ADF Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch:  “First Amendment rights don’t disappear behind school doors—whether you’re a teacher, parent, or student. For many, the choice of pronouns communicates their belief that sex is immutable, and to use pronouns or names that reflect a gender identity inconsistent with sex violates their core convictions and tells a harmful lie. Schools can’t force students who hold that belief to use other pronouns instead….”

CHICAGO – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, a private Christian college, challenging the Chicago Board of Education for religious discrimination over the school’s hiring practices. Chicago Public Schools has prevented Moody Bible Institute from participating in its student teaching program unless it gives up its right to hire like-minded individuals who share and live out its religious beliefs and mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

ST. LOUIS – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed their opening brief Friday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on behalf of two Missouri licensed counselors. Wyatt Bury and Pamela Eisenrich are challenging ordinances in Kansas City and Jackson County that violate their freedom of speech by censoring private conversations with their clients on gender identity and sexuality. ADF is appealing a July 2025 decision from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri partially upholding the ordinances as applied to the counselors.