The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Kenosha, WI, Unified School District violated the rights of a trans boy, Ash Whitaker, when it refused to let him use the boys' bathroom.

US District Judge Pamela Pepper on Monday rejected a motion by the Kenosha Unified School District to dismiss the case brought by Ashton Whitaker accusing the district of discriminating against him. On Tuesday Pepper issued a temporary restraining order barring the district from enforcing its policy prohibiting Whitaker from using the boys' restroom while the case is pending.

There's no question that Ash has already suffered harm and has had physical repercussions from the policy as well as emotional repercussions.

--Judge Pepper, who challenged the district's argument that its local school board — and not the courts or an individual student — should determine its own policies

I'm very excited to call Ash to tell him what the judge decided. The case is certainly not over, but we're happy she recognized that his harm is real.

--Joseph Wardenski, attorney for Ash and his mother