Los Angeles School District Modifies Gender Identity Affirmation in LGBTQ+ Teacher Training After Legal Challenge

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has reportedly ceased requiring its educators to agree to "affirm and respect" the identities of LGBTQ+ students as part of its mandatory training. This alteration follows a legal challenge presented by a non-profit legal organization.

Middle and high school teachers within the district are mandated by the California Department of Education to complete one hour of online cultural competency training annually, designed to support LGBTQ+ students. According to the Liberty Counsel, a legal advocacy group, the previous training compelled teachers to check a box acknowledging a specific prompt: "I am aware that LAUSD policy requires me to affirm and respect the identities of all students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+."

Legal Challenge Prompts Policy Shift

On a recent Friday, Liberty Counsel announced it had dispatched a demand letter to LAUSD on June 8. The organization contended that the compulsory prompt infringed upon Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"Federal law protects employees from being compelled to choose between their employment and adherence to their faith," the group stated in its communication to the district.

Reports indicate that LAUSD revised the questionnaire just two days subsequent to receiving Liberty Counsel's letter. The updated prompt omits the contentious "affirm and respect" wording, instead asking teachers simply to confirm their awareness of the district’s nondiscrimination policies pertaining to LGBTQ+ students.

Educators and Advocates Respond

In statements issued via Liberty Counsel, two sixth-grade teachers from LAUSD expressed their relief regarding the policy adjustment.

"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 remarked. "What a victory for religious liberty! Thank you, Liberty Counsel, for courageously defending the rights of believers and helping ensure that people of faith can remain true to their convictions in the workplace."

Mat Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel, commended the district's prompt response.

"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. Title VII ensures that people cannot be forced to choose between their faith and their livelihood," he affirmed in a statement.

Background on Training Mandates

The online training program is a direct result of California's "Safe and Supportive Schools Act," which was initially introduced in 2019. Subsequent expansions to this legislation, passed in 2023, necessitate that school districts provide annual training for middle and high school educators focused on supporting LGBTQ+ students.

A press release from the California Department of Education indicates that the state collaborated with various LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, including the Trevor Project and the Human Rights Campaign, to develop the online training curriculum, which is known as PRISM.