Teacher Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Pornographic Material in Class

A conservative legal group, the American Law and Justice Center, has filed a federal lawsuit against a New York public school district following allegations against a teacher for showing inappropriate material to seventh-graders.

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of two parents and their children, claims that Bridget Gates, a teacher at Watertown City School District, “resigned as an art teacher…under the guise of an art class,” got rehired as an English teacher, and is now on administrative leave. Reportedly, she “intentionally exposed approximately 100 students to pornographic and sexually explicit images over a two-week period in September 2025,” without informing parents or allowing them to opt out.

“It’s almost a crime,” one parent shared, clearly upset by the situation.

The allegations state that Gates instructed students at Case Middle School to access the Keith Haring Foundation website using school-issued Chromebooks. During the time, this gallery displayed various sexually explicit images, including cartoons and paintings that involved graphic and disturbing content.

Keith Haring, known for his provocative artwork, passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1990. A spokesperson for the Haring Foundation acknowledged that some of Haring’s pieces could be viewed as inappropriate for certain audiences.

The lawsuit claims Gates admitted that “some of the images were inappropriate,” yet instructed 12- and 13-year-old students to “ignore them and grow up.” Even when students showed signs of discomfort or anxiety, she allegedly continued to display the images.

After parents became aware of the troubling content in late September, they reached out to school officials, administrators, and even local law enforcement.

Stephanie Bojanski, one parent involved, commented on the shocking nature of the situation, saying, “It’s unbelievable.” Another parent, Heather Traynham, expressed her outrage, stating, “This is almost a crime.” Another parent, Jesse Roberts, recounted how her son felt it was inappropriate but was unsure about speaking up due to the authority of the teacher.

In response to parental concerns raised at school board meetings, Gates was placed on paid administrative leave. The school removed the assignment from Google Classroom and acknowledged that inappropriate content had been encountered, yet offered no formal apology.

The ACLJ issued a letter expressing that the harm caused by the district’s failure to properly supervise the curriculum and protect students was significant and ongoing. They called for disciplinary actions against Gates and urged schools to establish policies that require parental notification before exposing children to explicit content.

This week, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, seeking a declaration that the school violated parents’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The plaintiffs are asking for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and seeking damages for constitutional violations.

The school district has not provided any comments regarding the situation.

The ACLJ emphasized that parents shouldn’t have to choose between public education and their family values, asserting that it is the parents—not the state—who should determine when and how to introduce sexual content to their children.