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FOUNTAIN, COLO. -- A Colorado Springs area school has refused to allow a 6-year-old transgender child to use the girls' restroom.

The family of Coy Mathis has now filed a complaint with the Colorado Office of Civil Rights.

"We're hoping that they will change their minds and they will come back and teach that you can love someone and you can accept someone even if they are different," said Coy's mom Kathryn.

According to the district, Coy was allowed to use the staff bathrooms or the one in the nurse's office. Jeremy and Kathryn Mathis, Coy's parents, said that "stigmatizes their daughter." The family also said they fear it could lead to harassment or bullying.

"Everything was going well in first grade and out of the blue, the school contacted us to tell us that they were going to be changing and she wasn't going to be allowed to use the girl's restrooms anymore," Kathryn said. "That really just was not a safe environment for her."

Coy, a first-grader at Eagleside Elementary School, was diagnosed with a condition in which she identifies as a girl even though she was born as a boy, according to the family.

"Medical professionals did in fact tell us she's transgendered."

Coy was temporarily withdrawn from the school until a resolution can be reached, the family said.

"We just want what is best for Coy," Kathryn said. "We want her to be able to go back to school and be treated equally without discrimination and harassment."

Statement from District 8
“The parents of Coy Mathis have filed a charge of discrimination with the Colorado Division of Civil Rights. They have chosen to publicize this matter by appearing on a nationally televised show with their child, sharing their point of view with national and local media, and holding a public press conference to announce the filing of the charge. The District firmly believes it has acted reasonably and fairly with respect to this issue. However, the District believes the appropriate and proper forum for discussing the issues identified in the charge is through the Division of Civil Rights process. The District is preparing a response to the charge which it will submit to the Division. Therefore, the District will not comment further on this matter out of respect for the process which the parents have initiated.”