Student kicked out of school for wearing shirt saying, ‘There are only two genders’

A middle school student in Massachusetts said he was sent home from school in March for wearing a shirt that said, “There are only two genders.”

Nichols Middle School seventh-grader Liam Morrison spoke about his experience during a Middleborough School Committee meeting on April 13. The 12-year-old’s story garnered national attention when a video of his public comment was widely shared Sunday by popular Twitter account Libs of TikTok.

A 12-year-old in @MiddleboroughPS was allegedly sent home from school and told he’s making people feel unsafe for wearing a shirt that said “there are only 2 genders.”

Watch him destroy the school board pic.twitter.com/hCBO5wXIgh</ a>

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 30, 2023

Liam said he was pulled from his gym class on March 21 to sit down with two adults “for what would turn out to be a very uncomfortable talk.”

“I was told that people were complaining about the words on my shirt. That my shirt was making some students feel unsafe — yes, words on a shirt made people feel unsafe,” Liam said at the meeting.

The student also said these adults told him he wasn’t in trouble, “but it sure felt like I was.” Liam then said the adults told him to remove his shirt if he wanted to return to class, to which he politely declined. School officials called his father to come pick up Liam, who said his dad was supportive of his son wearing the shirt.

“I have been told that my shirt was ‘targeting a protected class.’ Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights?” the seventh-grader said at the meeting. “I don’t complain when I see pride flags and diversity posters hung throughout the school. Do you know why? Because others have a right to their beliefs, just as I do.”

Liam went on to say that no teacher or student expressed problems with his shirt. In fact, he said several students liked his shirt and wanted one for themselves.

Liam also said the adults called a “disruption to learning,” but said he didn’t notice anyone storm out of the room or burst into tears over his clothing.

“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?” the student asked. “I feel like these adults were telling me that it wasn’t OK to have an opposing view. Their arguments were weak, in my opinion.”

Liam ended his public comment by saying a lot of students share his views and that “adults don’t always do the right thing or make the right decisions.” He said he has a First Amendment right to wear the shirt because “even at 12 years old, I have my own political opinions and I have a right to express those opinions.”