FFRF filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Secular Student Alliance with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Brownsburg Community Schools on November 8, 2021. This case centered around a public school teacher who refused to use the preferred pronouns and names of transgender students even when it made the students uncomfortable.
The amicus argued that the court should consider unique aspects of the educational environment when analyzing undue hardship. The teacher’s request not to use students’ first names occurs within the context of a public education system, which has important responsibilities to students. Public school teachers have a position of power and responsibility that they need to exercise in the most proper manner. Additionally, the brief maintains, schools may limit a teacher’s religiously motivated behavior in the classroom due to both pedagogical concerns and potential to harm students.