A Leawood mother is suing the Blue Valley school district, alleging that school officials failed to protect her transgender son as he faced relentless harassment and bullying.

The federal lawsuit, filed late last week, claims the Leawood Middle School student faced severe mental health issues, leading him to self harm, as classmates bullied him while often using a slur. The mother accuses school officials of refusing to appropriately address complaints or provide a safety plan for her son, saying they violated his constitutional rights and failed to fulfill their obligations under Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools that receive federal funding.

The boy is not named in the complaint, and instead is only referred to by his initials, because he is a minor.

In a statement to The Star, Blue Valley district officials said the district “takes all allegations of bullying and discrimination seriously. We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students.”

Officials said they are unable to comment on an individual case or pending litigation.

But they added, “Our district is dedicated to adhering to Title IX regulations and ensuring that all students are treated with dignity and respect. We remain focused on our mission to foster a supportive educational environment where every student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.”

The mother’s attorney Stephen Williams did not return The Star’s request for comment by Tuesday afternoon.

The lawsuit says the boy attended Leawood Middle School during the 2021-2022 school year, where he had a 504 Plan because he was diagnosed with ADHD and social anxiety. The year before, the student began to identify as a transgender male, information that was reportedly included in his 504 Plan.

The mother said the plan was slowly rolled out, resulting in staff initially identifying the boy by his birth name during attendance. Fellow students caught on to his name and identity change.

Students allegedly created a 6th grade Snapchat group, which included the boy, where transphobic and homophobic messages were shared. And the boy started getting bullied inside the classroom as well, the lawsuit says. The mother said she asked school officials to conduct sensitivity training, but was denied.

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