TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Aug 5, 2024

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld a Columbus, Ohio, school policy requiring students to use preferred pronouns for transgender classmates.  According to the ABA Journal, a group of parents challenged the policy, arguing it infringed on free speech rights. The court disagreed, ruling that students can avoid using pronouns altogether if they object. The opinion was written by Judge Jane B. Stranch. In a dissenting opinion, Judge Alice M. Batchelder compared the policy to forcing students to believe in ghosts, arguing it compelled acceptance of a particular viewpoint.