Parental rights have been front and center in education debates across the U.S., and for one mom in Maine, that battle just hit a painful low.
Amber Lavigne, a mother from Wiscasset, says she was blindsided after discovering that her child had been socially transitioning at school — without her knowledge.
Now, after a long legal fight, her appeal has been dismissed, leaving her frustrated and heartbroken.
It All Started With a Chest Binder Found at Home
Back in December 2022, Lavigne stumbled upon something unexpected in her 13-year-old’s room — a chest binder.
Her child, who was in eighth grade at the time, had gone to a school dance, and she found the undergarment while cleaning.
It didn’t take long for her to learn that the binder had reportedly been given to her child by a school social worker, Sam Roy, at Great Salt Bay School in Damariscotta.
To Lavigne, it felt like a major part of her child’s life had been kept from her.
The Lawsuit Accused the School of Hiding Her Child’s Transition
In response, Lavigne filed a lawsuit in 2023, claiming that the school district had actively concealed her child’s gender transition — including the use of a new name and different pronouns — from her and the family.
Her argument was built on the belief that the school had a pattern or policy of keeping parents in the dark about such significant developments.
She accused the school of violating her constitutional rights as a parent, especially her right to be involved in her child’s education, healthcare, and upbringing.
Appeals Court Says There’s Not Enough Evidence of a Policy
But the U.S. Court of Appeals didn’t agree. This month, the First Circuit dismissed her appeal.
The court said Lavigne’s case failed to show that the school board had an official policy — or even an unwritten custom — of withholding information from parents.
According to the ruling, Lavigne’s arguments were based on “information and belief” rather than solid factual support.
In short, the court found no clear proof that the district endorsed or approved what the social worker did.
The Mother and Her Legal Team Wanted an Investigation
Lavigne’s legal team, including attorneys from the conservative Goldwater Institute, called for a full investigation into how and why a school employee could give a minor a chest binder without the parent’s consent or even knowledge.
They argued that this wasn’t just a parental oversight — it was a constitutional violation.
Their letter pointed to the Fourteenth Amendment, insisting that Lavigne’s rights had been trampled when the school excluded her from decisions about her daughter’s identity and care.
School District Was Accused of Breaking Confidentiality Boundaries
According to her lawyers, while students do have access to confidential mental healthcare in school, social transitioning — such as using new names and pronouns — is not protected under that same confidentiality.
They argued that even if state law required secrecy, it still wouldn’t override a parent’s constitutional rights.
They claimed the district crossed a serious line.
Lavigne Pulled Her Child From School But Still Holds the Door Open
Since the incident, Lavigne withdrew her child from Great Salt Bay School.
She allowed her daughter to express herself — including cutting her hair short — but continued using female pronouns.
She told National Review that while she has concerns about a possible future medical transition, she’s not here to abandon her child.
“If she starts taking testosterone at 18, am I going to express concerns? Absolutely,” she said.
“But am I going to write her off? Never in a million years. This is my baby girl.”
A Mother’s Message About Love, Boundaries, and Waiting
Lavigne expressed a deep love for her daughter while also firmly believing that kids should not make irreversible decisions at such a young age.
For her, safeguarding her daughter means waiting until adulthood for those kinds of choices.
“At 13, it’s up to me to safeguard my child against doing things to her body that she can’t reverse,” she said.
“At the end of the day, she is who she is — and if she believes she’ll live a more fulfilled life as a male, that’s her decision as an adult.”
What Comes Next Is Still Unclear
It’s unclear whether Lavigne and her legal team will push the case further or seek other avenues for action.
Meanwhile, the school district hasn’t responded publicly — and the Daily Mail has reached out to Great Salt Bay School for comment.
This case is one of many stirring intense debates about parental rights, school responsibilities, and how to best support students — especially those grappling with gender identity.