A complaint filed against MCPS by the conservative legal group America First Legal argues that district guidelines that preserve students’ rights to privacy about their preferred gender violate the Constitution and student privacy laws. America First Legal, co-founded by President Trump’s political adviser Stephen Miller, argues that MCPS violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and free speech by allowing students to withhold  their gender identity and gender transition from parents. MCPS guidelines affirm that students’ right to privacy includes their right to keep their gender identities private.

This complaint is not only contradictory, but potentially harmful. America First Legal claims to be concerned about students’ privacy, while protesting a system that works to protect it. Students should maintain their right to keep their gender identity private from their families if they feel necessary. It is imperative that MCPS continues to keep students safe and comfortable by allowing them to make that decision. While it is understandable that parents may be concerned about their children withholding information from them, high school students are mature enough to reach their own conclusion about who to tell about their preferred gender identity.