Hanover County Public Schools logo covers transgender flag (Dixon Johnston/8News)
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia (ACLU) sues the Virginia Department of Education. On behalf of two transgender students living in the commonwealth.
An ACLU spokesperson claimed: Students are being harmed by the Virginia Department of Education. “2023 model policy” and asked the court to remove them.
One of the students in the lawsuit lives in Hanover County, and the school district Introduced unique policies regarding treatment of transgender students and before To be sued by the ACLU of Virginia in 2022.
The original policy was adopted in 2021 under former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. Revised under current Governor Glenn Youngkin; Change the way school districts treat transgender and non-binary students.
Equality Virginia Executive Director Nalyssa Rahman said the group applauds the ACLU for challenging the policy.
“The 2023 Model Policy is not evidence-based. It does not take into account all of the data and research that exists to create a safe and positive learning environment for students,” Rahman said.
One of the students in the lawsuit, known as “Lily Doe,” is a Hanover County middle school student who is not allowed to participate on girls' sports teams, the ACLU said.
Although Lily passed during tryouts and her parents submitted documentation proving her eligibility, the school board, citing the Virginia Department of Education's 2023 Model Policy, decided not to remove Lily from the team. The ACLU said the resolution was unanimous.
According to the “Statutory Authority and Requirements” section of the Virginia Department of Education's model policy, the Virginia Department of Education develops and utilizes policies regarding “student participation in gender-specific school activities, events, and the use of school facilities.” We are required to make it possible.
However, the policy clearly states that “activities and events do not include athletics.”
Yonkin's office did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.But when 8News I asked him about last year's policy.he said, is all part of giving parents a voice.
“In difficult situations, go to your family first,” Youngkin said in July 2023. “Children belong to their parents, not to politicians, bureaucrats or administrators. And they don't even belong to the teachers who are working hard here.”
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Hanover County Public Schools said, “This lawsuit was filed against the Virginia Department of Education, not Hanover County Public Schools or the Hanover County Board of Education.” Therefore, it would be inappropriate for us to comment on this pending litigation. ”
A spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Education also told 8News that the department has not yet received a copy of the lawsuit and cannot discuss ongoing litigation.
