His school didn't call the cops after a transphobic bully attacked him. Now it's paying the price.https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/his-school-didnt-call-the-cops-after-a-transphobic-attacked-him-now-its-paying-the-price/ 🔗Daniel Villarreal (31 Oct 2025)
The Spokane School District of Washington State recently paid $60,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that it had failed to protect a transgender student attacked by another student on school grounds.
The October 2021 attack involved Ian Ring. At the time, Ring was a 13-year-old seventh-grader at Dr. Jonas E. Salk Middle School. His bully allegedly taunted him with transphobic slurs in the past and then attacked him while he waited for the school bus. Other students just laughed and recorded the attack, later posting video of it on Snapchat.
The attack left Ring with bruises and a loose tooth, and Ring's family sought fourth-degree assault charges against the bully, though it's unclear if they pursued or resolved the charges. Ring's family also filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging that the school staff failed to contact law enforcement or take appropriate steps to protect Ring against transphobic bullying.
On October 24, a judge approved the school district's $60,000 settlement with Ring's family, KREM reported. Ring will receive $36,000, which will go into an account that he'll be able to access after his 18th birthday. His parents will receive $2,000 each, and $20,000 will pay the family's attorneys' fees.
A survey from the queer youth crisis hotline organization The Trevor Project found that 52% of LGBTQ+ middle and high school students had been bullied over the previous school year.
Transgender and non-binary students were among those who experienced the highest levels of bullying. The survey also found that bullied LGBTQ+ students were three times more likely to attempt suicide than students who weren't bullied.
