Wisconsin school shuts down gender-neutral bathroom after student, 18, sexually assaults young victim inside
RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN: A Wisconsin school has shut down its gender-neutral bathroom after one of its students was accused of sexually assaulting a young victim inside.
Austin Sauer, 18, a student at the Rhinelander High School, was arrested last Thursday, February 27, for child enticement, fourth-degree sexual assault, and exposing genitals to a child, according to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office (OCSO). Captain Teri Hook of the OCSO revealed that the alleged incident unfolded inside the gender-neutral bathroom of the school, which has since been closed by the school officials. Hook said the school had not sent a message to parents as it was an isolated incident and Sauer was removed from the school over the assault.
"This was not a random incident, as both students went into the bathroom voluntarily," said School District Superintendent Kelli Jacobi in a statement. "The male student will no longer be able to be on school grounds, and the gender-neutral bathroom is no longer available to students."
The Christian Post highlighted 2017 findings from the Family Research Council about of 21 incidents of men assaulting or violating women's privacy in public bathrooms and pinned the blame on non-discrimination laws.
The FRC argued that by allowing people to go into bathrooms based on their gender identity rather than their birth sex, these laws were "giving sexual predators the opportunity to exploit the circumstances and commit voyeurism and sexual assault."
"It is important to note that the concern is not that transgendered individuals are more likely to be sexual predators, but rather that sexual predators could exploit such laws by posing as transgendered in order to gain access to women and girls,' the FRC said.
"Beyond this, when companies such as Target implement any-sex bathroom/dressing room policies, it encourages criminals to take advantage of these policies to commit crimes," it added.
The issue is a controversial one, especially when it comes to schools. In May 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a challenge to a Pennsylvania school district's policy of allowing students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
The high court upheld a lower court's decision in favor of the school district to stand, thus allowing boys who identify as female to enters girls' bathrooms, locker rooms and showers, and vice versa.
Sauer has not yet been charged, and the OSCO said their investigation into the attack is still ongoing. He was released from jail after posting a $1,500 signature bond.