A mother claims her daughter was left confused by her own gender after her school introduced a "transgender support plan".
Florida-based January Littlejohn has sued her daughter's school after the "transgender support plan" was introduced by teachers without prior parental consent being sought, reports say.
She said her then 13-year-old daughter had a group of friends who were "obsessed" with anything to do with the LGBTQ community, and three of her friends began to identify as trans or non-binary.
Mrs Littlejohn says she brought her daughter to a councillor in order to help her through her confusion, and began doing research in order to better understand the subject.
Despite this, her daughter was asked by the school about changing her name and which bathroom she wanted to use, Mrs Littlejohn claims.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cited the case from two years ago, earlier this year, as he argued for his 'Don't Say Gay' bill.
Deerlake Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida.
Image: Google Maps
The document was signed to combat Florida's schools' involvement in the gender-education of students.
Ron DeSantis said the bill was designed to protect parents like Ms Littlejohn.
The mother spoke to the Florida Family Policy Council in 2021 about the subject, saying: "She had expressed no signs of gender confusion or distress in early childhood or leading up into this announcement, so we were trying our best to navigate these uncharted waters and support her in the best way we could and help her through her feelings".
Ron DeSantis signed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill earlier this year.
Image: Twitter
She continued: "I also told the teacher that I felt it was directly related to her friend group, that my daughter has ADHD, which puts her emotionally immature and behind her peers".
Mrs Littlejohn told a teacher at Deerlake Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida in 2020 that her and her husband will not be calling their daughter by her preferred nouns or name while they work through the emotional trauma of the situation.
Despite this, she was happy with her daughter adopting her preferred name as a nickname at school.
Weeks later, Mrs Littlejohn alleged that the school spoke to her daughter about changing her name, and which bathroom she would prefer to use.
Speaking to the school guidance councillor and vice-principal about the conversation, she was told that what was said could not be disclosed, and Mrs Littlejohn's daughter would need to give consent by-law for her parents to be aware of or present at future conversations.
Mrs Littlejohn and her husband then sued the school at the end of 2021 for violating their parental rights at the end of 2021.
The Littlejohns are now awaiting results on their opposition to a filing of a motion of dismissal by the school.
