WHRO Reports

Gavin Grimm v Gloucester County School Board 7/23/19- No Ruling From Bench


Listen Later

Gavin Grimm had another day in court facing off with the Gloucester County School Board Tuesday. The dispute began 5 years ago when Grimm, a transgender male, wasn't allowed to use the male restroom at Gloucester High school.

"We don't know what will happen. And so whatever happens, I will see this fight through. If it takes a month more or if it takes four more years, or it doesn't matter how long this takes."

That's Gavin Grimm following Tuesday's Summary Judgment Hearing in Norfolk.

There was no judgment from the bench after both sides presented their arguments. The ruling regarding whether or not Grimm's rights were violated by the School Board could come in a matter of days or weeks.

Joshua Block, Grimm's attorney from the ACLU, rejected the School Board's argument that restroom assignment should be based on biological gender, or else anyone could decide at a moment's notice to use whatever restroom they want.

"Gavin had a diagnosis and he had a letter from his doctor saying, I'm treating this person for gender dysphoria. He should be allowed to use the boy's restroom. And so whether or not the school board agrees with the doctor's views or not, it's just not true that anyone can just say, I want to use this restroom. There are a lot of ways to “objectively” confirm that someone is indeed a transgender and using the restroom that matches their gender identity."

The School Board's legal team presented testimony to dispute Grimm's doctors from endocrinologist Dr. Quintin Van Meter. Van Meter said being transgender is a social contagion, not a medical condition. Van Meter is the president of the American College of Pediatricians, a conservative advocacy group that endorses conversion therapy and has said that gender dysphoria will disappear if it's not reinforced.

The School Board's lawyer, David Corrigan, offered no comment.

As for Grimm, he's in good spirits as he waits for the outcome of Tuesday's hearing.

"I say that I leave with optimism and with a good feeling because I believe in what I'm doing, I believe in what I'm fighting for and regardless of what happens, it's a mission that I feel positively about. Just for the future of the conversation about Trans rights."

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

WHRO ReportsBy WHRO Public Media

  • 3.7
  • 3.7
  • 3.7
  • 3.7
  • 3.7

3.7

3 ratings


More shows like WHRO Reports

View all
Innovation Now by WHRO Public Media

Innovation Now

19 Listeners

Hunter At Sunrise Acoustic Sessions by Hunter Hughes

Hunter At Sunrise Acoustic Sessions

2 Listeners

Vietnam: Stories From the Wall by 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Vietnam: Stories From the Wall

8 Listeners

Watching America by WHRO Public Media, 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Watching America

32 Listeners

Born at the Do-Drop Inn: An Oral History by WHRO Public Media

Born at the Do-Drop Inn: An Oral History

2 Listeners

What We Do by WHRO Public Media

What We Do

29 Listeners

Ms. Martha Reads by WHRO Public Media

Ms. Martha Reads

0 Listeners

At A Crossroads by WHRO Public Media

At A Crossroads

2 Listeners

Open Channel by WHRO Public Media

Open Channel

0 Listeners

Crosswinds by WHRO Public Media

Crosswinds

2 Listeners

Education Matters by WHRO Public Media

Education Matters

2 Listeners

Virginia Voices by Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO

Virginia Voices

3 Listeners

Today in Rock History with Paul Shugrue by WHRO Public Media

Today in Rock History with Paul Shugrue

2 Listeners

The Secret War Of Willis Hodges by WHRO Public Media

The Secret War Of Willis Hodges

5 Listeners

WHRO Weekly Edition by WHRO Public Media

WHRO Weekly Edition

0 Listeners

Rural by WHRO Public Media

Rural

7 Listeners

The Dream Conductor by WHRO Public Media

The Dream Conductor

9 Listeners

Democracy at Work by WHRO Public Media

Democracy at Work

0 Listeners

Revolution 250: Stories From The First Shore by WHRO Public Media

Revolution 250: Stories From The First Shore

5 Listeners