washington u.s. supreme court friday agree first time rule transgender right case virginia public school district fight prevent female-born transgender high school student use boys bathroom justices agree hear gloucester county school board appeal low court april 19 rule transgender students protect u.s. laws bar sex-based discrimination case involve 17-year-old transgender student name gavin grimm identify male sue 2015 win right use school boys bathroom case argue decide end june one big court term never think restroom use would ever turn kind national debate thing ever ask right treat like everyone else grimm say statement court decision take case mean grimm able use boys bathroom graduate high school next year say josh block lawyer american civil liberties union sort discriminatory policies stigmatize isolate transgender students like gavin block add school board chairman troy anderson welcome court decision hear case say board policy carefully balance interest students parent conservative group back school board say fight student privacy right light right bodily privacy federal law twist require male give access girls facilities female boys facilities say gary mccaleb lawyer alliance defend freedom conservative christian legal group heart case question whether transgender people cover ban gender discrimination education federal law president barack obama administration conclude legal fight whether judge require defer government view justices could side-step major rule focus decision whether administration follow correct procedure give public notice legal conclusion court remain one justice short follow february death antonin scalia leave four conservatives four liberals raise possibility 4-4 rule would leave place decision favor grimm richmond-based 4th u.s. circuit court appeal 4-4 rule would set nationwide legal precedent court generally steer clear take potentially divisive case remain shorthanded supreme court directly rule transgender right 1994 court rule favor male-born transgender prison inmate identify woman hold male prisoners say beat rap another inmate whether allow transgender people use public bathrooms correspond gender identity rather birth gender become late flashpoint long u.s. battle lesbian gay bisexual transgender right major gay right rule 2015 supreme court legalize same-sex marriage nationwide transgender fight heat north carolina pass republican-backed law march require people use bathrooms correspond gender birth government build public school north carolina law challenge court also block local measure protect lesbian gay bisexual transgender people discrimination obama administration may issue nationwide guidance tell public school transgender students allow use bathroom choice guidance infuriate many conservatives prompt republican-led legal effort fight twenty-three state sue block guidance u.s. district court judge aug. 22 issue nationwide injunction seek texas state prevent administration enforce guidance virginia case supreme court july vote 5-3 temporarily block appeal court decision go effect litigation continue move prevent grimm use boys bathroom new school year begin september grimm begin attend school boy september 2014. school permission grimm use boys bathroom seven weeks without incident complaints parent county school board adopt new policy december 2014 require students use bathroom correspond gender birth since grimm use separate bathroom result hormone therapy grimm facial hair deep voice grimm also chest reconstruction surgery sex reassignment surgery u.s. supreme court take major transgender right case