Colorado parents are suing their local school district over a policy that allows biologically male students to room with female students without parental consent during overnight school trips. The case, filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, argues that the district’s policy of rooming students based on gender identity rather than biological sex violates parents’ fundamental rights to make decisions about their children’s education and upbringing. The lawsuit highlights a specific incident where an 11-year-old girl was allegedly placed in a hotel room with a transgender-identifying male student during an overnight school trip, raising concerns about privacy and safety.
The school district’s policy, which allows students to be assigned accommodations based on gender identity, has faced criticism for not offering opt-out options for families who wish to have their children room with students of the same biological sex. The case is part of a broader legal debate over transgender accommodations in schools, with similar lawsuits emerging in other states. The lawsuit also cites several other instances in which children were placed in similar situations, including the case of an 11-year-old boy who was told his counselor would be male, but later learned the counselor was a biologically female adult who identifies as non-binary and had been assigned to supervise the boys in their cabin and during showers.
American Family Partnership, another conservative legal group, has been involved in similar cases, including a recent case in Virginia where parents of two boys were suspended for questioning the transgender locker room policy. The school district did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the case is expected to make its way through the legal system. Critics argue that the policy not only infringes on parental rights but also leaves students in potentially unsafe situations, raising concerns about privacy and the well-being of children. The lawsuit emphasizes that parents, not government officials, should have the authority to make decisions regarding their children’s education and personal safety.