MONCKS CORNER — A transgender Berkeley County teen must be allowed to use restrooms in public schools that align with his gender identity, according to a federal court order issued a day before classes began.

The Aug. 12 order temporarily prohibits South Carolina school officials from enforcing a state rule against the student that requires people to use public school restrooms that are consistent with their gender as assigned at birth.

The student, known in court documents as John Doe, sued local and state school officials in November, after being punished for using the boys' bathroom in a Berkeley County school. His parents removed him from school after being told their son, whose bathroom visits came to be monitored by school officials, risked additional punishment for using the bo

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