A Maine woman has filed an appeal after her lawsuit against school officials was dismissed. The lawsuit alleged that the school encouraged her teenager's gender expression without consulting her. The woman, identified as Amber Lavigne, filed the notice of appeal to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals following a ruling by a federal judge in Maine.
The lawsuit, which was filed last year, claimed that the school district violated Lavigne's rights by providing her teen with a chest binder and allowing the use of a new name and pronouns without parental consent. Lavigne argued that she has the right to control and direct her children's care, custody, education, upbringing, and healthcare decisions.
According to the lawsuit, officials at Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta allegedly advised Lavigne's then-13-year-old not to inform her parents about the chest binder and the changes in name and pronouns. As a result, Lavigne decided to homeschool her teen.
This legal case raises important questions about the balance between a minor's right to privacy and a parent's authority over their children's health and education. It highlights the complexities surrounding issues of gender expression and parental involvement in such matters.
