The policy has been challenged by parents who sued the district, the second-largest in the country, saying the measure contributed to the isolation of their child, who later died by suicide. The Justice Department’s investigation was sparked by the lawsuit, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times.
The 11-page policy at issue, which the Los Angeles Unified School District adopted in 2019, is meant to protect transgender students who may not have support for their gender identity at home. It includes guidance for teachers and faculty members to navigate matters of gender identity. The policy advises school officials to allow students to choose their pronouns and restrooms based on their gender identity, and to “take into consideration the safety, health and well-being of the student in deciding whether to disclose the student’s gender identity to parents.”
The Justice Department informed the district about the investigation in a letter on March 25. The investigation also includes a complaint from a female student that she was sexually assaulted after, she alleges, district officials ignored her warnings about the person accused of being the perpetrator.