A North Carolina father is taking legal action against his children’s school district. He alleges that officials would not disclose if biological males are allowed to use the same restrooms as his fourth-grade daughter.
Brandon Matthews, whose daughter is at Mount Pleasant Elementary School, raised concerns to the school principals in May. He requested notification if students of the opposite sex used the bathrooms or locker rooms shared by his children. His concern did not include asking for the identity of any specific student.
“Brandon Matthews does not currently know whether a male is using his fourth grade daughter’s bathroom,” stated Nicholas Barry, senior counsel at America First Legal Foundation.
The lawsuit filed against Cabarrus County Schools seeks transparency on policies about access to gender-specific restrooms at two schools in North Carolina.
Matthews had previously voiced his concerns at a school board meeting, discussing the need for gender-specific bathroom access. He brought his daughter to speak, emphasizing her discomfort at the idea of boys sharing the girls’ bathroom.
After frustrations over the lack of clarity, Matthews submitted written requests for information. However, the school principals cited confidentiality for not providing details about student restroom usage.
In response to Matthews’ requests, the elementary school principal indicated that they could not confirm student accommodations, suggesting Matthews contact them with specific concerns.
Barry contends that this response avoided the core question of disclosure and policy transparency.
In pursuit of clarity, Matthews filed a suit in the Middle District of North Carolina, aimed at requiring the district to reveal their practices about bathroom access. He also seeks a preliminary injunction for immediate disclosure during the ongoing case.
His legal argument rests on his religious beliefs and constitutional rights, asserting his children shouldn’t share intimate facilities with the opposite sex without proper notification.
Matthews references a Supreme Court decision related to notifying parents about specific classroom instruction, suggesting similar notice should apply to bathroom access. The case marks America First Legal’s second lawsuit against the district concerning sex-separated facilities.
Barry stresses that providing information on policies is the lawsuit’s focus, rather than banning specific students from facilities.