A Massachusetts middle school is facing a potential lawsuit from the family of a 7th grade student who was prohibited from wearing a shirt that said “There are only two genders.” The Morrison family is alleging that Nichols Middle School violated their son Liam’s First Amendment rights.
Nichols Middle School is part of the Middleborough Public Schools district, located about halfway between Boston and Cape Cod. Liam, 12, claimed he was told to remove his shirt immediately when he arrived at school. Middleborough Public Schools Superintendent Carolyn Lyons stated in an email that Liam’s shirt targeted students of a protected class, specifically those in the area of gender identity.
Liam then returned to school wearing a shirt with the words “There are censored genders” but was told to take it off as well. Liam said he was simply expressing his opinion about a statement he believes to be true and not deliberately trying to be hateful. The school responded that it would continue to prohibit the wearing of any shirt deemed discriminatory, harassing, or bullying to others, including those who are gender non-conforming.
The Morrison family is represented by the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI). MFI staff attorney Sam Whiting said he believes they will be successful with their case. “We believe that we’re going to get a win on this. I mean, I really can’t think of a better fact pattern to vindicate a student’s First Amendment rights.” Whiting further stated that Liam was censored for his political and cultural viewpoint, which is an issue that is currently being widely debated.
Liam reportedly received a great deal of support from his classmates, who did not take offense to his shirt. “Everyone in my homeroom and everyone in my gym class had supported what I had done.” He encouraged others to be vocal about their beliefs as well. “Always fight for what you believe in and, well, never let anyone stop you from believing really.”
UPDATE: Liam Morrison was once again asked to leave class, this time for wearing a shirt that read “There are CENSORED genders”
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The Morrison family is now preparing to file a summons to federal court. It remains to be seen whether or not they will be successful in their lawsuit against Nichols Middle School.
