COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge has rejected an Ohio school district’s request to put a ruling involving transgender bathrooms on hold during an appeal.

Judge Algenon Marbley ordered Highland local schools in Morrow County last month to treat an 11-year-old student who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female “as the girl she is.”

That includes calling the student by a female name and female pronouns and giving the student access to the girls’ restroom.

Highland wants to block enforcement of a federal directive that public schools let students use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identities.

The school district asked Marbley to delay his order while the district appealed.

Marbley turned that request down Thursday, saying the girl’s sex discrimination and equal protection claims would likely succeed on appeal.

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