The News

Apple, IBM, Microsoft Back Transgender Teen at Supreme Court

The News

In this May 17 2016 file photo, a person places a hand on the sticker on the door during the inauguration of a gender neutral bathroom in Nathan Hale high school in Seattle. On Wednesday February 22, 2017 Trump’s government took away the federal protections that made it so schools were forced to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that went with their gender identity.

WASHINGTON – Apple, IBM and Microsoft are among 53 companies urging the Supreme Court to rule that a transgender teenager has the right to use the boys’ bathroom at his Virginia high school.

The businesses signed onto a brief filed Thursday in high school senior Gavin Grimm’s lawsuit against the Gloucester County school board.

In this Monday Aug. 22, 2016 file photo, transgender high school student Gavin Grimm poses in front of his home in Gloucester, Va. Photo: AP

Grimm says he wants to use the bathroom that matches his chosen gender. He is challenging the board’s policy that prohibits him from using the boys’ bathroom.

Airbnb, eBay, PayPal, Tumblr and Williams-Sonoma also are part of the brief that argues that “transgender individuals deserve the same treatment and protections” as everyone else.

The case is scheduled to be argued on March 28, but the school board is seeking a delay.