Doe v. Boyertown Area School District
What's at Stake
The ACLU and the ACLU of Pennsylvania filed a motion to intervene on behalf of a transgender student and an LGBTQ youth organization. They seek to defend the Boyertown Area School District’s practice of allowing transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.
Summary
In March 2017, the Boyertown Area School District was sued by a student identified by the pseudonym Joel Doe. The complaint claims that allowing transgender boys to use the same facilities that Doe uses is a violation of Doe’s privacy.
The ACLU represents Aidan DeStefano, a student at Boyertown Area Senior High who is transgender, and the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, a coalition of LGBTQ youth leaders and youth organizations. One of the organizations is the Boyertown Gay-Straight Alliance, whose members include transgender students who would be harmed by the lawsuit.
“It’s important that trans students are given the opportunity to defend themselves against these shameful attempts to isolate and stigmatize them,” said Leslie Cooper, senior staff attorney at the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project. “Schools can and should provide extra privacy protections or private restroom or changing areas for any student who requests it. But no student has a right to demand that transgender students be segregated from their peers.”
Update: On May 28, 2019, the Supreme Court declines to take action on this case, allowing Boyertown's policies supporting transgender students to continue.
Legal Documents
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02/12/2019
District — Reply Brief -
01/22/2019
Pennsylvania Youth Congress Foundation - Brief in Opposition to Petition for Writ of Certiorari -
01/18/2019
District — Brief in Opposition to Petition for Writ of Certiorari -
12/17/2018
Amicus Briefs in Support of Petitioner -
- Amicus Brief for Walt Heyer
- Amicus Brief Hands Across the Aisle
- Amicus Brief of Scholars
- Amicus Brief of Ryan T. Anderson
- Amicus Brief of William J. Bennett
- Amicus Brief Christian Educators Association International et al
- Amicus Brief of Dr. Miriam Grossman et al.
- Amicus Brief Women's Liberation Front
- Amicus Brief Eagle Forum
- Amicus Brief for The Institute for Faith and Family
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for Walt HeyerDate Filed: 12/21/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief Hands Across the AisleDate Filed: 12/21/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of ScholarsDate Filed: 12/21/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Ryan T. AndersonDate Filed: 12/21/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of William J. BennettDate Filed: 12/21/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief Christian Educators Association International et alDate Filed: 12/21/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Dr. Miriam Grossman et al.Date Filed: 12/19/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief Women's Liberation FrontDate Filed: 12/18/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief Eagle ForumDate Filed: 12/18/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for The Institute for Faith and FamilyDate Filed: 12/17/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
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11/19/2018
Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Date Filed: 02/12/2019
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 01/22/2019
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 01/18/2019
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 11/19/2018
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
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07/26/2018
Revised Opinion -
07/02/2018
Petition for Rehearing En Banc -
-
07/26/2018
Order Granting Rehearing
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsOrder Granting RehearingDate Filed: 07/26/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
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07/26/2018
-
06/18/2018
Order Denying Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
01/30/2018
Reply Brief of Appellants -
01/23/2018
Amicus Briefs in Support of Defendants-Appellees -
- American Academy of Pediatrics, et al
- Anti-Defamation League, et al.
- National PTA, et al.
- Transgender Students
- National Education Association
- School Administrators from 30 States and D.C.
- PFLAG, et al.
- Women's Law Project, et al.
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, et alDate Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsAnti-Defamation League, et al.Date Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsNational PTA, et al.Date Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsTransgender StudentsDate Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsNational Education AssociationDate Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsSchool Administrators from 30 States and D.C.Date Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsPFLAG, et al.Date Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsWomen's Law Project, et al.Date Filed: 01/23/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
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01/16/2018
Brief for Intervenor-Appellee -
01/16/2018
Brief for Appellees -
11/14/2017
Brief of Appellants
Date Filed: 07/26/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 07/02/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 06/18/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 01/30/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 01/16/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 01/16/2018
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 11/14/2017
Court: Appeals Court (3d Cir.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
-
07/01/2019
Opposition to Motion to Stay -
06/17/2019
Plaintiff's Motion to Stay -
08/25/2017
Order Denying Motion for Preliminary Injunction - Doe v. Boyertown Area School District -
08/10/2017
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law -
- Intervenor's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
- Plaintiffs' Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
- Defendants' Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsIntervenor's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of LawDate Filed: 08/10/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsPlaintiffs' Findings of Fact and Conclusions of LawDate Filed: 07/14/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsDefendants' Findings of Fact and Conclusions of LawDate Filed: 07/14/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
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05/17/2017
Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
- Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Motion for Preliminary Injunction
- Plaintiffs' Memo in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
- Defendants' Memo in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction
- Intervenor's Response in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction
- Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsDoe v. Boyertown Area School District - Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 05/17/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsPlaintiffs' Memo in Support of Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 05/17/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsDefendants' Memo in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 06/09/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsIntervenor's Response in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 06/09/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Doe v. Boyertown Area School DistrictLegal DocumentsReply Brief in Support of Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 06/16/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
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04/03/2017
Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Declaration of Aidan DeStefano in Support of Motion for Leave to Intervene -
04/03/2017
Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Declaration of Jason Goodman in Support of Motion for Leave to Intervene -
04/03/2017
Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Brief In Support of the Motion to Intervene -
04/03/2017
Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Motion to Intervene -
03/31/2017
Doe v. Boyertown Area School District - Complaint
Date Filed: 07/01/2019
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 06/17/2019
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 08/25/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 04/03/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 04/03/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 04/03/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 04/03/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Date Filed: 03/31/2017
Court: District Court (E.D. Pa.)
Affiliate: Pennsylvania
Press Releases
Supreme Court Allows School District Restroom Policies Supporting Transgender Students to Stand
ACLU Statement on Federal Appeals Court Upholding School’s Practice of Protecting Transgender Students
ACLU Takes Legal Action to Defend Rights of Transgender Students in Pennsylvania
