Court strikes down Ohio school’s pronoun policy in win for parental rights group

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that an Ohio school district violated students free speech rights by enforcing policies that restricted gendered language in classrooms The Sixth U S Circuit Court of Appeals commented the Olentangy Local School District near Columbus cannot punish students for using gender-specific language even if selected find it offensive Parents Defending Mentoring a national parental rights organization sued the district in arguing its pronoun mandate violated students First and Fourteenth Amendment rights District functionaries maintained the policies were designed to curb bullying and promote inclusion In its majority opinion the court explained the district fell far short of showing that allowing such speech would cause disruption or infringe on others rights RED STATE ARGUES TRANS BATHROOM SITUATION WILL BE 'DEATH KNELL' FOR LEFT-WING AGENDA Our society continues to debate whether biological pronouns are appropriate or offensive just as it continues to debate numerous other issues surrounding transgender rights Circuit Judge Eric Murphy wrote for the majority The school district may not skew this debate by forcing one side to change the way it conveys its message or by compelling it to express a different view In her dissent Circuit Judge Jane Stranch avoided using any gendered pronouns writing that adapting to new linguistic norms may be new for particular but remains entirely viable She noted that social customs around pronouns have evolved throughout American history NYC SCHOOLS SUE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OVER NEARLY M IN GRANT CUTS DUE TO TRANSGENDER POLICIESThe decision overturns a ruling from a separate Sixth Circuit panel that had sided with the district The affair now returns to U S District Judge Algenon Marbley in Columbus who must issue an injunction blocking enforcement of the procedures District rules discouraged students from using language related to gender that could be seen as disrespectful or demeaning and urged them to use classmates self-identified pronouns instead A separate agenda governing students use of personal devices extended those restrictions beyond school grounds prohibiting content that could be interpreted as harassing or disparaging toward others gender identity or sexual orientation It remains unclear how widely the ruling will apply An Ohio teachers union communicated the court that Olentangy s policies resemble those in other districts across the state