Virginia School Districts Clash with Governor Over Transgender Policies

Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia will defy Governor Glenn Youngkin's new guidance on bathrooms and pronouns. The district's superintendent, Michelle Reid, stated that their current policies are consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws. The new policies require school activities to be separated by sex and restrict student participation based on their assigned sex at birth rather than their gender identity. The Virginia Department of Education updated its guidelines for the treatment of transgender students, emphasizing parental rights and the 14th Amendment. Despite the requirement for local school boards to adopt policies consistent with the new guidelines, Fairfax County Public Schools is pushing back and will continue to support transgender and gender-expansive students and staff.