Washington Father Sues School District for Denying Religious Opt-Out from LGBTQ Instruction

Federal lawsuit alleges Lake Washington School District violated constitutional rights by refusing to excuse 10-year-old son from Pride Month lessons

By [Staff Writer] | September 9, 2026

SEATTLE — A Washington father is suing his son's public school district after his 10-year-old was taught about gender-change surgery during a Pride Month lesson, despite the Christian parent previously requesting that his child be excused from LGBTQ-related instruction.

Konstantin Averkiev filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Lake Washington School District, alleging officials violated his First and 14th Amendment rights by refusing to provide notice and allow his son to opt out of LGBTQ-related lessons and other school requirements that conflict with his religious beliefs. The lawsuit was filed with representation from Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal organization, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Dispute Began with Fourth-Grade Teacher Agreement

According to court documents, the controversy began in September 2025 when Averkiev met with his son's fourth-grade teacher at Henry David Thoreau Elementary School. During that meeting, he specifically requested advance notice and the ability to opt his child out of lessons involving LGBTQ topics, gender identity, or gender transition.

The teacher reportedly agreed to the arrangement. However, Averkiev later discovered his son had been taught a June Pride Month lesson that allegedly included classroom discussion of gender-change surgery. When confronted, the teacher acknowledged remembering Averkiev's request and admitted he "should have sent the lessons ahead of time," according to messages cited in the lawsuit.

The Pride Month presentation, delivered to fourth and fifth-grade students, covered same-sex attraction, transgender identity, and the Stonewall uprising—a series of 1969 protests against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village, according to materials cited in the complaint.

Averkiev maintains the classroom discussion extended beyond the presentation slides. His son reported that the class specifically discussed gender-change surgery, meaning advance provision of the slides would not have alerted him to the full content of the instruction.

District Rejects Broader Opt-Out Requests

As his son prepared to enter fifth grade this fall, Averkiev, with the help of ADF attorneys, requested that the district excuse his son from LGBTQ-related instruction and requirements, including individual counseling sessions and the use of pronouns conflicting with his religious beliefs.

According to ADF, the district rejected nearly all of his requests, granting only opt-outs for sex-education curriculum and health surveys—accommodations already mandated under Washington state law.

Legal Arguments

The lawsuit argues Averkiev's constitutional rights extend to every lesson or government-school requirement that would undermine the religious beliefs and practices he wishes to instill in his son.

"Parents have the fundamental right to direct their children's religious upbringing and education, even at school," said Kate Anderson, ADF senior counsel and director of the ADF Center for Parental Rights. "Washington state officials can't force parents like Mr. Averkiev to give up that right or accept a burden on their children's religious upbringing in exchange for the benefit of public education."

Anderson added: "Our Constitution forbids schools from indoctrinating children with the government's views on sexuality and gender—hotly debated and sensitive topics—that substantially undermine their religious upbringing."

Father Speaks Out

In a statement, Averkiev emphasized his position as a parent.

"As a parent, I have a right to decide what my son learns about sex and gender at school. He's ten years old. I don't want him to learn about gender-change surgery and using false pronouns," Averkiev said. "I have repeatedly asked to opt my son out of the school district's LGBTQ instruction. But the district has refused. I am filing this lawsuit, so schools cannot ignore parents like me."

District Response

Lake Washington School District declined to comment on the pending litigation but stated it follows "all applicable federal and state laws and guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction."

The district covers the cities of Kirkland and Redmond, east of Seattle.

Broader Implications

The case represents the latest flashpoint in nationwide disputes over parental rights, religious liberty, and LGBTQ curriculum in public schools. Similar legal battles have emerged across the country as school districts implement what they describe as inclusive curricula while some parents argue such instruction conflicts with their religious beliefs.

The lawsuit seeks to prevent schools from ignoring parental rights regarding religious objections to specific curriculum content.