Far-left New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has filed lawsuits against three school districts for implementing pro-parent policies.
The specific policies in question say that teachers/administrators must inform parents if their kids change their so-called “gender identity.” The policies were reportedly implemented by the Manalapan-Englishtown, Marlboro and Middletown school districts on Tuesday.
NJ Education Report, an independent news outlet, notes that Middletown’s policy in particular “states that when emotional support services are provided to ‘transgender students, students facing other gender identity issues, or students who may be transitioning, that student’s parents/guardians shall also be provided [t]he full, complete, and accurate reasoning for counseling and/or referrals for mental health crisis and/or concerns . . . in relation to parental notification/consent for such services.'”
The site further notes that “[t]he transgender policies in all three districts do have exceptions for parental notification if staff think the action could be harmful for students.”
But this still wasn’t enough for Murphy’s far-left administration. Indeed, less than 24 hours later, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, also a Democrat, filed three “emergency” lawsuits against the school districts.
“‘Outing’ these students against their will poses serious mental health risks; threatens physical harm to students, including risking increased suicides; decreases the likelihood students will seek support; and shirks the District’s obligation to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all,” the lawsuits read, according to Politico.
“Indeed, LGBTQ+ students in New Jersey and elsewhere have died by suicide after being outed,” they continue.
In NJ, we’re steadfast in our commitment to protecting LGBTQ+ youth from discrimination. We’re fighting back against new policies requiring school staff to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents—policies that will endanger our students’ health and safety. https://t.co/XlPC0GM3YG
— Attorney General Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) June 22, 2023
According to Patch.com, this “hot-button issue” has created a massive divide “between Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration and New Jersey parents over parental rights.”
“By defying the state, NJ school districts such as Middletown risk losing state aid or even a partial or full state takeover,” the site reported.
This divide can be seen on Twitter, where Murphy and Platkin are facing a torrent of criticism.
Look:
Stay away from #NJ kids. Parents have a right to know when their children wish to change their names, be called by new pronouns, or request other accommodations. Shame on all of you.@NewJerseyOAG @mattplatkin @PhilMurphy @TammyMurphyNJ
— Terri D Collins ⚾️ (@TerriDelCo) June 23, 2023
It’s amazing how you consider it to be discrimination for a school to inform parents about their kids. And what if one of those kids commits suicide because the parents had no way of knowing their child needed help… can they sue you and the school district for negligence?!? Can…
— Navin R Johnson (@DreadedIgnominy) June 22, 2023
@GovMurphy How dare you use our tax dollars the parents of the students of New Jersey to sue our school systems that disagree with your liberal Democrat agenda , parents have a right to know what their children are doing in school, we pay for their education not the state .
— Rocket man (@jerseyrocketman) June 24, 2023
I would say you are grooming children! What in the world is wrong with you? The parent do not want this, the taxpayer do not want this, you are catering to a woke agenda which 98% of new Jersey does not want. You and the Governor have both broke you oath of office!! #impeach
— Tom Dougherty (@tdoughertyloans) June 22, 2023
We pay taxes that keep these schools OPEN. You all deserve to lose your jobs- you, the governor, teachers. Our children are OUR children. They are NOT YOUR children. If my kids have any issues or concerns, I deserve to know about them and do whatever I can to best help them.
— Marsali (@Marsali23) June 22, 2023
But neither seem to care.
“In New Jersey, we will not tolerate any action by schools that threatens the health and safety of our young people. Without question, the discriminatory policies passed by these Boards of Education, if allowed to go into effect, will harm our kids and pose severe risk to their safety,” Platkin said in a statement.
“Simply put, these policies violate our laws, and we will not relent in protecting our LGBTQ+ community—especially our children—from discrimination,” he added.
School district officials have for their part defended their policies.
“If any student, regardless of gender identity or expression, sought to change their official school records or was seeking or identified as needing counseling, parents would and should be notified, just as they are informed of every other aspect of their child’s activities in school,” Middletown Board Counsel Bruce W. Padula told Fox News.
“Contrary to the Attorney General’s false narrative, this is not an ‘outing’ policy. Middletown will vehemently defend its policy,” he added.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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