The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday against Ohio’s fourth-largest school district over a policy that punishes transgender students for refusing to use language consistent with their gender identity.
Parents Defending Education, which has been fighting the policy since 2023, argued that it is unconstitutional and that forcing students to use “preferred pronouns” violates the First Amendment.
The divided court sided with the group, saying the policy raises “serious free speech concerns.”
While the court said the school district has a duty to protect all students, including transgender ones, it “did not present any evidence that the use of biological pronouns would disrupt school operations or qualify as harassment under Ohio law.”
“Our society continues to debate whether biological pronouns are appropriate or offensive – just as it continues to debate many other issues involving transgender rights. The school district cannot distort this debate by forcing one party to change the way it delivers its message or by forcing it to express a different viewpoint,” it added.
Circuit Judge Jane Stranch sided with the school district, rebuking the court’s decision to avoid using gender-based pronouns, showing that “while using new pronouns or avoiding using pronouns may be a new phenomenon for many people, it is certainly possible,” according to the Associated Press. informed,
It’s unclear how the decision will affect other school districts in the state that have similar policies regarding pronoun use in their classrooms.
