ACLU demands apology for Iowa transgender student [View all]

The ACLU of Iowa is demanding an apology for a transgender student in Newton they say was improperly prevented from expressing a political message and subsequently called "girl" by a teacher, despite coming out as a boy two years prior.

The sophomore wrote "love trumps hate" on his arm but was forced to either wash it off or leave school, which would have resulted in disciplinary actions, the ACLU wrote in a letter to the Newton school district. During an exchange, a gym teacher twice told the student, who identifies as a boy, "don't be drawing on yourself, girl."

While the incident happened in November, the ACLU sent the letter Friday, just two days after the Trump administration withdrew federal guidance on how transgender students should be treated in public schools.

The letter also coincides with the 48th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District, which affirmed students' First Amendment right to free speech in school.

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2017/02/24/aclu-demands-apology-iowa-transgender-student/98350762/