The News: WILL, in partnership with the Liberty Justice Center (LJC), has filed an amicus brief with the U.S Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, urging it to overturn the district court decision in Vitsaxaki v. Skaneateles Central School District. The trial court held that schools can facilitate children changing their gender identity at school without parental knowledge or consent.
WILL and LJC submitted the brief on behalf of Dr. Erica Anderson, Ph.D., a transgender clinical psychologist with over 45 years of experience, including extensive work treating gender-identity-related issues in children and adolescents. Dr. Anderson emphasizes the critical role of parents in deciding whether a child should transition.
The Quotes: WILL Deputy Counsel, Luke Berg, stated, “Parents, not schools, have the fundamental right to raise and educate their children. Schools have no business deceiving parents and making life-altering decisions for their kids behind their backs. The trial court’s decision is wrong and should be reversed.”
LJC Senior Counsel, Emily Rae, added, “The Liberty Justice Center is proud to partner with WILL on this amicus brief and will continue to stand up for parents and students across the country.”
Dr. Erica Anderson, noted, “The decision about whether to transition has significant effects on a child’s well-being. Parents are uniquely positioned to support and guide their kids during such a critical time. Excluding parents, or worse, hiding information from them, can leave children vulnerable.”
Background: In 2021, New York mother Jennifer Vitsaxaki discovered that for months, Skaneateles school employees were referring to her daughter by a male name and pronouns. This was done under an official school district policy with staff actively hiding this information from Ms. Vitsaxaki. Upon learning of the secret transition, Ms. Vitsaxaki demanded that the school cease the practice. However, the school continued, leaving Ms. Vitsaxaki no choice but to withdraw her daughter from the district and enroll her in a private school.
WILL’s Argument: WILL’s brief argues the Skaneateles Central School District violates parental rights in three ways:
- Undermining Parental Authority: The secret gender transition policy strips parents of their constitutional right to make decisions about their child’s best interest. A gender transition is a significant health-related decision that belongs to parents.
- Concealing Mental Health Issues: The District’s policy circumvents parental involvement by concealing serious mental health issues from them. Parents cannot guide their children or provide necessary support if they are unaware of what their child is facing.
- Preventing Access to Professional Help: The policy prevents parents from securing urgent professional treatment for their child. Gender dysphoria can be a serious psychological issue, often accompanied by other challenges like depression, anxiety, and self-harm. School staff lack the training to diagnose or provide treatment options, and if kept in the dark, parents cannot seek this crucial support.
Read More:
- Amicus Brief, June 2025
Luke Berg
Deputy Counsel