The Kiel Area School District “closed” a Title IX complaint and investigation against three middle school boys who were accused of sexual harassment for using “incorrect pronouns” when referencing a classmate. Attorneys at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty issued a letter to Kiel in May, explaining that the mere use of biologically correct pronouns not only does not constitute sexual harassment under Title IX or the District’s own policy, but is speech protected by the First Amendment.

While this is the right decision by the Kiel Area School District, it’s unfortunate it ever happened and that it took such pressure to get them to back down. Fortunately, these are strong parents who refused to accept what had happened to their sons and by working with Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty attorneys they were able to get the district to do the right thing.