Federal complaints seek to challenge policies on trans students

A controversy is growing in Deerfield, Illinois, about transgender students using bathrooms and locker rooms. This follows complaints against Chicago Public Schools and the state education board regarding similar issues. The situation began when a mother, Nicole Georgas, claimed her daughter, a 13-year-old student, had to change in front of a transgender classmate at Shepard Middle School. Georgas expressed her concerns at a recent school board meeting. She argued that allowing biological males in girls’ locker rooms violates privacy and safety. Georgas stated her daughter felt uncomfortable and ran out of the bathroom calling for help. She has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming that the school's actions set a dangerous precedent. Several conservative media outlets have reported her story. In response, Deerfield Public Schools District 109 denied the claims. Officials said no student is forced to change publicly and that private changing options are available. Trans advocates also spoke at the school board meeting, claiming that the effort to remove transgender students is based on exclusion rather than safety. Simultaneously, a federal complaint has been filed against Illinois education authorities. The complaint alleges that they are violating Title IX by forcing students to share facilities based on self-declared gender identity. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is now facing staffing cuts, complicating potential investigations. Both the state board of education and Chicago Public Schools chose not to comment on the situation.