A Portland mother has filed a federal lawsuit against Portland Public Schools and Meriwether Lewis Elementary School, alleging that she was retaliated against and banned from school events for opposing the school's gender curriculum and policies. Allison Roberts, represented by the Liberty Justice Center, claims her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated.
The lawsuit stems from Roberts' opposition to the school's decision to repaint a traditional rainbow pride flag into an "Intersex-Inclusive Progress" variant, which she felt promoted values contradictory to her Christian faith, particularly regarding transgender ideology. She also raised concerns about an "identity flower" assignment given to her 11-year-old child, which asked students to identify and discuss their gender identity with classmates and teachers. Roberts stated she received no prior notification of this assignment.
Roberts sought a meeting with the school's principal to discuss her concerns. Following an unsatisfactory response, she penned an open letter to the community criticizing the school's policies, which she distributed outside school grounds. Shortly after, she received a one-year trespass order, barring her from school events, including her son's graduation ceremony. The school reportedly cited "harassment, intimidation, and threatening behavior" and a pattern of "animus and harassment targeting vulnerable members of [the] community" as reasons for the ban.
The Liberty Justice Center argues that the school's actions constituted unconstitutional retaliation against Roberts' protected speech. The organization is seeking a declaration that the school's actions and policies are unconstitutional and an injunction to prevent future enforcement against Roberts and other families.
"Our next step in the case will be filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to put a stop to these unconstitutional policies while the case moves forward," said Timothy R. Snowball, senior counsel at Liberty Justice Center. "This motion will help protect not only Allison’s rights, but all affected families in Portland."
Portland Public Schools declined to comment on the ongoing case. Roberts stated that she has received significant support from her local community and parents nationwide, affirming her belief that pursuing the lawsuit is the correct course of action.