Case Studies and FAQs

Case Studies and FAQs: Real Students, Real Cases

Understanding how legal decisions and enforcement events have played out in real life can help students, parents, and educators assess risk and build a path forward. This article relies exclusively on documented cases and policy enforcement in Florida.

Case 1: Adams v. St. Johns County School Board (Florida)

In one of the most significant federal cases involving school bathroom access, a transgender student named Drew Adams sued his school district after being told he could no longer use boys’ restrooms at Nease High School. Adams had been using the boys’ facilities without issue until officials forced him to use a gender‑neutral restroom or women's facilities. He challenged this under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. 

Initially, a federal district court ruled that the school must allow him full access. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in 2020. However, in a full en banc ruling in December 2022, the 11th Circuit reversed the lower courts, finding that a school bathroom policy based strictly on biological sex did not violate federal law. 

Takeaway: While earlier courts supported access based on gender identity under Title IX, the final en banc ruling upheld sex-based separation. That ruling remains binding in Florida and neighboring states.

Case 2: First Arrest Under Florida’s HB 1521 – Marcy Rheintgen

On March 19, 2025, a transgender woman named Marcy Rheintgen was arrested at the Florida State Capitol after using a women’s restroom to wash her hands. She was charged under Florida’s Facility Requirements Based on Sex Act (HB 1521)—the state’s law that criminalizes using restrooms inconsistent with your sex assigned at birth. Prosecutors later dropped the misdemeanor trespassing charge because they failed to file in time.

This is the first known enforcement of HB 1521 since it went into effect on July 1, 2023. It highlights the legal risk individuals now face under state law—even when federal law may offer protection.

Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

Can schools require transgender students to use restrooms based on sex assigned at birth?

Yes. Under Florida’s HB 1521 and state administrative rules (Rule 6A‑10.086), public schools must require restroom access based on biological sex assigned at birth. The en banc Eleventh Circuit ruling in Adams supports this under current federal law.

Can students face legal penalties for refusing state bathroom rules?

Yes. HB 1521 makes it a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days in jail or a fine) for a person to remain in a restroom inconsistent with their assigned sex after being asked to leave. The arrest of Marcy Rheintgen demonstrates real-world enforcement.

Does Title IX still protect transgender students?

Title IX still exists—but the 11th Circuit en banc ruling rejects that identity-based bathroom protections are required under Title IX in Florida. While some federal courts outside the 11th Circuit interpret Title IX more broadly, Florida remains bound by this precedent.

Can a school district create more inclusive policies than state law?

No. State law overrides district policy. On issues like bathroom access, HB 1521 sets the statewide rules all schools must follow, even if local leaders want to go further. While schools cannot adopt policies that conflict with state law, some may offer case-by-case supports such as single-stall restrooms, private changing areas, or flexible scheduling to help students feel safer.

Why This Section Matters

These real cases underline a difficult reality: while Title IX protections once seemed to support gender-affirming access, federal precedent now permits restrictive bathroom rules. And under state law, enforcement is real and punishable.

Understanding these rulings and legal risks allows families and educators to make informed decisions, document events properly, and pursue remedies when violations occur—or prepare to challenge them.