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Several school districts in Virginia’s Democratic-leaning regions are flat-out refusing to implement transphobic policies recently handed down by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The policies force students to use bathrooms, pronouns, and names that align with their sex assigned at birth.
The state’s Attorney General Jason Miyares sent a letter on Thursday telling schools that they’re required to follow the policies, but his letter is not legally binding. One legal expert doubts that schools will face any consequences for continuing to ignore the VDOE.
The Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Prince William County Public School (PWCS) Districts have all refused to follow the VDOE’s policies which were announced in July. The policies are part of the so-called “parents’ rights” movement that helped elect state Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in 2021. This movement seeks to shut down racially- and LGBTQ+-inclusive learning environments, calling such inclusion a form of “woke indoctrination.”
In his own statement, Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán said, “I want our transgender, non-binary, and gender fluid students to hear loud and clear that you belong here, you are valued, and we stand with and support you. I oppose any policy that infringes upon the rights of our students and threatens the safety and well-being of our LGBTQIA+ students.”
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