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A 12-year-old boy from Massachusetts asserts that he was sent home from school a few weeks ago for wearing a t-shirt proclaiming that there are ‘only two genders,’ allegedly causing other students to feel ‘unsafe.’ Liam Morrison, a seventh grader at John T. Nichols Jr. Middle School in Middleborough, shared his experience at a Middleborough School Committee meeting on April 13. The young boy’s impassioned speech gained traction when the well-known conservative Twitter account, Libs of TikTok, shared the video, making it go viral on Sunday.
Morrison shared that on March 21, he was pulled from his gym class and taken to meet with school officials who informed him that his t-shirt’s message had upset others and made them feel unsafe. According to Morrison, the conversation was ‘uncomfortable.’ He stated, ‘They told me that I wasn’t in trouble, but it sure felt like I was.’ The school officials then demanded that he remove his shirt before resuming his class.
A 12 year old boy absolutely roasts his school board because he refused to not wear a ‘there’s only two genders’ t- shirt.
Well done lad, keep fighting the good fight.
Never back down. pic.twitter.com/MxzokqvbD7
— Christine Burgum (@ChristineBurgum) May 1, 2023
The seventh grader expressed his desire not to remove his shirt, compelling the school officials to contact his father. The father, supportive of his son’s stance, arrived at the school to pick him up. Morrison insisted that the phrase on his shirt — ‘Nothing harmful, nothing threatening. Just a statement I believe to be a fact.’
Liam Morrison, a seventh-grader at Nichols Middle School in Massachusetts, claimed that he was sent home on March 21 for refusing to take off a t-shirt that read, ‘There are only two genders.’ School officials allegedly told him that his shirt’s slogan targeted a ‘protected class’ — likely referring to transgender and nonbinary individuals — and created a ‘disruption to learning.’
During his address to the school committee, Morrison questioned the notion of a protected class, asking, ‘Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights?’ He continued by stating that he doesn’t take issue with Pride flags and diversity posters that adorn the school because everyone is entitled to their beliefs.
Morrison argued that his t-shirt did not disrupt classroom activities, emphasizing that nobody stormed out of class, and no one burst into tears during the incident. He wittily pointed out, ‘I’m sure I would have noticed if they had.’
He highlighted the inconsistency in addressing learning disruptions, lamenting, ‘I experience disruptions to my learning every day. Kids acting out in class are a disruption, yet nothing is done. Why do the rules apply to one yet not another?’
Morrison noted that not a single person complained to him directly about the words on his shirt before he was removed from the school. In fact, some students even expressed their support for him. He stressed that he did not wear the shirt that day to ‘hurt feelings or cause trouble,’ but rather to exercise his right to free speech.
The student claimed, ‘I know that I have a right to wear a shirt with those five words.’ He continued, ‘Even at 12 years old, I have my own political opinions and I have a right to express those opinions. Even at school. This right is called the First Amendment to the Constitution.’
During his speech, the 12-year-old said officials at Nichols Middle School informed him that the slogan on his shirt made people feel ‘unsafe’ and disrupted the learning process.
In concluding his address, Morrison urged the School Committee to safeguard students’ rights to express themselves freely. He warned that he might not be the only one impacted by the issue in the future, stating, ‘Next time, it may not only be me. There might be more soon that decide to speak out.’
As the middle-schooler’s brave speech garnered attention over the weekend, the Massachusetts Family Institute, a Christian conservative nonprofit group, announced on Twitter that they would be providing legal support for the young boy.
This incident underscores the importance of balancing everyone’s rights and ensuring that individuals, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds, have the opportunity to express themselves within reason.
As our society becomes more diverse and inclusive, we must also be cognizant of maintaining the rights and liberties that define our nation. The First Amendment grants individuals the freedom to express their opinions and beliefs, transcending age and social status.
It is essential for educational institutions and communities to work together in fostering an environment where everyone can express their viewpoints while acknowledging and respecting the rights of others, thereby nurturing our nation’s core values.