An Ohio schoolgirl says she was harassed by a man who “asked to join” while she was changing in the restroom — as dozens of students walked out to protest the school’s transgender restroom policy

Dozens of Ohio students staged a walkout after a high school student claimed she was harassed in the bathroom by a transgender student.

Elida High School student Charisma Akroyd said a biological male student walked into the bathroom while she was taking off some clothes and asked if she wanted to “join us.”

“I had a hoodie and sweatpants on and I had an outfit on underneath, and as I was taking off my sweatpants and hoodie, this guy walked into the bathroom, looked at me a little funny and said he wanted to ‘join in.’ Akroyd said.

The school’s policy allows transgender students to use the restroom of their preferred gender identity.

The school’s policy allows transgender students to use the restroom of their preferred gender identity

Akroyd’s stepfather, Phil Hesseling, said he had approached the school’s principal, Justin Firks, and was assured the “matter would be dealt with.”

But when no action was taken, Hesseling escalated the situation and spoke with Chief Inspector Joel Mengerink, who he believed would rather avoid a potential legal fallout regarding health insurance than take action for his stepdaughter.

The concerned stepfather said: ‘We were very concerned about Charisma and what was happening.

“The majority of people in our district are speaking out and saying this is not right – that Charisma is doing that. Her mother and I are very proud of her.’

Director Firks has not yet responded to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

Although school officials took no action, Akroyd’s colleagues supported her and organized a walkout to protest the school’s policies.

Someone claiming to support the school’s students wrote online: ‘At first just a few came out and told us that the principals said if they walked out of the building they would have Tuesday/Thursday school and an unexcused absence for the school. day.

“If they wanted to protest, they had to do it in the courtyard or in the gym. Firks stood in the doorway to intimidate the students and they said Larimore told them there was no one waiting for them outside.

“The few who came out immediately went back inside and collected the other students from the courtyard and moments later a group of about 45 people came out the door on the other side of the school from the courtyard.

‘We later found out that the school had allowed the students in the gymnasium to go back to class. And that the school prevented an entire lunchroom of children from coming outside.

‘What a shame for Elida for denying these children their rights! And before anyone starts interfering with the safety of the kids… remember that the school needs about 100 people outside per day for marching band practice and the kids at the PBIS party deserve where they put them all in the parking lot let them hang out and eat. food trucks is no different.”

Although school officials took no action, Akroyd’s colleagues supported her and organized a walkout to protest the school’s policies.

Despite warnings from the school, groups of students took part in the strike in support of Akroyd

Akroyd spoke about what change she wanted in school policy, explaining, “I don’t want biological males in the girls’ bathroom anymore.

“There have been several stories about boys coming into the bathroom, or transgender girls, and harassing the girls there, and we’re just not here for that. Biological boys must stay in their own bathroom.

“There were a lot of people saying they were going to do it, but they probably made an announcement five to 10 minutes ago and said we could go to the courtyard or we could go to one of the gyms if we wanted to walk out and don’t walk outside.

“They said if we didn’t come back and get a pass, it would be a Tuesday-Thursday or a report,” the freshman said.

After the walkout ended, Mengerink released a statement saying, “We are here to ensure that our students receive an education in a safe environment.”

Board President Brenda Stocker claimed at a recent forum that the school’s nondiscrimination policy ensures districts are “compliant with federal case law.”

After the walkout ended, Mengerink released a statement saying, “We are here to ensure that our students are educated in a safe environment.

“Encouraging students to participate in a strike causes a lot of security concerns on our part because we don’t know who is out there, especially when we just experienced a threat on social media last week.

‘It also costs our students educational time and that is what we are for.’

Board President Brenda Stocker reportedly claimed at a recent forum that the school’s nondiscrimination policy keeps the district “in compliance with federal case law established by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals” and that “violating the case law makes the district poses a risk of a lawsuit ‘which we would certainly lose’.

It is not known whether the school board has taken action against the transgender student and whether it will change its policy.