Catholic father sues school for WITHHOLDING information about daughter's gender identity
A Florida father has sued his 12-year-old daughter's school as she attempted suicide by 'hanging herself in one of the bathrooms' at Clay County elementary school. This federal lawsuit was filed on Monday, 24 January against the school district. It was by the Child & Parental Rights Campaign. Those sued under this lawsuit include Superintendent Davis Broskie, Paterson Elementary School Principal John O'Brian, Assistant Principal Courtney Schumacher, and school counselor Destiney Washington.
As per the lawsuit, it is alleged that the counselor Washington was secretly holding weekly meetings with Wendell Perez's daughter in regards to her 'gender identity crisis'. The school staff went wrong when they did not alert her parents. The unaware father Perez claims that the school pointed his Catholic faith as a reason to not inform him of his daughter's ongoing struggle and in order to protect her confidentiality.
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The lawsuit also stated that the leaders at school encouraged other students and staff members to address the little girl as a boy. They also gave her a new name. These forced changes in identity led to increased bullying on campus. Eventually, when the 12-year old could not take it anymore and it resulted in a level of distress, she tried to end her life. The kid tried to kill herself twice, on January 4 and 5.
Perez, the father, who is a Catholic, told FOX30 that in his opinion, the school and authorities have violated his fundamental rights as a parent as they recklessly withheld such sensitive information regarding his daughter and under the claims of "confidentiality rights.” In his opinion, this was nothing but a 'nightmare'. He also blamed Washington for citing his Catholicism as the reason his daughter had to hide her alleged gender identity crisis. He said, "I took offense because that had nothing to do with it. I mean I don't even know if she understands our faith. That demonstrated she was ignorant about it. Our faith is one of unconditional love for our children."
Attorney Vernadette Broyles who is representing the Perez family said she is going to fight the suit with a view to "protect rights of parents to be able to raise their children, to direct the care of their child, in accordance with their faith and without the interference of government officials." She added, 'It is a serious mental health decision that school personnel are not qualified, not competent, and not authorized to make. Parents must be involved in these important decisions.'