A federal appeals court in Maryland has upheld a school district’s policy requiring teachers to use gender-affirming names and pronouns for transgender students, ruling that it does not infringe on a Christian teacher’s First Amendment rights.
Kimberly Polk, a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools, challenged the district’s guidelines, claiming they violated her religious freedom and free speech rights under the US Constitution. Her lawsuit, first filed in 2024, was dismissed by a lower court.
On 28 January, a three-judge panel from the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Polk’s appeal in a 2-1 decision, affirming the prior ruling and denying her request for an injunction to halt the enforcement of the policy, according to The Washington Post.
Writing for the majority, Judge Robert B King stated that Polk had not demonstrated that the policy was antagonistic to her religious beliefs. He emphasised that adhering to the policy was part of her professional responsibilities as a public school educator.
“How a teacher addresses a particular student in a particular classroom – and whether a teacher communicates with a student’s parent – is merely a part of that teacher’s job description,” King wrote.
The case highlights ongoing legal debates around the balance between religious beliefs and inclusive policies in public institutions, particularly in schools, navigating issues of gender identity.
