Utah family sues school district over bullying and assault of LGBTQ+ child
A girl with an LGBTQ+ Pride flag(Getty Images)
A Utah family is suing the Nebo School District after alleging school officials failed to protect their LGBTQ+ daughter from years of bullying and a violent assault that they say could have been prevented.
According to the lawsuit, the student endured repeated threats, harassment and physical intimidation at Payson Junior High School between 2022 and 2024 because of her LGBTQ+ identity.
The family claims both the girl and her mother repeatedly reported the abuse to school administrators and, in 2024, warned staff that another student had threatened to attack her after school. Despite the alleged warning, the assault went ahead later that day.
The complaint states that the teenager suffered a concussion, a bloody nose, head and neck contusions, and emotional trauma as a result of the attack.
“This was not an isolated incident,” attorney Zachary Myers said in a statement. “There was a clear pattern of bullying and harassment, repeated warnings to school officials, and a specific warning that the assailant was planning to attack our client.”
Her family says they were ultimately forced to withdraw her from the school for her own safety.
The family is seeking accountability from the school district and has argued that stronger intervention from staff could have prevented the alleged assault and its lasting impact on their daughter.
Nebo School District did not respond to local ABC affiliate KTVX‘s request for comment.
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