Schools show hypocrisy in censoring speech yet encouraging gender changes without parental consent, columnist concludes

A USA Today columnist blasted government schools over their “viewpoint discrimination” in censoring students’ free speech but encouraging them to make gender changes without parental notification or consent.

“If public school administrators believe young students are smart enough to change their gender without their parents’ knowledge, then surely these same children can understand the difference between actual profanity and other unacceptable language – and a valid political message,” wrote Ingrid Jacques in an Oct. 27 opinion piece.

The political message refers to Michigan students wearing sweatshirts with the slogan “Let’s Go Brandon” in 2022. The Tri County Area Schools district required the youth to remove their sweatshirts as so-called “offensive” apparel. 

The slogan “became a rallying cry for opposing (former president Joseph) Biden after a TV interviewer allegedly misheard a NASCAR crowd chanting ‘F*** Joe Biden’ for ‘Let’s go, Brandon,’” Jacques explained. “The phrase took on a life of its own after that, and Biden even leaned into the ‘Dark Brandon’ persona.” 

However, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district’s censorship earlier this month by arguing the slogan dealt with profanity, according to Jacques. 

Conor Fitzpatrick, lead attorney on the case at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression – which sued the district over this incident in 2023 – lamented the decision. 

“The majority held that no matter how careful teenagers are to express their political opinions in a non-profane, school-appropriate way, schools may censor them if their expression might cause someone to think about a swear word,” he said in an email statement. “America’s students are not so fragile, and the First Amendment is not so brittle.” 

‘Transformational decisions without parental knowledge’ 

Jacques contrasted this ruling with a recent case in “a nearby Michigan school district,” Rockford Public Schools, where a middle schooler was allowed to change her pronouns without her parents’ knowledge. 

“School officials purposefully hid this important development from her parents, Dan and Jennifer Mead,” she wrote, noting employees had referred to her by male pronouns and even a different name. 

“The couple withdrew their daughter in 2022 after they discovered what was going on. However, with the help of the Alliance Defending Freedom, they are suing the district to defend their constitutional parental rights. That case is still ongoing.” 

Such actions constitute a far greater assumption of responsibility on the part of children than simply sharing a political message, Jacques argues. 

“Districts around the country are allowing children to make such transformational decisions without parental knowledge,” she writes. “In 2024, California (of course) became the first state to prevent school districts from requiring teachers and staff to alert parents to students’ gender identity changes or sexual orientation – unless the child gives permission, because children always know best.” 

However, Jacques questions why school districts then decide these same children can’t speak freely about their political views. 

“It’s not the first time this school district has opposed a pro-Donald Trump viewpoint,” she explains. “The original lawsuit describes an incident during a school field day in which one student wore a Trump flag as a cape. He was told to remove it, while other students continued wearing LGBTQ+ pride flags.  

“Doesn’t seem quite fair.” 

Ultimately, public schools should recognize free speech the way a 1969 Supreme Court decision described it – as “the basis of our national strength and of the independence and vigor of Americans who grow up and live in this relatively permissive, often disputatious, society,” Jacques quotes. 

“It’s vital for any democracy that young people learn how to accept – and discuss – differing political viewpoints,” she argues. “Our country’s public schools should not stand in the way.”