Description: A seventh grade student wore a T-shirt to Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, that said, “There are only two genders.” The principal of the school, along with a school counselor, pulled him out of class and ordered him to remove his shirt. After he politely declined, school officials said that he must remove the shirt or he could not return to class. As a result, he left school and missed the rest of his classes that day.
US Supreme Court declines to hear ‘There are only two genders’ T-shirt case
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday not to hear L.M. v. Town of Middleborough, a case where a Massachusetts school banned a student from wearing a T-shirt to school with the words “There are only two genders” and then later, “There are [censored] genders,” on the front:
“We’re disappointed the Supreme Court chose not to hear this critical free speech case. As Justice Alito recognized: ‘The case presents an issue of great importance for our Nation’s youth.’ Students don’t lose their free speech rights the moment they walk into a school building. Schools can’t suppress students’ views they disagree with. Here, the school actively promotes its view about gender through posters and ‘Pride’ events, and it encourages students to wear clothing with messages on the same topic—so long as that clothing expresses the school’s preferred views on the subject. Our legal system is built on the truth that the government cannot silence any speaker just because it disapproves of what they say. Alliance Defending Freedom will continue to defend the rights of students to speak freely on important issues of the day without government censorship.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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