In a disturbing incident, a 12-year-old girl, referred to as Ray*, was allegedly raped by a male student who was permitted to use the girls’ bathroom at her elementary school in New Mexico. Ray attended ASK Academy, a charter school in Rio Rancho, where “transgender” pupils were welcomed to use any restroom or locker area. Ray stated that she often had to share the girls’ bathroom with boys, which made her feel vulnerable. In October 2021, Ray was violently assaulted in the girls’ bathroom at ASK Academy. Prior to the incident, school staff encouraged her to accept males in women’s spaces, remain silent about her discomfort, and refrain from “judging” transgender individuals.
It was only in April 2022 that Ray’s mother, Maggie*, discovered her daughter’s recent mental health struggles after stumbling upon her journal. The journal entry revealed that Ray had been raped and expressed her suffering. After a discussion with her daughter, Maggie promptly reported the rape to the local police, and a subsequent physical examination provided evidence of the assault. While Ray could not recall many details about her attacker, she remembered his face in nightmares. Maggie also found a picture of a male matching the description circled in her daughter’s school yearbook. Additionally, other students have made accusations against the suspect, although no arrest has been made. Maggie believes that both the police department and the school have not thoroughly reviewed the security footage from the location and time of the assault. The investigation has been hindered by staffing difficulties, according to the police.
By spring 2022, four ASK Academy employees, including two top administrators, had resigned. Maggie believes that they are apprehensive about the impending lawsuit against the school. She attributes her daughter’s assault to the school’s “inclusive” bathroom policy. Ray expressed her frustration, stating that if individuals want their own bathroom, they should have one without endangering others. Maggie shares this sentiment and hopes that parents will become more aware and take action. She mourns the loss of her daughter’s innocence and safety and criticizes legislative bills that undermine parents’ rights to protect their children while potentially placing them in harm’s way.
As a result of the trauma, Ray now avoids using public bathrooms alone, and her parents have opted to homeschool her and her siblings. She receives medication for anxiety and depression, keeps a knife nearby when alone at home, and sleeps close to their family’s large dog. Maggie emphasizes that their lives have been forever changed and that the incident has left them feeling hopeless and isolated. The ongoing criminal inquiry necessitated the use of pseudonyms to protect Ray and Maggie’s identities.
*Names have been changed to preserve anonymity.