The group is fighting a PA school, insisting on parental notification.
QUICK FACTS:
- One Pennsylvania school district has proposed a policy to put an end to their schools’ lack of parental consent on the issue of gender confusion in children.
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a federal discrimination complaint with the civil-rights divisions of both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education claiming discrimination by the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania.
- The same policy would also ban teachers from displaying gay pride flags in the classrooms and reference students by their legal name and gender, unless their parents approve a change.
- The ACLU filed their complaint earlier in the month alleging that the district has failed “to take reasonable and necessary measures” that would assist those in the LGBTQ community who might be targeted or harassed.
DETAILS OF THE ACLU’S CASE:
- The group has accused the Republican-led school board of “enacting blatantly discriminatory practices and policies targeting LGBTQ+ students.”
- The complaint also states that the district has failed to “address persistent and severe bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ students generally, and gender non-conforming students in particular,” the complaint states.”
- Dana Hunter, the school board president, responded to the complaint saying that the district is committed to every student and is “resolute and united in its zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying, or harassment of any kind.”
BACKGROUND:
- House Democrats recently voted against parental rights legislation that would have required informed consent before a school provided mental health services related to sexual orientation or identity for students.
- The vote was unanimous for Democrats, and the House rejected an attempt for Republicans to amend the bill to seek to boost mental health care for both students and educators who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
