In December 2020, a sixth-grade girl at a public middle school in Ludlow told a teacher she was experiencing insecurity, low self-esteem and depression, and that after coming across online videos about transgenderism she thought she might be a different gender, according to court papers filed on behalf of the parents.

In a case that could have national implications, answering that question may help determine parents’ lawsuit in Massachusetts against public-school officials over ‘gender transitioning.’