Page:Adams ex rel. Kasper v. School Board of St. Johns County, Florida (2018).pdf/10

 those attempts failed and caused significant harm. Doc. 119, Ex. A at 5.


 * B.Drew Adams

When Adams was born in 2000, he had the external genitalia of a female, and indeed, his parents had been told they were expecting a girl. Doc. 160-1 at Tr. 84; Doc. 161 at Tr. 31. His Florida birth certificate recorded his sex as “female.” Doc. 160-1 at Tr. 83; Doc. 170, Def. Ex. 145 (under seal). From a young age, Adams’ parents noticed that Adams rejected what they describe as stereotypically feminine behaviors and attributes, such as playing with dolls, favoring the color pink, or wearing dresses; instead, Adams preferred playing with toy race cars and dinosaurs, and going to the science center. Doc. 160-1 at Tr. 217–18; Doc. 161 at Tr. 87. Nonetheless, Adams was a happy and smart child. Doc. 160-1 at Tr. 81, 189. In middle school, however, as Adams started going through puberty, he “hated” the developing feminine parts of his body. at Tr. 89–91. Adams began to show signs of depression and anxiety and in early 2015, Adams’ parents brought him to a mental health therapist as well as a psychiatrist. at Tr. 89–91, 215–16.

At the end of eighth grade, a few months after he began his therapy, Adams realized that he was transgender and came out to his parents, who already suspected as much. Doc. 160-1 at Tr. 219; Doc. 161 at Tr. 87. Adams and his parents met with Adams’ therapist seeking guidance. Doc. 160-1 at Tr. 220–21. Adams’ therapist confirmed that Adams was transgender, and Adams began implementing the social