Spirit Lake, Iowa — A Spirit Lake student is being told he can no longer use the school restroom he’s been using for a year and a half.
Sixteen-year-old Ethan Stucker is a transgender person who identifies as male. He says that, without warning, he was told that he could no longer use the men’s restrooms at Spirit Lake High School, and would face possible disciplinary action if he did. His mother, Jennifer Larson, says she was told that there had been a complaint that someone didn’t feel comfortable in the bathroom with transgender students.
We have received a statement from Spirit Lake Superintendent, Dr. David Smith:
“We are investigating the current regulations and are sensitive to both sides of the issue. We have and continue to provide multiple restroom facilities attempting to accommodate both positions on the issue so all our students feel emotionally and physically safe.”
School officials tell us there are multiple unisex bathrooms in the high school that Stucker can use. But Stucker has said he doesn’t plan to use an alternate restroom, and says his civil rights have been violated.
