New Jersey school district drops secret gender ‘transition’ policy after lawsuit

A New Jersey school district has agreed to permanently end a policy allowing school staff to treat students as the opposite sex without their parents’ knowledge or consent, settling a federal lawsuit over parental rights.

The Chathams school board approved the settlement 7–0 at its Oct. 12 meeting, according to an Oct. 20 news release from Thomas More Society. The settlement follows a demand letter challenging the policy and an August lawsuit the firm filed on behalf of Moms for Liberty, a parental rights organization. The policy, adopted in 2024, allowed counselors to determine “whether, and to what extent, parents/guardians can be involved” when a student requested to be treated as the opposite sex, according to Thomas More Society.

Moms for Liberty CEO and co-founder Tina Descovich welcomed the agreement.

“The parents behind this case endured doxxing and harassment simply for asking their school district to respect their role as their children’s primary educators,” she said in the release. “Their perseverance has secured a promise that protects every family in the Chathams, and we hope school boards across the country take note.”

The firm said the policy incorrectly told schools they must recognize a student’s asserted gender identity “regardless of parent consent or involvement.”

Under the agreement, the board cannot restore the policy or adopt another based on it, according to the release.

Christopher Ferrara, Thomas More Society senior counsel, said the settlement should prompt other districts to reconsider similar policies.

“Now that policy is gone for good, every teacher and counselor in the district will receive a copy of the board’s written commitment to respect parents’ rights,” he said. “Districts that choose to still hide children’s gender transitions from their parents can follow the Chathams’ lead and change course now, or they can explain themselves to a federal judge.”

The agreement requires the district to honor parental rights recognized in Supreme Court decisions, including Mirabelli v. Bonta, involving schools concealing students’ gender “transitions” from parents, and Mahmoud v. Taylor, regarding parents’ right to opt children out of LGBT-themed lessons on religious grounds. Future policies, including those required by the state, must comply with Supreme Court precedent, the release said.

Parental rights in public schools are also on the ballot in the Nov. 3 midterms. As Zeale News previously reported, Washington voters will consider a proposal expanding parents’ ability to opt children out of assignments and activities that ask about their sexual experiences or attractions, among other personal topics.