New Jersey district faces lawsuit over school-led gender identity policy kept from parents

A New Jersey district (Chatham) is being sued over a policy allowing students to change their name and gender identity at school without notifying parents, with a guidance counselor deciding the level of parental involvement. Plaintiffs argue the policy violates parental rights and constitutional protections (First Amendment and Due Process), citing Mirabelli v. Bonta and related court rulings. The district says it is following New Jersey guidance (2018) on transgender students, and Attorney General platkin has noted the policy is not mandatory. The suit, filed Aug. 24 by Moms for Liberty and two anonymous parents, raises concerns about locker rooms, pronoun usage, and potential disciplinary action, signaling broader disputes over parental rights and transgender policies in schools.