Parents of three Williamson County Schools female students are suing the school district after they say their seventh-grade daughters were made uncomfortable when a “biological male” student, who identifies as female, was allowed in an all-girls sex-education class.
The parents claim the action goes against Tennessee law that defines a person’s sex based on their anatomy at the time of birth. The parents are represented by State Rep. Gino Bulso, who wrote that statute. Conservative Republican Bulso is running for Congress in a special election in the seventh district for the seat recently vacated by Congressman Mark Green. The primary election for that seat is October 7.
An advocate for the transgender community expressed concern over how the lawsuit may be affecting the student at the center of the case. Chaplain Dahron Johnson with the Tennessee Equality Project told WSMV in Nashville:
”I have a great deal of concern to make sure that we look out for that one student who is simply trying to go through their school day in the way that they thought was the healthiest and safest for them,” Johnson said.
From May 15-16, Legacy Middle School in Franklin hosted a “Family Life” course. The required two-day course discussed sex education along with an in-depth conversation about the reproductive system. The students’ parents allege in their lawsuit that Legacy Middle Principal Alicia Justice said in an April 11 email: “Students will be separated by gender for the lessons.”
But on May 15, the seventh-grade girls’ class allowed a student who identifies as female to attend. The lawsuit says the student is a “biological boy.”
As a result, the daughters of each of the plaintiffs complained and declined to participate if the male student was allowed in the classroom.
According to the suit, the mother of one student wrote in an email to Justice the night of May 15, asking Justice to clarify if there would be “male adults or students in the room” during the discussion the following day.
“My daughter [redacted] will be opted out should anyone but biological female students be in the room,” the mother wrote, according to the lawsuit.
Justice responded early the next morning, writing in part:
“We do have another family life curriculum day today for our state curriculum. You may opt [your daughter] out if you choose to do so,” the lawsuit notes. “Please get in touch with the counseling department if needed. Thank you and have a good day.”
The plaintiff parents say a total of 13 girls opted out of the class the next day.
The parents also allege that Legacy Middle School has allowed “a member of the opposite sex, a boy, to use multi-occupancy girls’ restrooms at Legacy.” Tennessee law permits people to sue a public school if they encounter a person of the opposite sex in a multi-occupancy restroom at the school. https://fox17.com/news/local/federal-judge-dismisses-a-challenge-to-tennessees-school-bathroom-law
Williamson County schools have indicated they do not comment on pending litigation.
Steve Gill is publisher of TriStar Daily.
