The Spokane School District of Washington State recently paid $60,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that it had failed to protect a transgender student attacked by another student on school grounds.The October 2021 attack involved Ian Ring. At the time, Ring was a 13-year-old seventh-grader at Dr. Jonas E. Salk Middle School. His bully allegedly taunted him with transphobic slurs in the past and then attacked him while he waited for the school bus. Other students just laughed and recorded the attack, later posting video of it on Snapchat. Related Calls to suicide hotline decline sharply after Christian conservative resigns as education head The attack left Ring with bruises and a loose tooth, and Rings family sought fourth-degree assault charges against the bully, though its unclear if they pursued or resolved the charges. Rings family also filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging that the school staff failed to contact law enforcement or take appropriate steps to protect Ring against transphobic bullying. On October 24, a judge approved the school districts $60,000 settlement with Rings family, KREM reported. Ring will receive $36,000, which will go into an account that hell be able to access after his 18th birthday. His parents will receive $2,000 each, and $20,000 will pay the familys attorneys fees. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Near the time of the initial attack, Rings mother said she had spoken to her son before about the possibility of his being targeted for transphobic violence.The conversation that we have always had about these kinds of issues is to walk away, not make yourself a target, especially when youre alone and not with family, Sara Ring said. Hes gone to the mall a few times and was wearing sweaters that are promoting identity, and you need to be very careful. Like, this is an issue, and if your familys not there to protect you, [you] cant just be yourself without worrying about even adults coming after you.Rings father started driving him to and from school to help his son avoid further attacks. This was brutal, and if this is the kind of behavior is going to exhibit towards my child, I cant imagine going forward, though whats going to happen. I need these children to be held accountable, and their parents to be held accountable, Sara Ring added. A surveyfrom the queer youth crisis hotline organization The Trevor Project found that 52% of LGBTQ+ middle and high school students had been bullied over the previous school year.Transgender and non-binary students were among those who experienced the highest levels of bullying. The survey also found that bullied LGBTQ+ students were three times more likely to attempt suicide than students who werent bullied.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.