The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has reportedly removed a requirement for teachers to "affirm and respect" the gender identities of LGBTQ students from its mandatory annual training. This change follows a legal challenge from the Liberty Counsel, a non-profit legal organization, which argued the requirement violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Middle and high school teachers in the district were previously required to complete one hour of online cultural competency training to support LGBTQ students. A part of this training involved teachers checking a box acknowledging the statement: "I am aware that LAUSD policy requires me to affirm and respect the identities of all students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+."
The Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to LAUSD on June 8, asserting that federal law protects employees from being compelled to choose between their employment and their religious beliefs. According to the Liberty Counsel, the district modified the questionnaire two days after receiving the letter.
The revised prompt now asks teachers to confirm they are "aware" of the district’s nondiscrimination policies regarding LGBTQ students, removing the explicit requirement to "affirm and respect" their identities. The training is part of California's "Safe and Supportive Schools Act," which was expanded in 2023 to mandate annual training for educators on supporting LGBTQ students.
Two LAUSD sixth-grade teachers, who spoke through the Liberty Counsel, expressed relief over the change. "When LAUSD implemented a mandatory LGBTQ training, I feared losing my job, yet I knew I had to stand firm in my faith and conviction," one teacher stated. "What a victory for religious liberty!"
Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver commented on the district's response, stating, "The Los Angeles Unified School District did the right thing in changing its training certification language. Federal law is clear that teachers cannot be required to ‘affirm’ a student’s perceived gender identity or use inconsistent pronouns against their personal religious convictions."
The training course, known as PRISM, was developed in partnership with LGBTQ advocacy organizations, including The Trevor Project and the Human Rights Campaign, according to the California Department of Education. LAUSD did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.