Apple are now on of 53 major U.S corporations that have signed a legal brief to support transgender student Gavin Grimm’s case that is being heard by the Supreme Court.
Grimm is fighting against his local school district for the right to use the bathroom of his correct gender identity. The 17 year old, who is currently represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, sued Gloucester County Schoolboard in Virginia in 2015 over his right to use a public bathroom designed for the gender which he identifies. This case has been closely watched amid rising tensions about transgender rights and has traveled as far as the Supreme Court who agreed to rule on it in October last year.
Along with Apple, other companies have signed to support Grimm some of which include Amazon, Airbnb, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PayPal and Twitter as well as other big names including MAC Cosmetics, Gap and Yahoo. President of the Human Rights campaign Chad Griffin said, “These companies are sending a powerful message to transgender children and their families that America’s leading businesses have their backs.”
This news arrives one week after President Trump withdrew guidelines set by Obama’s administration that concerned the use of transgender students using public school restrooms, locker rooms and showers. Whereas previous rules allowed students to use the bathroom of their corresponding gender identity, it is now up to the state to decide whether or not they support these guidelines or put in place a more restrictive system. Apple were quick to react, condemning Trump’s actions and voiced their opinions regarding the decision, stating “Apple believes everyone deserves a chance to thrive in an environment free from stigma and discrimination.We support efforts toward greater acceptance, not less, and we strongly believe that transgender students should be treated as equals. We disagree with any effort to limit or rescind their rights and protections.”
Apple has long supported LGBTQ rights and march at the annual parade in San Francisco every year and the company has condemned ‘religious freedom’ legislation signed into law by Mike Pence that states that companies can freely turn away lesbian and gay customers. The case regarding Gavin Grimm is set to be heard at the end of March.