Gender Justice scores a victory for trans students

Gender Justice and co-counsel Best & Flanagan LLP secured a $218,500 settlement and significant policy changes from the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District over its discrimination against a transgender student, Matt Woods. As a student at Buffalo Community Middle School, Matt was repeatedly isolated from his classmates by the school, including being limited to a single restroom facility no other student was required to use. This experience of discrimination and harassment caused Matt’s mental health to deteriorate, leading to multiple hospitalizations. In its settlement agreement, the school district agreed to create and implement new protections for transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming students so they would not have to experience the discrimination, isolation and bullying Matt went through.