The Aporia · Social worker sues after she says she refused to conceal students’ gender transitions from parents

Jeanette Martinez, a New Mexico social worker, has filed a lawsuit against Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) through the Center for American Liberty, claiming that APS policies require her to conceal students' gender transitions from their parents, violating her First Amendment rights to free speech and religious freedom. As part of her job, Martinez communicates with parents about students' needs but feels compelled by her faith to be truthful. The lawsuit centers on APS's Procedural Directive PJ30, which instructs staff to use a student’s preferred name and pronouns internally while using the legal name and birth-assigned gender when communicating with parents unless specified otherwise by the student or parent. Martinez requested a religious accommodation but was denied, facing potential disciplinary action if she continues to refuse compliance.

Written by AI on 2026-09-25, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Jeanette Martinez, a licensed clinical social worker in New Mexico, has filed a lawsuit against Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) through The Center for American Liberty, alleging that the district requires school personnel to conceal students' gender transitions from their parents. Martinez claims this policy violates her First Amendment rights, both to free speech and religious freedom, as she feels it forces her to lie or intentionally withhold information, which goes against her religious beliefs.

Martinez stated in court documents that during a two-hour meeting with a student who expressed a desire to transition genders, APS officials decided immediately on the new name for the child. The lawsuit also mentions training first-grade students about how to interact with peers identifying as the opposite gender, indicating broader policy implications regarding accommodation and support for transgender youth within the district.

Supporting Martinez's narrative, APS is portrayed by Fox News Digital as implementing policies that prioritize student confidentiality over parental knowledge in cases of gender transition, a stance Martinez argues conflicts with her professional ethics and personal faith.

Written for “Gender Transition Controversy” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Gender Transition Controversy

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"They even decided how they were going to introduce his new name to his classmates," Martinez added, noting that school officials also discussed training first-grade students on how to interact with a classmate identifying as the opposite gender.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-25

🔮 "Within that meeting, a school team decided right then that because he expressed wanting to be the opposite sex, they would go ahead and choose his new name as the opposite sex.

2026-09-25 · Fox News

Social worker sues after she says she refused to conceal students’ gender transitions from parents · assertive framing

A New Mexico social worker is suing Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) over a policy she says requires school personnel to conceal students' gender transitions from their parents. asserted

she → sue → parents

The Center for American Liberty filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Jeanette Martinez, a licensed clinical social worker. asserted

Center → file → Martinez

Martinez said the district is forcing her to keep parents in the dark regarding their children's social gender transitions, violating her First Amendment rights to free speech and religious freedom. asserted

district → say → speech

Martinez, who has worked as a social worker for more than a decade, supports special-education students at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. asserted

who → work → School

Her role requires routine communication with parents regarding academic, behavioral, and special-education needs. asserted

role → require → needs

As a practicing Christian, Martinez said her deeply held religious convictions prohibit her from lying or intentionally concealing the truth. asserted

convictions → practice → truth

"There was an incident that I was present for where, within two hours, a student verbally decided he was male and wanted to be female," Martinez told Fox News Digital. asserted

Martinez → be → Digital

"Within that meeting, a school team decided right then that because he expressed wanting to be the opposite sex, they would go ahead and choose his new name as the opposite sex. asserted

they → decide → sex

officials → decide → gender

Under APS Procedural Directive PJ30, staff are instructed to use a student's preferred name and pronouns for internal records, documents and interactions. asserted

staff → instruct → records

However, when communicating with parents unless the student or parent has specified otherwise, staff are directed to use the student's legal name and the pronoun corresponding to the student's gender assigned at birth. asserted

staff → communicate → birth

The lawsuit alleges that the rule forces employees into a "conspiracy to lie" when parents ask direct questions about their children. asserted

parents → allege → children

"My job as a social worker is to bring the family together, not to tear them apart," Martinez told Fox News Digital. asserted

Martinez → bring → Digital

"To sit there in a parent-teacher conference and try to articulate issues as a mental health provider while participating in that deception is not in the best interest of the student or the family. asserted

sit → sit → student

In April, Martinez formally requested a religious accommodation that would allow her to communicate truthfully with parents. asserted

her → request → parents

APS denied the request. asserted

APS → deny → request

According to the lawsuit, Martinez now faces internal investigation, disciplinary action, or potential termination if she refuses to comply with the directive. uncertain

she → accord → directive

It doesn't work. asserted

It → work → ?

It's unimaginable, to be honest," Martinez said. asserted

Martinez → say → ?

Martin Salazar told Fox News Digital that the district does not comment on pending litigation. asserted

district → tell → litigation

However, district guidance notes that the policy is intended to foster a safe learning environment and protect student privacy. asserted

policy → note → privacy

"We will address the allegations in court, using the appropriate process," Salazar said. asserted

Salazar → address → process

Social worker sues after she says she refused to conceal students’ gender transitions from parents

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