A federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday alleges that a Washington state public school district violated a father’s constitutional rights by failing to provide advance notice or allow an opt-out from LGBTQ-related instruction for his 10-year-old son.
The lawsuit, filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on behalf of Konstantin Averkiev, targets the Lake Washington School District. It claims district officials denied Averkiev’s requests for notice and an opt-out from lessons involving LGBTQ topics, gender identity, or gender transition, despite his prior agreement with his son’s fourth-grade teacher in September 2025.
The dispute centers on a June Pride Month lesson taught to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Henry David Thoreau Elementary School. According to the complaint, the lesson included discussions of same-sex attraction, transgender identity, the Stonewall uprising, and, as alleged by Averkiev, classroom dialogue about gender-change surgery. The teacher reportedly acknowledged Averkiev’s opt-out request but later stated he “should have sent the lessons ahead of time,” per messages cited in the lawsuit.
Averkiev claims the district later rejected nearly all of his broader opt-out requests as his son prepared to enter fifth grade. The lawsuit asserts violations of the First and 14th Amendments, arguing the district’s actions imposed religious beliefs on the student without providing the requested accommodations.
School district response
The Lake Washington School District has not publicly commented on the lawsuit as of publication. The district previously removed testosterone vials from a Pride Month display after determining they were not approved for the presentation, according to a district statement.
Background and timeline
Averkiev said he met with his son’s fourth-grade teacher in September 2025 to request advance notice and an opt-out from LGBTQ-related lessons. He alleges the June Pride Month lesson, which included the disputed topics, proceeded without his consent. The teacher’s alleged response to Averkiev’s request—suggesting he should have submitted the lessons in advance—is cited in the complaint as part of the dispute over whether proper notice was provided.
The lawsuit does not specify whether the discussion of gender-change surgery occurred during the Pride Month presentation or in another context. The complaint also does not detail the district’s formal policies on opt-out requests for LGBTQ-related instruction or how such requests are typically processed.
Legal and policy context
The case raises questions about the balance between parental rights, religious freedom, and public school curricula. The lawsuit invokes constitutional protections, while the district’s handling of the matter remains unaddressed in public statements. The outcome could influence how school districts in Washington and other states manage opt-out requests for sensitive instructional content.