Latest news with #BellaireHighSchool
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Texas parents filed a lawsuit Monday against a Houston school district they say "repeatedly" violated their requests to address their daughter as a girl. The lawsuit, filed by Sarah and Terry Osborn, alleges that school officials in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) referred to their daughter by a masculine name and with male pronouns for at least two years after the parents instructed them not to. According to the filing, during their daughter's freshman year at Bellaire High School, the student's theater teacher asked the Osborns what pronouns to use for their daughter. After instructing the teacher to only use female pronouns, the parents thought that was the end of it. But over the next two years, the parents discovered that school staff continued to address their daughter as a boy during the school day, without their knowledge or consent. Virginia School District Accused Of Religious Discrimination In Transgender Locker Room Case "The Osborns only discovered HISD's actions because they found schoolwork that referred to their daughter by a masculine name," the complaint stated. Read On The Fox News App Despite several meetings with staff and the school principal, the lawsuit alleges that school officials continued to ignore the parents' requests. "For at least two school years, pursuant to the policy, over half a dozen HISD employees referred to the Osborns' daughter as a boy without their notice or consent—in fact, notwithstanding their express objection," the complaint said. The lawsuit alleges that the school principal, district superintendent and its counsel did not respond to the parents' request to provide documents explaining its gender policy and whether it included a parental notification requirement. States Support Parents In Legal Case Over School's Secret Gender Transition Of Child "HISD has a widespread practice and official policy of treating students, including the Osborns' daughter, as the opposite sex without parental notice or consent; against their express instructions; and while actively concealing that treatment from parents. That practice or policy violates the Osborns' fundamental parental rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, because it burdens their sincerely held religious beliefs and is not neutral or generally applicable, it also violates their First Amendment, free-exercise rights," the complaint stated. "The Osborns want to help their daughter in the way they think best. But the actions of HISD and its employees are preventing them from doing that," it added. The parents say the school's actions violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. They are asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction to demand the district honor their wishes to not refer to their daughter as male. Faith-based legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing the parents in the federal court case. The Bellaire High School counselor and principal are also named as defendants in the suit. ADF senior counsel Kate Anderson said in a statement, "Parents have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without fear of government interference. Schools should never hide vital information from parents, let alone go against their express instructions related to the well-being of their children. School officials should support parents, not replace them, and we are urging the court to make sure HISD updates its policy to respect these parents' constitutional rights." The HISD told Fox News Digital, "Given there is pending litigation, at this time, the District is unable to discuss any aspect of this incident."Original article source: Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
"I love you" : Father of Houston Lyft driver speaks out after son's death during carjacking
The Brief Philip Kim, a 27-year-old Lyft driver, was tragically killed in a carjacking incident on Houston's Southside, and his father shares their family's struggle to cope with the loss. The Kim family remembers Philip as a dedicated individual who pursued his dream of becoming a pilot, despite the financial challenges of flight school. One suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the carjacking, while the investigation into the remaining suspects continues. HOUSTON - The father of Philip Kim, a 27-year-old Lyft driver who was tragically robbed, shot, and killed in a carjacking incident on Houston's Southside, shares his story exclusively with FOX 26. What they're saying Mark Kim, Philip's father, reflects on the family's new reality without their son. "I'm not sure we can go to normal or not, but we're trying," he said. Philip was working as a Lyft driver to support himself through flight school. "Flight school is expensive, and I couldn't give him the money at the time. So he started making money by himself," Mark Kim explained. The family remembers Philip as a dreamer who worked hard to achieve his goals. He graduated from Bellaire High School and attended the University of Southern California for two years before deciding to pursue a career in aviation instead of architecture. Mark Kim recalls the moment Philip shared his new dream. "One day he called me and said, 'Dad, I want to be a pilot.' I said, 'Why? You spent two years... you can become an architect. I thought that was your dream.' He said, 'No. I want to be a pilot.'" When asked what he would say to Philip if he could speak to him one last time, Mark Kim responded, "I love you. You should live a long time here." What's next On the morning of the attack, Philip was assaulted by three men who fled before police could make an arrest. Recently, the family received positive news. "Yesterday, the Houston police called me, and one man was arrested, and he is accused of murder. "The rest of them are still under investigation," Mark Kim said. The backstory Philip Kim was the victim of a fatal carjacking on February 26. The family reports that one suspect has been arrested and charged, while the investigation continues. A witness told authorities there was an Asian male in his late 20s with gunshot wounds in the road. According to Detective Vinogradov, officers arrived at the scene and, while providing aid to the male, got a quick statement from him. The victim told officers he was a rideshare driver. He reports two Black males ran up to his vehicle and shot him several times. The men then pulled him out of his vehicle, then took his vehicle, the victim said. This is not the first incident of a carjacking in this area, according to a Houston police officer. Detective Vinogradov says it's too early to say if the suspects are the same as in previous cases. Detective Vinogradov says the man was taken to a hospital by ambulance and later pronounced dead. Houston police were able to locate the victim's stolen black Hyundai Sonata about eight blocks away in a ditch near the intersection of Goforth Street and Dreyfus Street. The suspects had fled the scene. RELATED: Ward Street shooting: Rideshare driver killed during carjacking in south Houston An HPD official tells FOX 26 that this incident is the latest of similar crimes in the area. Two other robbery incidents under investigation also involved rideshare drivers who were robbed at gunpoint. Officials say those incidents happened on February 20 and February 23. The drivers' vehicles were also stolen, but both have since been recovered. What you can do If neighbors in the camera have cameras, they are asked to look for surveillance video at both locations. Anyone with any information is asked to contact HPD Homicide and Crime Stoppers. The Source FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke exclusively with Mark Kim and received information from Houston Police Department.
