Two courageous teachers are fighting for biblical truth in California. They need our prayers.

From Escondido Times-Advocate. A lawsuit challenging an Escondido elementary school policy that requires teachers to refer to trans students by whatever pronouns or gender-specific name the students request, while using “biological pronouns and legal names” when speaking to parents to hide the child’s gender identity from them was filed Thursday, April 27, in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California. (The hearing is now, the week of January 10, 2024.)

The lawsuit almost instantly shot into the national consciousness as a cause celebre, with publications such as National Review and with Fox News.
Plaintiffs Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, two middle school teachers who, between them represent 55 years in education at Rincon Middle School, sued the district because, they say, their First Amendment rights, including free speech rights and freedom of religion, are violated by the district policy that, according to the suit “force[s] teachers to aid in a student’s ‘social transition” by using any pronouns or a gender-specific name requested by the student during school, while reverting to biological pronouns and legal names when speaking with parents in order to actively hide information about their child’s gender identity from them.”

Mirabelli and West’s lawsuit names Supt. Luis Rankins-Ibarra, all five members of the EUSD school board, Asst. Supt. John Albert, Director of Integrated Student Services Steve White; and all five members of the California Board of Education, among others. It alleges that the district has implemented transgender policies that “hide information from or lie to parents about a child’s mental health or personal circumstances.” . . .

The plaintiffs also allege: “According to EUSD’s policies, all elementary and middle school teachers must unhesitatingly accept a child’s assertion of a transgender or gender diverse identity, and must “begin to treat the student immediately” according to their asserted gender identity. “There’s no requirement for parent or caretaker agreement or even for knowledge.” (Ex. 4, p.3.) There is absolutely no room for discussion, polite disagreement, or even questioning whether the child is sincere or acting on a whim.”

. . .

According to the lawsuit: “The elementary and middle school district reiterated that all teachers must participate in the deception of parents. The parties reached an accommodation regarding how Mrs. Mirabelli and Mrs. West may address students during the school day, and that issue is not part of this case. But EUSD made clear that Mrs. Mirabelli and Mrs. West must modify their speech, and may not use a student’s preferred name or pronouns, when speaking with parents to ensure that the deception continues.”

The plaintiffs quote from an email memo that was sent around the school August 12,2022, where a school counselor writing about several students and their preferred names and pronouns. In one quote, the counselor wrote: “Preferred name is —— (pronouns are he/him) The parents are NOT aware so please use ___and she/her when calling home.” . . .

Sign a petition in favor of these teachers: click HERE. And please share with a friend–add an action to your prayer. If these teachers can say this wrong, so can we.

(Excerpt from Escondido Times-Advocate.)