A father from North Carolina, Brandon Matthews, has filed a lawsuit against his children’s school district. He claims that officials have not clarified whether biological males can use the same restrooms as his daughter, a fourth grader at Mount Pleasant Elementary School. His son is a senior at Mount Pleasant High School.
Matthews requested the principals of both schools to inform him if students of the opposite biological sex are allowed to use restrooms or locker rooms used by his children. He did not ask for specific student identities.
According to Matthews’ attorney, Nicholas Barry, Matthews is still unsure about the situation. “Without that information, he’s in the dark and can’t make informed decisions,” Barry stated.
The lawsuit aims to disclose the policies and practices for accessing sex-separated restrooms and locker rooms at the schools in question.
Matthews voiced his concerns at a school board meeting on May 11, advocating for separate bathrooms for boys and girls. He suggested creating a new bathroom if needed to accommodate different requirements.
In a heated exchange, Matthews expressed his willingness to take aggressive measures to protect his daughter. He later requested the principals to notify him if biological males are permitted to use the female restroom facilities used by his daughter and son.
In responses received on June 8, both school principals cited confidentiality of student information as a reason they could not confirm or disclose specifics. They encouraged Matthews to report any specific situations affecting his children’s experiences.
Barry criticized these responses as avoiding the question. “Nobody asked for individual student information, so it’s a non-answer,” he said.
Matthews is now pursuing a federal lawsuit in the Middle District of North Carolina. He seeks a preliminary injunction for the district to disclose its policies regarding bathroom and locker room access by members of the opposite sex. He also wants advance notice if opposite-sex individuals are authorized to use facilities accessed by his children.
The lawsuit suggests that the lack of policy transparency violates Matthews’ rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It also references the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, asserting the right of parents to be informed based on religious grounds.
While the court has yet to rule on Matthews’ claims, the case is a second lawsuit initiated by America First Legal against Cabarrus County Schools over this issue. The previous lawsuit involved allegations at another high school, separate from Matthews’ current case.
Jasmine Baehr, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, reported this case, highlighting ongoing debates over school policies and parental rights.
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