Reports of bullying involving gender-based discrimination significantly increased in Wilson County schools

WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Reports of bullying involving sex or gender-based discrimination increased more than 50% in Wilson County Schools in just one year.

In the first full week of school in Wilson County, new data on bullying has some parents expressing concerns.

“It’s heartbreaking to me, quite frankly. It’s not surprising, unfortunately,” said Lindsey Patrick-Wright, Wilson County parent.

According to the report from the Wilson County Director of Schools, the number of reported bullying cases involving sex or gender-based discrimination has increased from 28 reported cases in 2023 to 44 in 2024.

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“My child was in virtual school last year for this very reason and is continuing to be in virtual school for this very reason. We made that decision because of the bullying that they faced, and it was largely because of their gender identity,” Patrick-Wright said.

Patrick-Wright fears a new state law passed by Tennessee’s Republican supermajority legislature is having an impact on schools. The law requires parents to be notified by the school if their child would like to be identified by a different gender or name.

“I feel the parents have the right to know what’s happening in the school with their children and also think that possibly they could get that child some therapy to help them solve their problems,” Rep. Mary Littleton, (R-Dickson) said in April.

Back in June, the Wilson County School Board adopted the policy after a policy of their own failed in 2023 .

“Our state reps made it a law and forced our community to abide by this law,” Patrick-Wright said.

“People getting bullied around sex or gender causes a lot of anxiety and depression in kids,” said Jayden Walker, School-based therapist for Centerstone in Wilson County.

Walker works for the Tennessee-based mental health nonprofit Centerstone. He is a school-based therapist for West Wilson Middle School and Wilson Central High School. He said, unfortunately, bullying cases can go unreported multiple times a day. “They just don’t want that title that they are snitching or telling on someone.”

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However, Patrick-Wright is now hoping this data sparks a greater conversation at Monday night’s school board meeting. “I think as a community we need to ask we as adults, what message are we sending to our children?”

Centerstone launched a support option for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis last year. By texting 988, a trained counselor will connect and assist LGBTQ+ youth under 25 in crisis. Click here to learn more.

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