The Littlejohns informed Deerlake Middle School in August 2020 of their 13-year-old daughter’s gender confusion, for which she was undergoing counselling. They gave permission for a nickname to be used but for no other kind of social transition.
Over the next month, unbeknown to the Littlejohns, the school proceeded to call their daughter by they/them pronouns, solicit her bathroom preferences, and ask if she preferred to sleep with the boys on an overnight trip.
When the Littlejohns asked for more information from school officials, they were told that “by law” only her daughter could authorize them finding out more or providing their input. The school could give no actual legal verification for their stance, but did provide the documents they developed in secret with their daughter, a “Transgender/Non-Conforming Student Support Plan,” with no notice or input from the Littlejohns. Among many directives was included a note that the Littlejohns were not to be notified at all.
In July 2021, Florida enacted HB 241, Parents’ Bill of Rights, which allows parents primacy in their “minor child’s education, upbringing, & health care.” However, it is clear that LCS has not changed its policy, hence the need for this lawsuit.
Source: BREAKING NEWS: Florida parents sue school for hiding child’s trans-identification – Genspect