A North Carolina father, Brandon Matthews, is taking legal action against the school district where his children are enrolled. He has raised concerns about the school’s restroom policies. Matthews seeks clarity on whether biological males can use the same restrooms as his daughter, who is a fourth grader. His son is a senior at Mount Pleasant High School.

Matthews asked the principals of both schools in May to inform him if a biological male is permitted to use restrooms or locker rooms designated for his children. He clarified in his federal lawsuit that he did not request identification of specific students.

The federal lawsuit targets Cabarrus County Schools. It demands the disclosure of policies and practices regarding access to sex-separated restrooms and locker rooms at Mount Pleasant Elementary School and Mount Pleasant High School.

Brandon Matthews does not currently know whether a male is using his fourth-grade daughter’s bathroom, said Nicholas Barry, senior counsel at America First Legal Foundation. Barry argues that Matthews has a constitutional right to this information to make informed decisions for his family.

Matthews has expressed his concerns about the district’s restroom practices prior to the lawsuit. During a school board meeting on May 11, he appeared with his daughter, advocating for separate bathrooms for boys and girls. He also suggested the creation of a new bathroom if needed.

Speaking to the board, Matthews’ daughter stated, I’m personally a girl and I wouldn’t want a boy following me in the girls’ bathroom. It’s inappropriate. Matthews emphasized that his demands were about accessibility rather than targeting any particular child.

Following his public comments, Matthews formally requested notification from his children’s principals about the use of restroom facilities. Both principals replied by citing confidentiality and indicating that they could not provide notice about individual students. They assured him that he could reach out if specific situations arose.

Matthews continues to seek a legal resolution and filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of North Carolina against the school district’s officials. He has asked for a preliminary injunction. This injunction aims to require the district to reveal if opposite-sex individuals are permitted to use facilities designated for his children.

A practicing Christian, Matthews says his religious beliefs view sex as immutable. He argues that his children should not be required to use restrooms alongside members of the opposite sex. Despite the lack of evidence that Matthews’ daughter shares her school facilities with a biological male, the lawsuit persists due to his inability to obtain a clear policy.

At an earlier meeting, the school board’s attorney, William Isenhour, mentioned that each school’s restroom and locker room policies are handled on a case-by-case basis with all students and their families in mind. Meanwhile, the lawsuit continues. The demand for transparency in bathroom policies creates pressure on Cabarrus County Schools as the case unfolds in court.

Matthews’ lawsuit underscores a broader debate on parental knowledge and involvement in school policy decisions. A final ruling on the case has yet to be determined.