The NC Values Institute, has filed an amicus brief in Theis vs. Intermountain Education Service. This case involves a school social worker who was disciplined and lost his job after displaying three personal books in his office that officials claimed were offensive to transgender students because they advocated that one cannot change his or her biological sex. The school relied on internal policies tied to Oregon’s anti-discrimination law, which our brief argues were blatantly unconstitutional. The brief shows that the social worker’s book display was not government speech, but private speech, which is entitled to First Amendment protections. Further, the government cannot censor its employees’ private speech simply because it disagrees with the message, which is viewpoint discrimination. Our brief concludes that the Constitution protects the social worker’s rights to express his personal views on transgender ideology, even in a public school, and even though his views may be offensive to some students or teachers.
“As a society, we need to cherish the institutions that bring us into existence, and give our existence meaning. I believe human flourishing starts with the heart and the home.”
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
“… if we descend still lower and go down to families, it is true even there that the village is composed of families and not that the families are cut from the village. The family was there first, and only then could the village take shape. Finally, if the village vanished there would still be families; but if the households were to disband the village too would come to an end.”
Paid for by the NC Values Institute.
The Institute for Faith and Family is a non-partisan, statewide non-profit education organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is based in Raleigh, NC.
