Federal appeals court rules against middle school student who wore ‘only two genders’ shirt

Attorneys for Liam Morrison, now in eighth grade, say they are reviewing all legal options and may appeal the federal court's decision.

"This case isn’t about T-shirts; it’s about a public school telling a middle-schooler that he isn’t allowed to express a view that differs from their own," David Cortman, Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel and vice president of U.S. Litigation, said in a statement following the federal court’s decision. The organization is representing the Morrison family, along with the Massachusetts Family Institute.

Morrison, who was in seventh grade at the time, was sent home with his father after he refused to take off the shirt, according to the court document. He later wore the same shirt with the words "only two" covered with a piece of tape on which "censored" was written. The school also told him to take this shirt off.