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Gavin Grimm's Story | Gender Revolution


2m read
·Nov 11, 2024

[Music] Ground Zero in the fight over transgender bathrooms is this quiet town in Southern Virginia. The unlikely face at the center of it all: Gavin Grim.

"When you realize you were trans, you actually went to the doctor?"

"I went to a gender therapist who specialized in seeing transgender youth, and it was very apparent to her very quickly that transition had to be done as quickly as we possibly could, because I was suffering greatly."

"You and your mom went to school when you were sophomore; you explained to the school what was going on, and my understanding is your high school was pretty accepting and receptive, is that accurate?"

"I was assured that I would be respected at the school. I would be called exclusively Gavin and exclusively by male pronouns at Loster High School."

Gavin initially used the bathroom in the nurse's office, but it was inconvenient to get to from his classes. Since he was already using the men's room at restaurants and movie theaters, he asked the principal if he could do the same at school. The principal agreed, and Gavin says he used the boys' room without incident for nearly two months.

"For me, it was a matter of going in and going out and minding my own business, as most everyone does in a bathroom. But then the School Board got involved."

The School Board ruled that Gavin could no longer use the men's room. Instead, they gave him the option to use three unisex bathrooms, something Gavin wasn't interested in.

"The problem is I'm not looking for a compromise. I'm not looking for separate but equal. I'm looking for the same opportunities that my peers enjoy every single day, and that includes using the same restroom as any other student."

"When you first learned your case was going to be heard before the Supreme Court, what was your reaction?"

"The Supreme Court aspect of it is daunting, if only because it's the Supreme Court. I mean, this could go really well or it could go really wrong, and I have to be prepared for that reality. But regardless of what happens, the end will justify the means because even if we suffer a loss, we've generated a conversation that's moved the nation in the right direction. And if we win and it's after I graduate, I'm still doing good for a lot of other [Music] kids." [Music]

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