School wants suit over bathroom policy tossed

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania school district wants a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by three transgender students challenging a rule requiring students to use either unisex restrooms or those corresponding to their biological sex.

The Pine-Richland High School students, two who now identify as female and one who identifies as male, sued in October.

They contend the district let students use restrooms based on their gender identities until the school board changed the practice in September until it can adopt a formal policy.

The district contends the Title IX federal discrimination law defines sex solely in terms of biology — not a person’s stated gender identity — so the lawsuit should be dismissed.

Attorneys for the students say the district’s “hard-line stance” strays from its mission to serve all students.