On Friday, August 13, 2010, the United States filed a motion seeking leave to participate as amicus curiae in Pratt v. Indian River Central School District, in order to provide the court with the proper legal standards governing harassment on the basis of sex under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.
Plaintiff filed the complaint in April 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York alleging that the Indian River Central School District, its board of education and eight of its employees violated his rights under the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX.
In June 2010, the school district filed a motion to dismiss the claims.
In the brief filed Friday, the United States argues that harassment based on sex stereotyping is a legally cognizable claim under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause; that sexual orientation harassment does not preclude a harassment claim based on non-conformity to sex stereotypes; and that a hostile environment claim in primary and secondary schools can span classes, grades and schools.
Summary of the case provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
To read the entire brief, go to:
www.justice.gov/crt/edo/documents/casesummary.php#pratt
