{"id":6011,"date":"2023-10-03T17:25:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T17:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=6011"},"modified":"2023-10-03T18:02:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T18:02:43","slug":"will-adf-secure-groundbreaking-legal-victory-in-parental-rights-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=6011","title":{"rendered":"WILL & ADF Secure Groundbreaking Legal Victory in Parental Rights Case"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/will-law.org\/will-adf-secure-groundbreaking-legal-victory-in-parental-rights-case\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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Kettle Moraine case represents a first-of-its-kind win against a school\u2019s gender-transition policy to circumvent parents<\/strong><\/h1>\n
The News:<\/strong> Today, the Waukesha County Circuit Court ruled in favor<\/a> of Wisconsin parents in a monumental case brought by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The Court held that the Kettle Moraine School District violated parents\u2019 constitutional rights to raise their own children by allowing minor students to change gender identity at school without parental consent, and even over their objection. The order enjoins the school district from \u201crefer[ring] to students using a name or pronouns at odds with the student\u2019s biological sex, while at school, without express parental consent.\u201d The decision sets a significant precedent that will help achieve greater wins across the country.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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The Quotes:<\/strong> WILL Deputy Counsel, Luke Berg, stated, \u201cThis victory represents a major win for parental rights. The court confirmed that parents, not educators or school faculty, have the right to decide whether a social transition is in their own child\u2019s best interests. The decision should be a warning to the many districts across the country with similar policies to exclude parents from gender transitions at school.\u201d\u00a0<\/div>\n
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\u201cParents\u2019 rights to direct the upbringing\u00a0and\u00a0education of their children is one of the most basic constitutional rights every parent holds dear,\u201d said ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson, director of the ADF Center for Parental Rights. \u201cYet we are seeing more and more school districts across the country not only ignoring parents\u2019 concerns but actively working against them.\u00a0The court was right to\u00a0respect the serious concerns of these parents\u00a0by holding\u00a0that\u00a0Kettle Moraine School District\u2019s policy,\u00a0whichundermines parents and harms children, violates the Wisconsin Constitution.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Background:\u00a0<\/strong>In 2021, WILL and ADF sued KMSD for supporting and affirming\u00a0a minor student\u2019s gender transition at school over the parents\u2019 objection.\u00a0Our clients\u2019 daughter began to question her gender in December 2020, and, for a time, wanted to go by a male name and pronouns while at school. Her parents sought professional and medical support for her, deciding after extensive research that immediately treating her as a boy would not be in her best interest. Their daughter is now grateful she never transitioned. The parents communicated their decision to District staff, but the District refused to respect their decision\u2014forcing them to withdraw her from the school. Just a few weeks later, their daughter realized her parents were right and expressed that the \u201caffirmation\u201d that she was a boy \u201creally messed her up.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Many medical professionals believe that transitioning to a different gender identity at a young age can become self-reinforcing and even do long-term harm, and therefore recommend a cautious approach. WILL & ADF brought two distinguished expert witnesses from child\u00a0psychology, Dr. Erica Anderson, a\u00a0licensed psychologist with over 40 years of experience and Dr. Stephen Levine, a clinical psychiatrist and professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine with decades of experience with gender dysphoria.<\/div>\n
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The Outcome:\u00a0<\/strong>The Waukesha County Circuit Court granted summary judgment to our clients and an injunction against the District\u2019s policy. The court held that parents\u2019 constitutional right to \u201cdirect the upbringing and education of children under their control,\u201d which is protected under both the Wisconsin and United States\u2019 Constitutions, includes the right to decide whether a social transition is best for their child.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Here are some important quotes and takeaways from the opinion:\u00a0<\/div>\n