Tennessee is latest state to protect students and teachers from compelled gender speech

Last week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, R, signed into law a sweeping measure that enhances First Amendment protections for students, teachers, and school employees across the state’s public school system.

The legislation, HB 1270 (and the corresponding Senate Bill 937), strengthens the right to free expression and explicitly addresses concerns surrounding compelled speech related to gender identity.

Under the new law, individuals working or studying in public K–12 schools, including teachers, staff, and contractors, are shielded from being forced to affirm beliefs they do not personally hold. This includes being required to use pronouns that do not align with a person’s biological sex, a practice some say conflicts with their religious or moral convictions.

The legislation also extends these protections to students, making it clear they cannot be disciplined for declining to use preferred pronouns that differ from someone’s sex assigned at birth. The law also forbids school districts and administrators from asking staff or students to disclose their pronouns or punishing them for opting out of such disclosures.

Another key provision mandates that school personnel may not refer to a minor student using a name or pronouns inconsistent with official school records unless the child’s parent or legal guardian provides written consent. Supporters say this clause affirms parental rights and ensures that schools cannot make unilateral decisions on sensitive identity matters.

Proponents of SB 937 argue that it offers a much-needed check against compelled ideological conformity and speech codes and allows for respectful disagreement in educational settings.

Matt Sharp, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), praised the measure, writing in a statement:

“No one should lose their job or face punishment at school or work for declining to say something they believe is false. Words and language carry meaning, and when used properly, they communicate truth about the world. Forcing individuals to say things that are false—such as inaccurate pronouns—imposes real harm on the speaker.

In no world is it acceptable for the government to discipline students or force good educators or other public servants out of a job all for the sake of promoting gender ideology. With this legislation, Tennessee is rightfully stepping into the gap to protect freedom of speech and conscience.”

Critics of the measure, however, contend it may lead to increased discrimination against transgender students and create confusion in schools. Civil rights groups have voiced concerns that laws like Tennessee’s could undermine inclusivity and marginalize students who already face social challenges.

“Words matter. Respect for anyone includes consistently and respectfully using the name and pronouns that they request. Regardless of legislation, legal limitations, and anticipated litigations, people deserve the respect of others to do something as simple as using their name and pronouns,” the Tennessee Equality Project, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, said in a statement opposing the new law.

Democratic state Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, also criticized the bill, referring to it as the “Bullying LGBTQ Students Act.”

“With all of the problems that we have as a state, whether that be dealing with poverty, the lack of healthcare access, the rights of women to choose what they do with their bodies, we’re getting legislation after legislation that furthers discrimination, othering and separation. It’s despicable and ridiculous that this is how we are using our time and energy, and it isn’t helping anybody,” Pearson said.

Despite opposition, the bill’s passage is part of a broader push by conservative-led states to counter what they view as ideological coercion in public education. Many teachers have been fired, suspended, or harassed for refusing to use a child’s preferred pronouns—in the U.S. and abroad.

Many of those cases have taken place in Virginia. In Loudoun County , for example, P.E. teacher Tanner Cross was suspended after stating his opposition to preferred pronouns at a school board meeting, explaining that as a Christian, he would not “lie to a child” by affirming a delusion. In nearby West Point, Viriginia, French teacher Peter Vlaming was fired outright for refusing to use preferred pronouns.

And in the Shenandoah Valley, three teachers challenged a new policy put in place by Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) that mandated teachers and staff to use students’ preferred pronouns, arguing that their rights under the Free Speech Clause and the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act were being violated by forcing them to express beliefs contrary to their convictions.

All of those cases concluded with either a court ruling in their favor or a financial settlement from their respective school district.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling in 303 Creative vs. Elenis, which affirmed that Americans have a constitutional right to not be forced to speak against their beliefs, and the push by school districts to try to force teachers and students to adhere to preferred pronoun policies, several red states have taken steps to codify the Court’s decision.

For example, Idaho, Florida, North Dakota, and Montana have all passed laws that ban compelled pronoun use and provide other needed protections for parents, students, and teachers.

Tennessee’s new law affirms the biblical truth that our words matter and our consciences must remain free. From a Christian perspective, this law is not about exclusion or discrimination but about ensuring that believers can live out their faith with integrity in every sphere, including the classroom.

Scripture commands us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and warns against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16). Forcing students and educators to use language that contradicts biological reality, especially under the threat of punishment, violates the God-given right to free speech and the moral duty to uphold truth. This law rightly protects those who refuse to participate in ideologies that clash with their faith convictions and with objective truth.

HB 1270 also honors the biblical role of parents in raising their children (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, Proverbs 22:6). By requiring parental consent for a school to use names or pronouns inconsistent with a child’s legal identity, Tennessee affirms that the family holds the primary responsibility in a child’s development and moral guidance.

Genuine compassion is not found in compelled speech, but in allowing people to disagree respectfully and live according to conscience. As believers, we must champion both truth and love, a balance this legislation helps secure in our public schools. Gov. Lee’s leadership is a step toward restoring moral clarity and constitutional freedom in education, encouraging Christians to stand courageously for truth in this critical cultural moment.

Many K-12 schools now embrace the secular woke agenda and are hostile to Christian beliefs and parental rights. Fortunately, parents don’t have to settle for this. Liberty University Online Academy is a K-12 program designed to educate your children in the ways of the Lord while preparing them to stand firm in their faith when they graduate. Our flexible online curriculum ensures that your student is trained at your convenience and keeps YOU the ultimate educator of your children.