A Massachusetts family has filed a lawsuit against John T. Nichols Jr. Middle School in Middleborough, alleging that their 12-year-old son’s right to free speech was violated when he was sent home for wearing a shirt stating, “there are only two genders.” The lawsuit was initiated by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and the Massachusetts Family Institute on May 19 on behalf of the student, Liam Morrison, and his family. According to the lawsuit, the incident infringes on constitutional protections that prevent the government from enforcing a specific set of views in public schools.
Liam has publicly questioned the school’s actions, challenging the restrictions on his First Amendment rights. He recalls being told that his shirt was making some students feel unsafe, and while he wasn’t officially in trouble, it certainly felt that way. Liam believes his statement is a factual expression of his beliefs and questions why his rights appear to be less important than the feelings of the so-called protected class.
In a related incident in May, Liam was called to the principal’s office when he wore another shirt stating, “There are censored genders.” Although no complaints were raised against this shirt, Liam was told he would be sent home unless he removed it. To avoid missing another day of school, Liam chose to comply.
ADF’s Center for Academic Freedom director, Tyler Langhofer, noted that the school’s own handbook states that public education should be accessible to both sexes, and defines sexual harassment to include anything derogatory towards either gender. Meanwhile, concerns continue to rise across the country as public schools promote the LGBT agenda and expose students to explicit gender ideology, with some advocating that such educational content be kept hidden from parents. This has led to significant backlash, with some students, like Liam, sharing their experiences to shed light on the issue.
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