News & Politics
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."