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LGBTQ group sues Broward school district over Monarch school investigation

A prominent LGBTQ advocacy group is suing the Broward County school district and Florida Department of Education.
 
The suit from the Human Rights Campaign contends the state and county violated Title IX and the First Amendment last year when they investigated a Monarch High School employee for her alleged role in allowing her daughter, who is transgender, to be on the school’s volleyball team.
 
Following an 8-month internal investigation, the employee, Jessica Norton, was reassigned and ultimately suspended for 10 days. 
 
Administrators allege Norton violated state law, which bars trans student athletes from girls sports teams in schools. Norton previously challenged the law in court, which the suit claims drove the district and state to retaliate.

Said Norton in a statement released by the Human Rights Campaign: "“For the past eight months, my family has lived in a constant state of limbo and uncertainty—this abusive investigation has added unimaginable stress to our lives. At every step of the process, I have been disregarded by the District both as a parent and dedicated employee,”

“What this school district has put this family through is cruel and immoral. The Broward County School District has failed at every step to provide Jessica Norton and her daughter with the protection and due process they deserve, let alone any dignity or respect—the Nortons deserve justice,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson.

READ MORE: Florida officials pressure schools to roll back sex education lessons on contraception and consent

This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.

Elise Catrion Gregg is a fall 2024 intern for WLRN. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in criminal justice from Florida International University.
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