The New Hampshire Supreme Court has affirmed a Manchester school district policy that permits schools to withhold information from parents about their children’s gender transitions.
This ruling, which contradicts fundamental parental rights, sends a troubling message: that schools can prioritize students’ so-called “rights” over parents’ rights to be informed and involved in their children’s lives.
The court’s decision is part of the case Jane Doe v. Manchester School District, in which the justices ruled that the policy does not violate parental rights.
The Doe v. Manchester School District case challenges a policy implemented by the Manchester School District concerning the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming students.
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe and the parent of a minor child (M.C.) enrolled in the district, contended that the district’s policy infringed on her constitutional rights by potentially allowing the school to withhold information about her child’s gender identity.
The policy in question permits students to keep their transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation private and mandates that school staff refrain from sharing this information with others, including parents, unless the student gives consent or it is legally required.
The plaintiff learned that her child was being addressed by a name