Transgender schoolgirl sent home for wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes wins legal battle after outpouring of support from pupils
Lily Madigan, 18, who was born male, was threatened with suspension after arriving in girls’ clothes at a school in Kent
A TRANSGENDER teen sent home for wearing “wrong” school clothes has won a legal battle.
Lily Madigan, 18, who was born male, said dressing like a boy put her in “a bad mood all day”.
The sixth-former was threatened with suspension after arriving in girls’ clothes at St Simon Stock Catholic School in Maidstone, Kent, in March.
Lily, who posted before and after pictures online of her in the boys’ and girls’ dress code, said: “It was a big step for me. It made me feel so happy, until I was sent home.”
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She added: “I didn’t think that it would be a problem. I assumed the school would know their obligations.”
She hired a solicitor who reminded the school a person “must not be discriminated against because of their gender reassignment as a transsexual”.
Lily, from Chatham, was also backed by 200 pupils who signed a petition supporting her.
The school has now apologised and changed its rules while teachers are to get transgender training.
Lily said: “I feel triumphant. When I contacted the solicitor it reaffirmed I was right.
I’m so happy about the changes but I felt it was something I shouldn’t have had to fight so hard for, if at all.”
A school spokesman said: “We value highly the views of all our students, and take all points of view into account as we develop.”