Transgender teen's jaw broken in school attack: reports

HOPKINS, MN — An attack on a transgender student at Hopkins High School left the girl with a broken jaw, sparking a police investigation into a possible hate crime and a rally attended by hundreds of people who gathered to support the injured teen, according to reports.

When Cobalt Sovereign went to the bathroom on May 30, another student looked at her over the stall and repeatedly called her a homophobic slur, Sovereign told KARE 11, adding that she confronted the verbally and had been hit.

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“I was hit in the jaw and at that point one of my teeth was knocked out, pieces in my mouth,” she told the outlet. “My jaw was broken in two places… molar, just broken.”

There are gender-neutral restrooms at Hopkins High School, but they are often busy or difficult to access, Sovereign told KARE 11, adding that using the men's restroom is uncomfortable for her but she chooses them over to cause discomfort to others. the women's toilets.

The student accused of hitting Sovereign was immediately disciplined, the school confirmed to KARE 11.

Hopkins Public Schools, in a statement to KSTP, said it “values ​​diversity and inclusion” and will support marginalized groups, “including our LGBTQ+ scholars and staff.”

Authorities in Minnetonka received a 911 call about the attack on a member of Sovereign's family and are investigating the matter as a potential hate crime, according to the Star Tribune, which added that police order have no record of the district filing a police report.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the school Wednesday to demand action, according to FOX 9. The rally in support of Sovereign, 17, was organized by the Queer Equity Institute, KSTP reported.