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Logan v. Gary Community School Corporation

Logan v. Gary Community School Corporation

Status:

Closed

Court:

United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond

Issues:

Transgender and Nonbinary Rights, Students' Rights

Attorneys:

Attorneys

Lambda Legal
Christopher Clark

Co-counsel/Cooperating Attorneys
Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, LLP

Case arguing in favor of a transgender high school student’s First Amendment right to wear a dress to prom.

Summary

K.K. Logan, a transgender student who presents as female but was assigned the sex designation of male at birth, attended West Side High School in Gary, Ind., during her junior and senior year. Her classmates and teachers supported her, and called her by her chosen nickname, K.K. But when Logan attended the prom wearing a dress, she was literally blocked by Principal Diane Rouse, who stretched her arms across the door of the off-campus banquet center where the prom was held. Logan’s classmates rallied to her defense, as did members of the community who were outside taking pictures of their children, but she was never allowed to attend her prom. The high school justified its actions by referencing a policy that prohibits clothing that advertises one’s sexual orientation. Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of Logan, arguing that the school violated her First Amendment rights, including the freedoms of speech, symbolic action and expressive conduct.

History

  • December 2007 Complaint filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond
  • September 2008 Court denies school district’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing the lawsuit to go forward.
  • January 2011 Gary Community School Corporation settles this matter with Logan for an undisclosed amount on terms agreeable to all parties. The settlement includes revisions to the school district’s dress code and non-discrimination policies such that both policies now include specific protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. The school district also agrees to conduct training for the administration and school board members on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues and respectful treatment of LGBT people.