Parents unite at Wisconsin court after school district shuts them out

WHO:  Attorneys with Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and Alliance Defending Freedom

WHAT:  Available for media interviews following oral arguments in B.F. v. Kettle Moraine School District

WHEN:  Immediately following hearing, which begins at 9 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, April 19

WHERE:  Waukesha County Courthouse, 515 West Moreland Blvd., Waukesha. To schedule an interview, contact ADF Media Relations Manager Ellie Wittman at (202) 503-7984.

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Attorneys with Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and Alliance Defending Freedom representing two sets of Wisconsin parents challenging a Kettle Moraine School District policy will be available for media interviews Wednesday following oral arguments at the Waukesha County Courthouse.

Lead counsel from WILL, together with ADF attorneys, filed the lawsuit, B.F. v. Kettle Moraine School District, in November 2021 to challenge the school district’s policy of changing students’ names and gender pronouns at school without parental consent. In February of this year, the parents filed a motion that asked the Waukesha County Circuit Court to rule in favor of their parental rights after the court denied the school district’s motion to dismiss the case and noted that the school district policy potentially violates the parents’ rights.

“Parents’ rights to direct the upbringing, education, and mental health treatment of their children is one of the most basic constitutional rights every parent holds dear,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson, director of the ADF Center for Parental Rights. “Yet we are seeing more and more school districts across the country not only ignoring parents’ concerns, but actively working against them. We are asking the court to respect the serious concerns of these parents by ensuring Kettle Moraine School District swiftly changes its policy that undermines parents and harms children.”

One of the Wisconsin couples suing the school district was forced to withdraw their then 12-year-old daughter from the district to protect her mental health and preserve their parental role. The school district violated their constitutionally protected freedoms by insisting that school staff use a male name and male pronouns to address their daughter at school without their consent and over their objections. Additionally, another couple joined the lawsuit to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to their children.

ADF attorneys serve as co-counsel for the two families along with WILL Deputy Counsel Luke Berg, who is lead counsel in the case.

“Parents have a constitutional right to make the best decision on behalf of their child, especially when it deals with a potentially life-altering decision,” said Berg, who will be arguing before the court on behalf of the families. “KMSD’s policy denies that right while simultaneously flaunting the qualified medical perspectives provided by WILL’s and ADF’s expert witnesses, Dr. Erica Anderson and Dr. Stephen Levine.”

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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