VA parents, teachers ask court to protect parents’ right to direct upbringing of children

WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys

WHAT: Available for media interviews following oral arguments in Figliola v. Harrisonburg City Public School Board

WHEN: Immediately following hearing, which begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Nov. 1

WHERE: Rockingham County Circuit Court, 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg. To schedule an interview, contact ADF Media Relations Manager Ellie Wittman at (202) 503-7984.

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a group of parents and teachers will be available for media interviews Tuesday following oral arguments at the Rockingham County Circuit Court in their lawsuit against the Harrisonburg City Public School Board. ADF attorneys are asking the court to temporarily halt the school board from violating parents’ fundamental rights by concealing information about their children’s mental health and from forcing teachers to violate their religious beliefs by affirming the board’s view on gender identity.

“Parents—not public schools or government officials—have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, care, and education of their children,” said ADF Senior Counsel Vincent Wagner, who will be arguing before the court on behalf of the teachers and parents in Figliola v. Harrisonburg City Public School Board. “Schools can’t keep secrets from parents about kids’ mental health, especially when it comes to decisions like these—decisions with potentially life-changing consequences. We’re asking the court to let parents and teachers do their jobs.”

Upon a child’s request, school district policy requires staff to immediately begin using opposite-sex pronouns and forbids staff from sharing information with parents about their child’s request, instead instructing staff to mislead and deceive parents. The policy resulted in the school district implementing “Gender Transition Action Plans,” which make clear that students’ families will only be involved where it is deemed “appropriate.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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