Social worker sues Albuquerque schools over policy hiding students' gender transition from parents

Jeanette Martinez, a licensed clinical social worker with more than ten years of experience, has sued Albuquerque Public Schools in federal court, asserting that the district’s Procedural Directive PJ30 forces staff to conceal a student’s social gender transition from parents, infringing her First Amendment free-speech and religious-freedom rights. Under the directive, employees must record and use a student’s preferred name and pronouns internally, yet when communicating with parents they must revert to the legal name and birth-assigned pronoun unless the family opts otherwise.

Martinez recounts an incident where a student announced a desire to change gender, and school officials promptly assigned a new name and planned classroom introductions, while also preparing gender-sensitivity training for younger students. She requested a religious accommodation to speak truthfully with parents, which APS denied, and she now risks investigation, discipline, or termination for refusing to follow the rule. APS spokesperson Martin Salazar declined comment on the lawsuit, noting the policy is intended to safeguard student privacy and a safe learning environment, and that the district will address the allegations through the legal process.