GLOUCESTER, Va. – The federal government thinks 16-year-old transgender student Gavin Grimm, a girl who identifies as a boy, should be able to use any boy’s restroom at his school he wants.

The U.S. Department of Justice Tuesday filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit brought against the Gloucester County school board by the American Civil Liberties Union on Grimm’s behalf. In that lawsuit, filed June 18, the ACLU alleges the district’s restroom policy violates federal Title IX student protections because it discriminates against transgender students, the Daily Press reports.

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Grimm is also seeking a court order to force the school district to let him use all male restrooms at his school next year while his case is pending.

In the statement of interest, the Justice Department sides with Grimm, and alleges “there is a strong public interest in requiring the District to treat (Grimm), a transgender male student, like all other male students, including allowing him to use the male restrooms at Gloucester High School,” according to the news site.

Grimm contends a Gloucester High School principal gave him permission to use the male restrooms at the school despite the fact that he’s biologically a girl. But district officials changed the policy in December after a lot of complaints from the community, ABC News reports.

“One speaker (at a school board meeting) called him a ‘freak’ and compared him to a person who thinks he is a ‘dog’ and wants to urinate on fire hydrants,” according to the site.

The district limited restroom facilities to biological gender, but made sure both Grimm and other students were comfortable when relieving themselves by providing special accommodations for transgender students.

“It shall be the practice of the (Gloucester County Public Schools) to provide male and female restroom and locker room facilities in its schools, and the use of said facilities shall be limited to the corresponding biological genders,” the policy states.

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It continues that “students with gender identity issues shall be provided an alternative appropriate private facility.” Officials also installed three single stall bathrooms for transgender students.

That’s apparently not good enough for Grimm, who argues the special accommodations “undermine his social transition” by highlighting his transexualness.

He alleges the policy has inflicted “severe and persistent emotional social harm,” but it’s also clear Grimm views himself as a national bellwether.

“My case is the first of its kind, so I’m hoping if we win it will set a legal precedent for others in similar situations,” he told WAVY. “I’ve also got a lot of support and messages from other trans teens telling me I’ve given them inspiration and courage to come out in their lives, so I’m happy it’s positively impacting other people.”

The ACLU, of course, was quick to hail the recent Justice Department filing as a big win for its case.

“The Department of Justice filing makes crystal clear that the Gloucester County School Board’s transgender restroom policy violates Title IX,” ACLU senior staff attorney Joshua Block said in a Tuesday news release, according to the Daily Press.

“All students – including transgender students – should be able to use the restroom without being stigmatized and humiliated for being who they are,” he said.

School officials declined to discuss the most recent court filing because they have not yet reviewed it.