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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A federal judge has upheld Tennessee’s “Accommodations for All Children Act,” affirming the state’s authority to regulate bathroom access in public schools based on biological sex.
U.S. District Judge William Campbell dismissed a legal challenge to the law, brought by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ Advocacy Organization.
The law was signed by Governor Bill Lee in 2021, stating that public schools may offer transgender students alternative, single-use restrooms but prohibits them from using multi-occupancy restrooms or locker rooms that do not align with their sex at birth.
The ruling reinforces the decision that public schools must maintain separate facilities for boys and girls. If not, parents and students may choose to sue a school system if transgender students are allowed to use a restroom that does not align with their biological gender.
This decision marks a significant victory for advocates of parental rights and the protection of traditional values within schools. By allowing schools to maintain gender-specific spaces, the law preserves the safety and privacy of students in accordance with their biological sex — a key concern among many parents and conservative lawmakers.
Judge Campbell’s decision is also aligned with recent rulings from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld laws protecting children from being subjected to “gender affirming” medical treatments. The appeals court has made clear that gender identity is not a protected class under current legal standards, reinforcing that the law does not violate the Equal Protection Clause or Title IX, as plaintiffs had argued.
Critics of the law claim that it is discriminatory and forces students and staff to identify themselves as LGBTQ to school administration. However, supporters argue that offering private accommodations for transgender students strikes a fair balance without imposing on the privacy and comfort of the broader student population.
According to the law, students and school staff members may formally request an accommodation, which could include the use of a standalone restroom facility, and the principal must provide a response in writing.
At the federal level, education officials have stated that Title IX provides protections for transgender students and would give them the right to use restroom facilities that align with their preferred gender.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is the lead in a lawsuit brought by several states against the U.S. Department of Education, challenging what they consider to be federal overreach.
This ruling affirms the state’s position that public schools can uphold traditional distinctions between biological boys and girls while ensuring that all students’ rights and needs are respected within a lawful framework.
The Human Rights Campaign has not yet stated whether they will appeal the ruling.
