Idaho has advanced a bill that would restrict the use of preferred pronouns in schools. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Ted Hill, R-Eagle, aims to prevent public employees, including educators, from being required to use a student’s chosen pronouns without explicit parental consent.
The bill, according to Rep. Hill, addresses a growing “constitutional issue” tied to compelled speech. He articulated concerns about the pressures on teachers and public employees to adhere to individual pronoun preferences, suggesting that such requirements infringe upon personal freedoms. “This starts to get into that route where compelled speech becomes something that we have to honor,” Hill explained during a legislative session​​.
Critics, however, argue that the bill’s implications extend far beyond the issue of compelled speech. The ACLU of Idaho has voiced concerns, indicating that the legislation might contravene constitutional and statutory protections. According to legal experts, refusing to acknowledge a student’s preferred pronouns could lead to lawsuits and is seen as a potential violation of individual rights under the First Amendment.