Illinois district faces federal investigation on transgender policies

An Illinois school district is under federal investigation regarding allegations that middle school girls were forced to change clothing next to a transgender student. The inquiry comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, following a complaint made by a local mother. Deerfield Public Schools District 109 claims it follows Illinois laws which protect students' rights concerning gender identity. The district stated that the Illinois Human Rights Act requires schools to let students use facilities matching their gender identity. The school district also mentioned the privacy of students is important. They included private changing stations in locker rooms during renovations in 2017 and offered options for students to change privately away from the locker room. The investigation began after Nicole Georgas, a mother in Illinois, spoke out at a school board meeting. She alleged that her daughter was pressured to change in front of a transgender student, which she believed violated her daughter’s privacy. Georgas emphasized the need for girls to have their own private spaces in locker rooms. The district plans to work with local families to address any concerns and uphold the law, insisting that everyone should engage in respectful discussions about this issue.