School ‘let trans girl off’ with making threats to girl who complained about using girls bathroom
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A Vermont school allowed a transgender student to make “death threats” against another student who complained about the use of female locker rooms, a lawsuit alleges.
Blake Allen, 14, was suspended from Randolph Union High School after calling a biologically male student, who identifies as a woman, a “dude.”
Her father Travis was fired for also calling the student in question a “man.”
The family has filed a lawsuit against the Orange Southwest School District Board, the Superintendent and two co-directors of the school in the Vermont District Court.
According to the lawsuit, several members of the team asked them to leave but they refused, with some telling the coach that the player had made “inappropriate comments.”
The lawsuit alleged that Layne Millington, Superintendent, Lisa Floyd and Caty Sutton, Co-Principals, Blake and Travis violated First Amendment rights by attempting to dictate “what may be said about matters of public interest.”
It also claims that the school turned a blind eye to “death threats” against Blake by the transgender student, who said after the locker room incident, “I’m going to fucking kill Blake Allen.”
They are said to have been selective in their discipline, despite the fact that she suspended Blake for two days for “mistaking” the student and then instructed her to participate in a “reflective circle” where she returned.
That saw stock co-ordinator Jamie Connor and other students trying to brainwash Blake into seeing the error of her ways, it is alleged.
Blake Allen, 14, was suspended from Randolph Union High School after calling a biologically male student, who identifies as a woman, a “dude”
Co-Principals Caty Sutton and Lisa Floyd are both named in Vermonth school lawsuit
Equity Coordinator Jamie Connor organized a ‘restorative circle’ for Blake with other students to understand what she had done wrong
The comments were reported to the directors, who deemed the threat “low risk,” despite a second threat made during the volleyball team’s bake sale.
Blake claims that the student, who has been playing on the women’s volleyball team since the beginning of the year, entered the locker rooms and “stared” at some of the girls’ changing clothes.
According to the lawsuit, the transgender student said, “I’m going to fucking kill someone. They’re all assholes,” which was again reported to the RUHS athletic director, but no action was taken.
Blake was banned from school for two days after the September incident and was forced to participate in a ‘recovery circle’ with Equity Coordinator Jamie Connor and two other students.
She was also told to “submit a reflective essay,” but to face further suspension if it was “failed in good faith.”
The lawsuit alleges that Blake was disciplined for “the views she expressed” as she discussed the incident in French class the next day — without the other student present.
The lawsuit alleged that Chief Inspector Layne Millington had violated Blake and Travis’ rights to the First Amendment
Blake is accused of saying the student was ‘literally a dude’ before adding ‘he doesn’t belong in the girls’ locker room’
Vermont state law means that students can play sports and use the locker that matches the gender they identify with.
Travis was suspended after defending his daughter and commenting on a social media post regarding the incident.
He said, ‘The truth is that your son has seen my daughter and several other girls change in the dressing room. While he was given a free show, they were violated.”
The transgender student’s mother had responded to a Facebook post, saying that Blake “made up the story for attention” before adding that “the truth will prevail.”
Several parents complained that the transgender student was allowed to enter the female locker room
The student, who has been playing in the women’s volleyball team since the beginning of the year, is said to have come to the locker rooms and ‘stare’ at some girls who were changing
According to the lawsuit, the transgender student said, “I’m going to fucking kill someone. They’re all motherfuckers
Both Blake and Travis appeared on the Tucker Carlson show, with Blake confirming that her suspension was lifted shortly after the lawsuit was filed — but it’s not clear if the school was aware at the time.
Travis told the host: “I posted a message on social media calling the male student a man and I was punished for it. Because I misclassified it.’
Blake added: “I was in the locker room and the student came in and there was the rest of the team and I felt uncomfortable and I left and I told the school and they just shut me down and said there was nothing that she could do.
“I’m glad I spoke out, because there’s still so much that can be done, that the law can be changed, because now it’s national news.
Vermont’s laws state that transgender students — such as those at Randolph High, pictured — can use any facilities appropriate to their gender identity
Travis and Jessica, Blake’s parents, defended her on social media before suing the school
The trans girl’s mother hit back at the online criticism of her daughter, saying the ‘truth will prevail’
“He had the right to go in, but when we said we were uncomfortable, he should have just left. It should have been that simple.’
“I don’t want other girls to feel uncomfortable about it. I think everyone should just be able to change in a dressing room they were born in.
“If you were born a girl, you can go into the girl’s locker room and when you’re done get out. It should be simple and it isn’t anymore.’
The conflict caught the attention of transgender former Olympian Caitlin Jenner, who called “Shame on Vermont!” tweeted. for allowing ‘biological boys with penises to change in the locker rooms next to our daughters, then scold our daughters at school’.
It is not the first scandal the school has faced, after former co-principal David Barnett was convicted last year of grooming and assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
Barnett was banned from working as an educator and was jailed for a month after pleading not to nurse the girl while he worked as her head teacher.