Wisconsin school superintendent threatens parents with legal action over criticism of new counselor who uses ‘they/them’ pronouns

A school district in a small Wisconsin town is facing backlash over a Facebook post introducing a high school counselor who uses “they/them” pronouns. 

As a result, Brodhead School District Superintendent David Novy is looking into legal action to put a stop to the criticism he said is being generated by angry parents and outsiders.  

In a Facebook post Aug. 1, Brodhead School District introduced counselor Rae Tompson, according to local WMTV News, an NBC affiliate.  

The new counselor signed the Facebook post “Mx. Tompson,” and gave preferred pronouns as “they/them.” 

The signature prompted some on Facebook to ask how “Mx” is supposed to be pronounced.  

“How do you pronounce Mx.? I’m genuinely asking,” asked one commentor.  

Others offered sharper criticism, accusing Thomson and the school district of being “groomers.”

One commenter named Jo Hn, who claimed to be a local resident, said he wouldn’t allow his kids to go to Brodhead High School anymore. 

“I’m taking my kids out of this school. They will not be around people with mental illness,” he said. 

The post racked up 6,300 reactions and 4,600 comments before the district shut off commenting. 

Novy expressed surprise at the angry calls he’s receiving from parents over the hire of the counselor, said local WKOW News. 

“Meanwhile I was on the phone with a lawyer saying, ‘What can we do to stop this? Can we stop certain ones that are really aggressive and over the top,'” Novy told WKOW.  

Tompson said that her sexual identity never comes up in conversation, except when she brings it up, which according to her, she always does in introductions.

“My identity really does not get brought up at all during my sessions with students,” Tompson told WMTV. “The only time it’s ever really brought up is when I’m introducing myself, and I just ask that they respect how I wish to be addressed.” 

Thompson seems unworried about the controversy, citing coworker support for her “mission.”   

“My coworkers understand who I am,” Tompson told WKOW. “My coworkers understand the mission that I’m on, because we’re all wanting to support students.” 

The problem, say critics, is that Thompson is probably right, in that the teachers do understand Thomson’s mission.

Brodhead has a population of over 3,200 and is located about 100 miles southwest of Milwaukee, in the heart of progressive Wisconsin.