Parents in Wisconsin are suing a public school district over a policy they claim allows children to “socially transition” their gender identity without parental consent.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty filed the suit Tuesday on behalf of 14 parents against the Madison Metropolitan School District. The lawsuit claims that a school policy enacted in 2018 requires teachers to “enable” students to “socially transition to a different gender identity” without parental consent or knowledge.
“Madison schools have adopted policies that violate constitutionally recognized parental rights. A public school district should not and cannot make decisions reserved for parents,” WILL President Rick Esenberg said in a statement.
The unnamed parents in the suit also claim that teachers are told to “deceive” them by calling students by the name on their birth certificate and using pronouns that correspond with their biological sex when parents are present.
“This action seeks to vindicate parents’ fundamental and constitutional right to direct the upbringing of their children,” the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty said in a statement. “The Madison Metropolitan School District has violated this important right by adopting a policy designed to circumvent parental involvement in a pivotal decision affecting their children’s health and future. The policy enables children, of any age, to socially transition to a different gender identity at school without parental notice or consent.”
The school district had not reviewed the suit as of Tuesday but issued a statement saying it is standing by its policy.
“[The school district] must also prioritize the safety and well-being of every individual student who walks through its doors each day. It is with this focus, the district stands by its guidance document on transgender and nonbinary students and recognizes its tremendous responsibility to uphold the right of every child to be educated in a safe, all-inclusive, and nondiscriminatory learning environment,” district spokesperson Tim LeMonds said in a statement.
