Liam Morrison: Student, 12, speaks out after being sent home for wearing shirt that said 'there are only two genders'
MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS: A middle school student has spoken out after he was allegedly kicked out of school for wearing a t-shirt saying there are only two genders. Twelve-year-old Liam Morrison stood in front of the Middleborough School Council on April 13 to reveal how his father had to pick him up from John T Nichols Jr Middle School when he refused to change out of his controversial t-shirt last month.
According to him, school officials claimed other students were complaining about it and saying it made them feel "unsafe" and that he was "disrupting education." However, Morrison insisted the school district was curtailing his First Amendment right to free speech by forcing him to change out of the shirt.
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'There are only two genders'
Speaking before the school board, Morrison said he was taken out of gym class on March 21 to have a word with school officials, who allegedly told him other students were complaining about his t-shirt since it made them feel "unsafe." He explained, "They told me that I wasn't in trouble, but I sure felt like I was. I was told that I would need to remove my shirt before I could return to class. When I nicely told them I didn't want to do that, they called my father. Thankfully, my dad, supportive of my decisions, came to pick me up." The boy continued, "What did my shirt say? Five simple words: 'There are only two genders.' Nothing harmful. Nothing threatening. Just a statement I believe to be a fact."
'Who is this protected class?'
Morrison said he did not intend to "hurt feelings or cause trouble" when he went to school that day, but officials told him his shirt was "targeting a protected class." The preteen continued, "Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights? I don't complain when I see Pride flags and diversity posters hung throughout the school. Do you know why? Because others have a right to their beliefs just as I do." Morrison also claimed he was told that the garment "was a disruption to learning," but "no one got up and stormed out of class. No one burst into tears. I'm sure I would have noticed if they had. I experience disruptions to my learning every day." He added, "Kids acting out in class are a disruption, yet nothing is done. Why do the rules apply to one and to another?"
'A lot of other students share my view'
"I have learned a lot from this experience," he said. "I learned that a lot of other students share my view. I learned that adults don't always do the right thing or make the right decisions. I know that I have a right to wear a shirt with those five words. Even at 12 years old, I have my own political opinions and I have a right to express those opinions. Even at school. This right is called the First Amendment to the Constitution." The boy added, "My hope in being here tonight is to bring the School Committee's attention to this issue. I hope that you will speak up for the rest of us, so we can express ourselves without being pulled out of class. Next time, it may not only be me. There might be more soon that decide to speak out."