must follow the boys’ dress code for graduation, according to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU Thursday.

The Associated Press left phone and email messages with the ACLU Saturday asking whether LB’s family will appeal the judge’s decision not to issue a temporary restraining order against the school district and whether he will participate in the graduation ceremony.

The lawsuit says LB wore the dress to class and extracurricular events at high school, including to last year’s prom, and she should not face discriminatory treatment during graduation.

Wynn Clark, attorney for the Harrison County School Board, responded in court papers Friday that participating in graduation ceremonies is voluntary and not a reserved right for any student.

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