$16,500 Fine Imposed On Florida School Where Trans Girl Played Volleyball

A Florida county where school officials were suspended after a trans girl was found to have played volleyball is facing a heavy fine and choosing not to dispute the constitutionality of banning trans girls from participation.

by Evan Urquhart

Monarch High School in Broward County, FL is an example of the extremes conservatives in that state will go to punish schools for including transgender students with local outlets reporting that a $16,500 fine has been imposed on the school after school officials allowed a trans student to play girls’ volleyball. The girl was involved in a court case seeking to overturn Florida’s ban on transgender girls playing on girls’ sports teams.

Broward County is seeking to have the fine reduced but is not fighting the law or disputing the fact that the girl was allowed to play in contravention of it. Laws banning transgender girls from participating in court are in a state of legal limbo, with some state bans having been stayed by the courts because judges feel there’s a strong case that such bans are unconstitutional. Litigation is pending over this question in West Virginia, Idaho, and Connecticut as well as Florida where a court found against this Broward County student but a new filing in the case is anticipated.

It’s not clear why officials for the Broward County school district have decided not to stand up for their staff and students and the constitutional principle of equality under the law.