School sued after parents say staff kept son’s transgender identity se | World | News
Palisades Charter High School (Image: Getty Images North America)
The parents of a transgender student who died by suicide have filed a lawsuit against a California school, claiming staff hid their child’s gender identity from the family and contributed to the breakdown of their relationship. Dylan Parke died in March 2024 at the age of 19. Their parents, Kathleen Mulligan and Andrew Parke, filed a lawsuit against Palisades Charter High School, alleging school staff withheld information about their child’s gender identity.
According to the legal complaint, Parke told teachers during the 2019-2020 school year that they were transgender and wanted to use the name Aria while at school. The application states that they are allowed to transition socially in the school environment and are listed under that name in the school yearbook.
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Lawsuit alleges parents were not notified of change (Image: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The lawsuit alleges that although staff were aware of the change, parents were not notified of the change.
Mulligan and Parke argue the school’s actions have weakened their relationship with their children and prevented them from providing support at a critical time in their lives. The complaint alleges that this secrecy “undermines and severs the parent-child relationship” and contributes to emotional distress within the family.
Court documents state that Parke previously struggled with depression and is autistic. Their parents said they were concerned about their health and had tried to communicate with school staff about their mental health.
The filing includes an email Mulligan sent to a school employee in August 2020 in which she expressed concerns that her child might be struggling and said she wanted the best for them.
According to the complaint, Parke had spoken with school counselor Elva Pouya about public disclosure and requested that her parents not be notified.
The lawsuit alleges the counselor praised Parke’s honesty and later connected them to a person who ran a transgender student support club at the school. The filing also alleges Parke was told they could change their name within the school system without their parents’ permission.
Parents also allege school staff helped Parke connect with third-party LGBT+ resources, including youth accommodation, without telling them.
They argue that school policies allow staff to decide whether to disclose a student’s gender identity to parents. The lawsuit alleges the policy lacks safeguards and ultimately isolates children rather than providing support.
The legal case also highlights broader debates about school policies regarding student gender identity and parental notification.
In 2024, California passed a law allowing schools to withhold information about a student’s gender identity from parents without the student’s permission. The law was later blocked by a federal judge.
The Los Angeles Unified School District said in a statement that it does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
The case is expected to examine how schools balance student privacy with parental involvement when dealing with sensitive issues such as gender identity and mental health.
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