Lawsuit Against Idaho Bathroom Bill Dismissed Following Student’s Suicide
A 2023 Idaho law restricting bathroom and locker room access for transgender students has now been permanently enacted statewide following the dismissal of a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by the Sexuality and Gender Alliance and other plaintiffs, argued the legislation violated equal protection and Title IX protections. The dismissal was agreed upon by both parties due to the graduation of one plaintiff and the tragic death by suicide of another, identified in court as Jane Doe, a transgender student who had expressed significant fear regarding the law’s impact. The law, effective May 2025, prohibits students from using facilities inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth and allows for legal action against schools if a transgender student is encountered in a public restroom or changing facility. This development comes as Idaho also enacted a separate, more stringent law criminalizing transgender individuals for using public accommodations matching their gender identity.
John Q. Hosedrinker