We told you last year about two Christian families who sued the Encinitas Union School District in California after elementary school children were exposed to “gender identity” lessons without parental notice or an opportunity to opt out.
The district’s “buddy” program paired fifth graders with kindergartners. Students watched a video read-along of “My Shadow is Pink,” a book about a boy who wears a dress and has a pink shadow. The older students were then expected to help the younger children choose a color representing themselves and trace their shadows in chalk.
The families objected to this farce, and First Liberty Institute and the National Center for Law & Policy sued on their behalf.
A federal judge granted the families a preliminary injunction in May 2025, requiring advance notice and opt-outs when gender identity material was used in the buddy program.
Then came the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), which held that parents challenging similar instruction were entitled to notice and an opportunity to opt out while their case proceeded.
Now the Encinitas district has changed its policy. Parents will receive notice and may opt their children out of material that substantially interferes with their religious beliefs.
“No child should be forced to speak a message that violates his religious convictions,” said Nate Kellum, senior counsel for First Liberty. “We are grateful that we were able to reach this settlement on behalf of the families involved.”
Parents fought back — and won.
