The parents of a 16-year-old Boise High School student who died by suicide in January are speaking publicly months after their daughter’s death, drawing connections to her legal challenge against Idaho’s transgender bathroom law. May Pollard, a sophomore at Boise High, had challenged Senate Bill 1100 in federal court before her death in January. The statute, enacted in 2023, requires students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their sex assigned at birth.
The lawsuits challenging SB 1100—filed by Pollard and the school’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance club—were closed in May without resolution, according to court records. The law remains in effect across Idaho schools, including in Ada County’s West Ada and Boise school districts.
A Student’s Legal Stand
Pollard filed her federal court challenge under the pseudonym Jane Doe, seeking to block enforcement of the bathroom law at her school. The litigation drew national attention as one of several legal challenges to Idaho’s restrictions on bathroom use and other transgender-related policies. However, the case did not proceed to trial before being dismissed.
The Attorney General’s office, led by Raúl Labrador, released a news statement regarding the closure of the lawsuits but made no mention of Pollard’s death in that announcement.
Parents Speak on Loss and Internalized Harm
In recent interviews, Pollard’s parents addressed the emotional toll their daughter endured during the legal battle and in her daily school life. Elyse Thorpe, one of Pollard’s parents, described the psychological impact of the hostile environment surrounding her daughter’s identity and legal fight.
“You worry about that hatred being internalized, and that’s what happened to my kid. It got inside,” Thorpe said.
Joseph Pollard, her other parent, reflected on his daughter’s broader worth and potential. “Whether she was trans or not, this world—not just my world—this world would have been a better place with her in it,” he said.
Impact on Ada County Schools
The closure of these lawsuits means SB 1100 faces no immediate legal obstacles in Ada County schools, where West Ada and Boise districts serve thousands of students. The law’s enforcement may remain a point of tension within school communities, particularly for students and families navigating questions of inclusion and safety.
School district policies around bathroom access, locker room use, and student support services continue to operate under the framework established by the state law. For families and students in Ada County schools dealing with similar issues, the closure of Pollard’s case removes one avenue for legal recourse at the federal level.
What Comes Next
Pollard’s parents have chosen to speak publicly about their daughter’s death and her legal battle, bringing renewed attention to the emotional and psychological pressures students facing identity-related conflict in schools may experience. Their willingness to share their story may prompt conversations within Ada County school communities about student mental health support, school climate, and the experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming students.
Families concerned about student mental health resources in Ada County schools can reach out to their local school district or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Support organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth are also available across Idaho.