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High school group challenging Idaho's trans bathroom ban drops lawsuit after student's death
High school group challenging Idaho’s trans bathroom ban drops lawsuit after student’s death
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador hailed the case’s end, saying the law is ‘fully in effect’
By: Kyle Pfannenstiel - May 21, 2026
6:05 pm
Editor’s note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
A lawsuit challenging Idaho’s transgender bathroom ban in K-12 public schools could end soon, after a group at Boise High School suing over the law dropped the case. ... The move came after a transgender student who was part of Boise High School’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance died by suicide, and another stopped attending the school, the group’s lawyers wrote in a legal agreement reached Wednesday requesting the case be dismissed.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador participates in a May 2026 National Police Week roundtable at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., alongside Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials. (Photo courtesy of the Idaho Attorney General’s Office)
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador hailed the case’s end in an announcement Thursday morning, saying the law “is fully in effect.” ...“From the district court to the Ninth Circuit, we defended Idaho’s right to protect students’ privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms,” Labrador said in a statement. “Idaho families can be confident that this law is fully in effect and will remain so.”
But Labrador’s announcement did not address why the suing parties agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. ... Asked about the student’s suicide, Labrador said in a statement Thursday afternoon that: “This is a personal tragedy and our hearts go out to the family. We don’t comment on the private circumstances of individuals involved in litigation.”
Experts say there is no one reason that people die by suicide. But transgender adults face higher risks of suicide attempts and self-harm than cisgender adults. Idaho has a high suicide rate and has passed several anti-transgender laws in recent years.
{snip}
What are the suicide warning signs to watch for?
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, some of the common warning signs to look out for suicide risk are:
• If people talk about killing themself, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain.
• Certain behaviors — especially those related to a painful event, loss, or change — such as using alcohol or drugs more, looking for ways to end their lives, withdrawing from activities, isolating from family and friends, aggression, fatigue, and more.
Kyle Pfannenstiel
Kyle Pfannenstiel is a reporter for the Idaho Capital Sun, covering health care and state politics. He previously reported for the Post Register/Report for America, Idaho Education News and the Idaho Press. Kyle is a military brat who calls Idaho home. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from University of Idaho.
Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
MORE FROM AUTHOR
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador hailed the case’s end, saying the law is ‘fully in effect’
By: Kyle Pfannenstiel - May 21, 2026
6:05 pm
Editor’s note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
A lawsuit challenging Idaho’s transgender bathroom ban in K-12 public schools could end soon, after a group at Boise High School suing over the law dropped the case. ... The move came after a transgender student who was part of Boise High School’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance died by suicide, and another stopped attending the school, the group’s lawyers wrote in a legal agreement reached Wednesday requesting the case be dismissed.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador participates in a May 2026 National Police Week roundtable at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., alongside Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials. (Photo courtesy of the Idaho Attorney General’s Office)
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador hailed the case’s end in an announcement Thursday morning, saying the law “is fully in effect.” ...“From the district court to the Ninth Circuit, we defended Idaho’s right to protect students’ privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms,” Labrador said in a statement. “Idaho families can be confident that this law is fully in effect and will remain so.”
But Labrador’s announcement did not address why the suing parties agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. ... Asked about the student’s suicide, Labrador said in a statement Thursday afternoon that: “This is a personal tragedy and our hearts go out to the family. We don’t comment on the private circumstances of individuals involved in litigation.”
Experts say there is no one reason that people die by suicide. But transgender adults face higher risks of suicide attempts and self-harm than cisgender adults. Idaho has a high suicide rate and has passed several anti-transgender laws in recent years.
{snip}
What are the suicide warning signs to watch for?
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, some of the common warning signs to look out for suicide risk are:
• If people talk about killing themself, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain.
• Certain behaviors — especially those related to a painful event, loss, or change — such as using alcohol or drugs more, looking for ways to end their lives, withdrawing from activities, isolating from family and friends, aggression, fatigue, and more.
Kyle Pfannenstiel
Kyle Pfannenstiel is a reporter for the Idaho Capital Sun, covering health care and state politics. He previously reported for the Post Register/Report for America, Idaho Education News and the Idaho Press. Kyle is a military brat who calls Idaho home. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from University of Idaho.
Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
MORE FROM AUTHOR