Victory Alert!
Fourth Circuit Reaffirms Trans Students’ Rights
On August 12, 2025, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a preliminary injunction that ensures a ninth-grade transgender boy in Berkeley County can use the bathroom that matches his gender identity while his case moves forward.
This is a huge win for transgender students across South Carolina. The ruling reaffirms protections under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause and reinforces the strength of the Grimm precedent even as lawmakers attempt to roll back those rights. It proves that the court is willing to take necessary steps to protect our community.
AFFA joined this case to stand behind this young student and their family. We wanted to make it clear that no child should have to fight for the right to learn in a comfortable and safe environment. Our involvement in this lawsuit is about affirming this child and every other trans student’s rights.
It should not require a legal battle to prove that every child has the right to go to school every day, the right to show up as themselves, and the right to live free from fear or harassment. But when it does, we're here to lead the fight.
Victories like this matter. They uphold the Constitution, but they also affirm the humanity of trans folks. For many trans students, bathroom bans are not abstract policy debates. They are daily struggles that dictate how they navigate school. They mean calculating how long they can go without water, mapping the least-trafficked hallways, or risking harassment just to do something every student should be able to do with no more than a hall pass.
While we celebrate this momentous win, we must remember: Trans students are not political pawns. They are children and grandchildren, siblings and friends, athletes and artists. They are a vital part of our communities, and their rights are human rights.
This case is about more than restroom access. It is about ensuring every student can walk into school without fear, focus on learning instead of survival, and be treated with the respect and safety every child deserves. We are grateful to the court for seeing the humanity of one transgender student here in South Carolina and making a decision that allows him to equally participate in his public education.
This week's injunction is a reminder that when we fight back, we win.
Let's celebrate this victory, hold it close, and keep working together towards lasting acceptance for all.
In pride,
The AFFA Team
