Several companies have unanimously endorsed an amicus brief in support of a transgender student whose case has escalated to the Supreme Court of the United States. Gavin Grimm, a teenager from Virginia filed a case against his school district in 2015 after the school’s board introduced new policy directing transgender students to use bathrooms that corresponds to their sex at the time of birth. The case will be heard by the U.S Supreme Court at Th end of March
A total of Fifty-three have signed the brief to show support and solidarity to Grimm’s arguments. In the Silicon Valley, the list include, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY), LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD), NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP), Box Inc (NYSE:BOX) and Paypal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL). Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) also endorsed the brief. Cumulative this group f companies has a total of 1.3 million people according to estimates by Human Rights Campaign.
According to the brief, 82% of Fortune 500 companies have clearly written and elaborate policies that prohibit and gender-based discrimination and half of the Fortune companies also offer transgender-inclusive health benefits like surgical procedures
Chad Griffin, President said in a statement, that by signing the brief, the companies are sending a very strong message to transgender children as well as their parents and families that they have the full support of the American business community. He adds that across the United States, corporate and business leaders are speaking with one voice because they understand the shame that comes with attacking a transgender youth. They also understand that transgender discrimination puts families of their customers and employees at risk. Griffin says like Gavin, transgender students are fully protected by the law and should thus be respected, affirmed and protected in and outside classrooms.
The administration of President Donald Trump, last month reversed the federal guidance around transgender students that was introduced during the Obama administration. The guidance prohibited schools from discriminating against students based on their gender or sex identity. Legal experts now say Grimm’s case could be affected by Trump’s decision to suspend these protections.
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