Student Allegedly Suspended After Expressing View That 'There Are Only Two Genders'

A lawsuit filed against School Administrative Unit 16 in New Hampshire is alleging that a student received an athletic suspension from Exeter High School for stating there are "only two genders."

A Catholic teenager and his mother are taking SAU 16 and the Vice Principal of Exeter High School to court over allegations the boy was suspended after expressing his opinion on gender ideology. The suspension allegedly occurred on a one-strike basis after the school found the opinion he expressed contravened their policy on "Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students."

The policy states that students have the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that relates to their chosen gender identity. It also outlines penalizations for students who do not respect another student’s gender identity.

According to a press release issued by the boy's legal council, the suspension, which was issued in September, occurred after the teen – known only as M.P – engaged in a conversation on Spanish language pronouns while on the bus. A female student who overheard the conversation interjected and said there were more than two genders, to which M.P disagreed.

Soon after the bus incident, the release states that M.P and the female student got into a text exchange about gender identity. Those texts were then given to Exeter Vice Principal Marcy Dovholuk which resulted in the athletic suspension.

The lawsuit is proceeding with the assistance of attorney Ian Huyette of conservative Christian advocacy organization Cornerstone Action. It is arguing that the suspension was in violation of the student’s constitutional right to free speech and the New Hampshire Bill of Rights.

"M. P. did not harass or demean any student, but simply expressed his views on a contentious cultural issue." The press release reads, continuing, "The key question before the court will be if Exeter’s Gender Nonconforming Students policy, nearly identical to the policy adopted by school districts across the state, can be used to suppress the free speech rights of students who hold dissenting views."

The suit was filed in Rockingham Superior Court on Thursday, November 4.

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