In October, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled a lawsuit filed by concerned parents who alleged that their children’s first-grade teacher violated state law, the Constitution, and district policy by teaching young students about transgender topics can move forward, reported Fox News Digital.
Three mothers filed the suit against the Mount Lebanon School District in June for allegedly violating their rights to due process, free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and equal protection and privacy under the 14th Amendment. The mothers argued that, under the Constitution, it is the right of the parents to determine what their children are taught.
The complaint alleged that first-grade teacher Megan Williams violated parental rights when she read books and showed videos about gender dysphoria to children ages 6 and 7.
According to the suit, Williams attempted to indoctrinate the young children with her own political agenda by telling them their parents could be incorrect or lying about their gender. The mothers claimed that the teacher encouraged children not to tell their parents about the transgender-related lessons.
Williams was also accused of grooming one first-grade student to believe that he was transgender, according to the lawsuit.
Several school officials, including Williams, the district’s superintendent, the school board, and the elementary school principal, were also named in the case.
The parents are seeking a court order against the Pittsburgh elementary school to either end gender-related instruction or provide parents with the option to opt their children out of the controversial lessons. In addition, the three mothers are also seeking compensatory and punitive damages in the case.
On October 27, Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti ruled against a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Conti determined that if the parents’ claims were valid, the parents had sufficient reason to allege that their rights were violated.
In order to determine her ruling, Conti was required to consider the mothers’ claims as true. Conti’s ruling was based on a precedent set by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
When the lawsuit was filed, district spokesperson Kristen James told Fox News Digital, “The Mt. Lebanon School District deeply values and appreciates the close partnership we have with our families and strives to be a place where every student feels welcomed, valued and respected.”
“The complaint filed against the district, its board and employees contains various allegations that are untrue or based on partial truths that mischaracterize events for sensational effect,” James continued. “The district looks forward to the opportunity to set the record straight.”