Overview
- The Southeastern Legal Foundation filed a federal complaint on Dec. 9–10 targeting Attorney General Letitia James, Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and the state Board of Regents.
- The suit asks the Northern District of New York to block enforcement of a May 8 guidance that warns board members could be removed for engaging in or condoning harassment, bullying or privacy violations involving transgender students.
- Plaintiffs argue the guidance compels board members to self-censor and to silence parents who question policies on pronouns, bathrooms, locker rooms or athletics, framing the issue as a First Amendment dispute.
- Named plaintiffs include Massapequa school board president Kerry Wachter, Rotterdam-Mohonasen board member Danielle Ciampino, and Rockville Centre parents Sarah Rouse and Isaac Kuo.
- Separately, Massapequa’s September policy requiring facility use by biological sex is under a commissioner-issued stay pending an NYCLU appeal, and state officials have declined comment on the new lawsuit.