Appeals Court Dismisses Maine Mom's Lawsuit Over School Concealing Child’s Gender Transition

Amber Lavigne, a mother from Maine, lost an appeal in the First Circuit Court of Appeals after suing the Great Salt Bay Community School Board for allegedly concealing her 13-year-old child's gender transition, including providing a chest binder and using different pronouns without parental consent. The court upheld the dismissal of her lawsuit, ruling that Lavigne failed to present sufficient evidence of a school policy or custom of intentionally withholding such information from parents. The school district maintained that their policies comply with state laws ensuring equal access and student privacy. The court found that Lavigne's claims were based on information and belief rather than factual support, and that the board was not liable for the actions of individual staff members. The case, initially filed in 2023 and dismissed in federal court earlier this year, was backed by the conservative Goldwater Institute but ultimately did not convince the judges. The ruling emphasizes the legal challenges parents face in proving official school policies regarding gender identity matters.