Hi, I go to a vocational school for culinary arts. I've not had a problem at all with bathrooms, names and what not. I'm a FtM student and the principle pulled me aside friday and told me he doesn't believe I'll be able to take my 6 months work leave at a hotel. He said that he doesn't believe morally it is not right for the school to allow me to go there and change or use the facilities with them men. He told me to think of how the parents would feel if they found out. I pleaded with him, and he said he'd look into it. Now if I'm denied to go there for my 6 months, because they won't allow me to change and use the mens bathroom, is that against the law? I live in the state of New Jersey. I don't necessarily know my rights, I just know it's not illegal for me to use the facilities.

Is there a LGBT legal aid organization near you?

I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that internships are sort of a legal "gray area" when it comes to anti-discrimination laws. Still, a good lawyer might be able to scare the crap out of your school. What the principal did was immoral and on very shaky legal ground, if not outright illegal.

(I also live in NJ.)

I believe that it is illegal what he did. NJ has some great Transgender rights law. Under the employment law, an employer can not discriminate based on sexual orientation or sexual identity. This does include restrooms. However since it is a school, that rule should still be enforceable especially if the school gets ANY state money. Any facility in NJ that received any state money I know for sure it applies to. If the school is private and doesn't receive and state or federal funding, then I'm not 100% sure. You could also try

Lambda Legal
Legal Services of NJ (They provide low income services for free and help with name changes and LGBT issues)

Also if you have an ID with your corrected gender then it should not even be an issue. I already have my letter from my HRT doctor to change my gender, I'm just waiting for my name change to be completed. (court date May 21st). I keep a copy of that letter (Callen-Lorde sent me 5 notarized copies ) just in case, but I haven't had to use it.

If this school is federally funded I suggest you take a look at this recent law that passed April 29th of this year. It might apply to it, and if it does, it's illegal.

http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/10249

It prohibits any kind of discrimination based on GI, and includes bathroom rights.

I'll keep an update through here I suppose.
I called Lambda Legal, and she ask for my information and the situation. She told me I would get a call back in two days. So today I got the call back so hopefully this means they're interested and want to take my case on. I'm tired of being pushed back and trampled on by people. Her call back today was just for more information about me and my life that the attorney wanted to know. So if anything else goes through I'll place it right here.