Court Strikes Down Ohio School District’s Pronoun Policy
1 week ago
A divided federal appeals court in Ohio has sided with students in a major free speech ruling, saying a suburban Columbus school district cannot ban gender-related language that some might find offensive.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that Olentangy Local Schools violated students’ First Amendment rights by enforcing a policy requiring the use of peers’ “preferred pronouns.” The court said the district “fell far short” of proving that allowing such speech would disrupt school activities or infringe on the rights of others.
The decision reverses an earlier ruling and sends the case back to a lower court to block the district from enforcing the policy. The ruling is expected to reignite the national debate over gender and free speech in schools.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that Olentangy Local Schools violated students’ First Amendment rights by enforcing a policy requiring the use of peers’ “preferred pronouns.” The court said the district “fell far short” of proving that allowing such speech would disrupt school activities or infringe on the rights of others.
The decision reverses an earlier ruling and sends the case back to a lower court to block the district from enforcing the policy. The ruling is expected to reignite the national debate over gender and free speech in schools.
