AP Interview: Teen at center transgender bathroom fight

(AP) — College applications and high school graduation are the biggest worries for most 17-year-olds.

Grimm, who was born female but identifies as male, heads back to Gloucester High School for his senior year this week as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to intervene in his case that challenges the county school's policy barring him from using the bathroom of his choice.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided in April with Grimm, but the Supreme Court recently ruled that the school board can keep him out of the boys restroom at least until the justices decide whether to hear the school board's appeal.

The appeals court said the policy violated federal law, deferring to a U.S. Department of Education rule that says transgender students in public schools must be allowed to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

If the Supreme Court denies the school board's petition for review, a lower court order requiring the board to let Grimm use the bathroom of his choice will be reinstated.

Maxine Eichner, a University of North Carolina professor who's an expert on sexual orientation and the law, said the Supreme Court's decision to block Grimm from using the boys bathroom for now may signify their desire to look at the issue.

[...] the justices may also want to wait until they get a conflicting appeals court decision in a similar case, Eichner said.

A federal judge blocked the Obama administration's transgender bathroom rule last month, but the administration could appeal it to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.