Share this @internewscast.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The family of a transgender volleyball player has added a South Florida school district as a defendant in a federal lawsuit that challenges a 2021 state law banning transgender girls from playing on female sports teams, claiming school officials have placed the family in danger.

Attorneys for the family filed an amended complaint Thursday that adds the Broward School Board, the school district’s superintendent and the Florida High School Athletic Association. The school officials had been named as defendants when the lawsuit was initially filed in 2021 but were dropped the next year, leaving just the Florida Department of Education and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz as defendants.

“While we can’t comment on pending litigation, Broward County Public Schools remains committed to following all state laws,” district spokesman John J. Sullivan said in a statement. “The District assures the community of its dedication to the welfare of all its students and staff.”

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, a Trump appointee, ruled in November that state officials had a right to enforce a 2021 law that bars transgender girls and women from playing on public school teams intended for student athletes identified as female at birth but allowed the family to file an amended complaint.

The law, which supporters named “The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” was championed and signed in by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president and has leaned heavily into cultural divides on race, sexual orientation and gender.

The transgender student, a Monarch High School 10th grader who played in 33 matches over the past two seasons, was removed from the team in November after the Broward County School District was notified by an anonymous tipster about her participation.

According to the lawsuit, the student has identified as female since before elementary school and has been using a girl’s name since second grade. At age 11 she began taking testosterone blockers and at 13 started taking estrogen to begin puberty as a girl. Her gender has also been changed on her birth certificate.

The girl’s removal from the volleyball team led hundreds of Monarch students to walk out of class in protest. At the same time, Broward Superintendent Peter Licata suspended or temporarily reassigned five school officials pending an investigation, including the girl’s mother, an information technician at the school.

The Associated Press is not naming the student to protect her privacy.

The initial lawsuit didn’t identify the student or her school, but the amended complaint said the family lost all privacy when the school district began its investigation. The student’s mother issued a statement at the time calling the outing of her daughter a “direct attempt to endanger” the girl.

The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, has been supporting the family.

“The reckless indifference to the well-being of our client and her family, and all transgender students across the State, will not be ignored,” the group’s litigation strategist, Jason Starr, said in a statement last month.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Chaotic video shows Massachusetts ICE arrest being disrupted by 'unruly' crowd, leading to 2 arrests

Wild Video Captures Turbulent Scene as Massachusetts ICE Arrest Sparked by Rowdy Crowd Results in Two Detentions

A tense video emerged of a Massachusetts ICE arrest being disrupted by a crowd…
Pakistan shoots down more than two dozen drones launched by India

Pakistan Successfully Intercepts Over Two Dozen Drones in Conflict with India

India deployed several Israeli-manufactured Harop drones against Pakistan overnight and into Thursday,…
Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and offers a Happy Mother's Day in first Sunday noon blessing

Pope Leo XIV Advocates for Peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and Extends Mother’s Day Wishes in His Inaugural Sunday Blessing

Pope Leo XIV urged for a genuine and equitable peace in Ukraine…
The Simple Good to host citywide scavenger hunt to support Chicago's youth

Citywide Scavenger Hunt for Chicago Youth Organized by The Simple Good

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Simple Good, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago,…
Jalen Brunson's early-game struggles another issue for Knicks

Jalen Brunson’s Initial Game Challenges Add to Knicks’ Concerns

Jalen Brunson has found his shot in the fourth quarter of each…
Treasury Sec. Bessent Hints at Game-Changing China Trade Deal Breakthrough—Details Expected Monday

Treasury Sec. Bessent Suggests Major Breakthrough in China Trade Agreement—Further Information Coming Monday

@SecScottBessent announced a significant amount of progress in trade discussions with China,…

Deported Tren de Aragua Gang Members Cause Uproar in El Salvador’s Notorious Mega-Prison as US Officials Visit

THIS is the terrifying moment deported gang members scream in anguish from…
Jacksonville gun registry sparks state probe

State investigation launched into Jacksonville firearm registry

First Coast News obtained documents related to a policy directive that updated…
Hudson, dog saved from East River, adopted by NYPD harbor cop who rescued her

Hudson, a dog rescued from the East River, is adopted by the NYPD harbor officer who saved her

In little over a month, a tiny dog named Hudson went from…
Aerial view of a building being destroyed by an explosion.

Putin Launches Major Drone Assault on Ukraine Shortly After Suggesting Peace Talks

VLADIMIR Putin unleashed a large-scale attack of kamikaze drones on Ukraine shortly…
NYC students scores far below state, national SAT averages

NYC Students’ SAT Scores Lag Behind State and National Averages

Students in New York City performed significantly worse on the SAT compared…
4th Annual Gold House Gala celebrates Asian Pacific American stars, industry leaders, athletes and influencers

The 4th Annual Gold House Gala Honors Asian Pacific American Celebrities, Industry Leaders, Athletes, and Influencers

The Gold House Gala in Los Angeles brings together celebrated Asian Pacific…