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Track coach files lawsuit after being fired for suggesting changes to trans athlete laws: 'I'm in the right'

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Track coach files lawsuit after being fired for suggesting changes to trans athlete laws: 'I'm in the right'

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Former track and field coach John Parks is taking a legal stand after allegedly being fired from Lake Oswego High School for sending a letter to Oregon state officials concerning laws related to transgender athletes.

The Liberty Justice Center revealed in a press release on Thursday that it has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Lake Oswego School District and the Lake Oswego School Board for unfairly terminating Parks last month for expressing his opinion on transgender athlete policies.

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Parks remained defiant, telling Fox News Digital, “I’m in the right here.” 

Senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center Buck Dougherty said in a statement, “Coach Parks was retaliated against, falsely accused of discriminatory behavior, denied an appeal, and fired—just for exercising his constitutional right to free speech as a private citizen.” 

Former Oregon high school track and field coach John Parks is suing his former school district after it fired him last month. (Fox News)

Dougherty added, “His proposal was a common-sense solution to a growing national debate. We are proud to stand up for his constitutional rights through this lawsuit, and we look forward to holding the District and the Board accountable for this egregious violation of free speech and due process.”

HIGH SCHOOL COACH FIRED AFTER PUSHING TO CHANGE STATE TRANS ATHLETE LAW: ‘VILIFIED’ FOR STANDING UP FOR GIRLS

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In May, Parks wrote a letter to the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) encouraging the state to adopt a transgender athlete policy similar to World Aquatics by creating an open division where “all sex and gender identities” are welcome to compete. 

The Liberty Justice Center said that Parks was then accused of violating the district’s harassment policy when OSAA member Marshall Haskins filed a complaint accusing him of discriminating against a transgender student.

After an investigation, the school district ruled that the policy was violated and terminated Parks’ contract. He was also denied a request for an appeal.

The lawsuit will be seeking money damages, restoration of Parks’ old position and a declaration saying that the school district violated his First Amendment rights.

John Parks and Riley Gaines on OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls Podcast” discussing his termination after sending a letter to OSAA regarding transgender athletes. (OutKick)

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FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD COACH JOHN PARKS TALKS FIRING AMID PUSH FOR TRANSGENDER ATHLETE LAW CHANGE

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Parks emphasized the harm and unfairness of allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ events for both the female and transgender runners.

“It puts [trans athletes] in a position where they can’t feel fully celebrated because they know that they’re impacting the female athletes in a way that the female athletes often and mostly do resent. And so that has to be spared. For them to be able to compete, there should be a separate category so that they can be celebrated and not vilified and not booed,” Parks said.

He added to Fox News Digital, “I want them to not have to face that. I want them to be able to enjoy the love of running without the stress of having to be competing in that division where they’re going to face that.”

Parks argued that the current policy is unfair to girls, with a large number of people agreeing.

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Parks is seeking the restoration of his old job at Lake Oswego High School. (Getty Images)

“Everybody that I have spoken to has been 100% supportive. There’s been no negative reaction from anybody anywhere regarding my statements at all. There seems to be a general consensus that I’m in the right here,” Parks said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Lake Oswego School District for comment, but did not immediately hear back. 

Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

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Montana

Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition

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Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition


GREAT FALLS — For Staff Sgt. Brianna St. Lawrence-Brody, service does not only happen in uniform.

Outside the gates of the base, she works at Benefis as a nurse, Great Falls Public Schools as a school nurse, and comes home as a wife and mom of four. For the Montana Air National Guard, she serves as a command post controller with the 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls.

(WATCH: Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition)

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Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition

This year, St. Lawrence-Brody was named the U.S. Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airman of the Year in the Non-Commissioned Officer category.

She said the recognition came as a surprise, especially because her path into the Guard started later than others.

“I joined very late in life,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I joined the Guard right before I turned 40. So for me, every opportunity that’s presented, I want to take the bull by the horns and just run with it and do the best of my ability.”

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined the Guard after finishing nursing school. She said she went straight from nursing school into helping open a COVID unit, while also working at Benefis.

She said that experience was the start of one journey, but not the whole of what she wanted to accomplish.

St. Lawrence-Brody joined the Guard for the opportunities, the challenge and to help build a future for her four children.

“It’s a little bit of a competition for myself,” she said. “Like, if I can do it, why not try my best to achieve it?”

120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

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As a command post controller, she assists in helping move information during emergencies and major events.

“Outside, obviously, I’m a nurse. Inside the Guard, I have nothing to do with the medical field, which is kind of amazing,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “It keeps me on my toes.”

She explained balancing the Guard, two civilian jobs and four children takes support from her family, her employers and her unit. She said Benefis and GFPS have been supportive of her military service.

Her nomination included her deployment experience, training work overseas and involvement across the wing. St. Lawrence-Brody said she deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where she worked with an operations center supporting entities connected to Africa.

But, she says this recognition is not the finish line.

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“This award, it’s not necessarily a landing pad for me,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I want to use it as a springboard.”

brianna award duality.jpg

120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

St. Lawrence-Brody hopes her story encourages others to keep taking on new opportunities, even when they feel uncertain.

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and be okay with doing things afraid,” she said. “I think when you get to be okay with doing things afraid, that’s where you’re going to find the growth.”

She has already won at the Air National Guard level, but she recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the broader Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year process, which includes nominees from the Guard, Reserve and major commands across the Air Force.

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Nevada

Officials elevate response efforts to combat eastern Nevada wildfires

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Officials elevate response efforts to combat eastern Nevada wildfires












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Officials elevate response efforts to combat eastern Nevada wildfires | Local Nevada | Local























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