A federal court issued an order today blocking enforcement of a New Hampshire law that bans transgender girls from playing on school sports teams, against plaintiffs Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle while their case against it proceeds. The court ruled that the law, HB 1205, discriminates against transgender students in violation of Title IX and the U.S. Constitution.
The judge ruled that “HB 1205, on its face, discriminates against transgender girls,” and that it “is not even a close call.” The ruling goes on to say, “The stigma and humiliation that comes from such treatment of a child at the hands of the State is substantial and irreparable.”
The families of Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle, represented by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), ACLU of New Hampshire, and Goodwin, filed their federal lawsuit challenging HB 1205 on August 16.
The court issued an earlier emergency order that allowed sophomore Parker Tirrell to join her soccer team for practice and the first games of the season. Today’s ruling broadens that order to include her co-plaintiff, freshman Iris Turmelle who is looking forward to trying out for and playing with the tennis and track and field teams at her new school, and to extend throughout the duration of the case.
The lawsuit, Tirrell and Turmelle v. Edelblut, alleges that HB 1205 denies Parker and Iris equal educational opportunities and singles them out for discrimination solely because they are transgender girls, in violation of federal law and constitutional guarantees of equal protection. The law denies them the many educational, social, and physical and mental health benefits that come with playing sports, and isolates them from friends and teammates.
In addition to today’s ruling, two federal courts of appeal and multiple federal district courts have issued rulings finding laws like HB 1205 which categorically ban transgender girls from participation in school sports to be unlawful discrimination.
Parker, Iris, and their families are represented by Chris Erchull, Ben Klein, and Jennifer Levi at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Henry Klementowicz and Gilles Bissonnette at the ACLU of New Hampshire, and Louis Lobel, Kevin DeJong, and Elaine Blais at Goodwin.
“Today’s ruling is clear: New Hampshire cannot justify singling out students to deny them essential educational benefits simply because they are transgender. We are pleased the court understands that Parker and Iris, along with all other transgender students in New Hampshire, deserve access to the countless benefits school sports provide, including physical and mental health, leadership skills, and social development,” said GLAD Senior Staff Attorney Erchull.
Tirrell and Turmelle v. Edelblut was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
— From a GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) press release
Read the complete release and court filings at glad.org/cases/tirrell-and-turmelle-v-edelblut/
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