A right-wing law firm has threatened to sue North Carolina’s Wake County Public School System unless it lets parents opt their children out of a class taught by a transgender teacher.

The Thomas More Society set out its demands in a letter dated 15 September, giving the district 15 days to comply before it files suit.

The demands include restrictions around pronouns, LGBTQ+ discussions, and access to facilities, including urging the district to agree not to discipline students for using incorrect pronouns for the teacher.

The group also wants assurances that “no employee can retaliate” against a student who opts out of the class or other discussions of LGBTQ+ issues.

Queer News. Straight Up.

The LGBTQ+ stories you don’t want to miss, delivered to your inbox daily.

The letter calls for “formal assurance” that faculty and staff will not discuss sexuality and gender identity with students, except as allowed by state law, and only with prior parental notice and a parental right to opt out. 

It further demands written assurance that the teacher will not be allowed in restrooms or locker rooms used by students.

The Thomas More Society argues parents “reasonably believe the presence of this teacher will be used to justify engaging in instruction on transgenderism, sexual identity, and other topics that are inappropriate for elementary-aged children and that conflict with their religious beliefs.”

What is the Thomas More Society demanding?

The Thomas More Society is a US conservative legal advocacy group that litigates on issues including religious liberty, abortion, and education policy. It frequently frames cases as “protecting religious freedom and parental rights”, including in disputes involving LGBTQ+ inclusion.

In March 2026, the Thomas More Society represented the parents in a Supreme Court case which blocked a law that prevented schools from outing trans kids to their parents.

The group is invoking the Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), which said schools must allow religious parents to opt students out of classes containing LGBTQ+ content. 

North Carolina’s Parents’ Bill of Rights prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexuality before 5th grade, but states that answering students’ unsolicited questions does not count as instruction.

What have local politicians and parents said?

In a 27 July Facebook post, Republican state Rep. Erin Paré said constituents had raised concerns “about the hiring of a transgender biological male, who dresses as a woman, music teacher, in one of our local elementary schools.”

She also suggested she may introduce a bill requiring “gender-appropriate professional attire” for public school employees.

In July, Paré’s comments helped drive a renewed push for a dress code proposal targeting trans teachers, after raising concerns over the hiring of a transgender teacher in the Wake County Public School System.

At an August school board meeting about the controversy, supporters defended the teacher.

Parent Elizabeth Stacks said: “I’ve seen the worst of Wake County in seeing discourse online and seeing just absolutely horrible things said about a person that my kids already know and love.”

While Anna Crollman told the meeting: “But what’s confusing to students is attacking people based on how they may present, their appearance, or their identity, when we have a responsibility as a county to serve students of all diverse backgrounds and their families.”

Board member Jennifer Job added: “People online and in this room are willing to sacrifice this person’s love for their job for their culture war.”