Doe v. Yunits
Massachusetts Superior Court
2000 WL 33162199 (2000)
Pat Doe (plaintiff), a 15-year-old student diagnosed with gender-identity disorder who was born biologically male but had a female gender identity, wore female clothing to South Junior High School (defendant). The principal repeatedly sent her home for violating a dress code barring clothing deemed disruptive, and the school ultimately told Doe she could not attend if she wore padded bras, skirts, dresses, or wigs. Medical testimony established that dressing as female was important to Doe's health and well-being, and Doe sought a preliminary injunction barring the school from excluding her based on her gender identity.
Whether a public-school student's expression of gender identity through clothing is protected expression under the First Amendment.