Two transgender Virginia public school students sued the state Thursday over recent guidelines that bar transgender students from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity and allow teachers to refuse to use their preferred names and pronouns.
one of the cases was raised A transgender high school girl in York County said in state court she was “torn apart” by a teacher who refused to use her first name and pronouns and instead used only her last name.
The another case was brought in state court by a transgender high school girl who said she was barred from participating on a girls’ sports team.
Both lawsuits argue that guidance issued last year by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration conflicts with a 2020 law requiring the state Department of Education to develop policies that protect the rights of transgender students. They are asking the courts to put politics aside.
The Education Department and Youngkin’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Youngkin’s policy, which has been pushed back by some districts in the state, says students must use the bathroom corresponding to the gender they were assigned at birth and that teachers cannot use transgender students’ preferred names and pronouns without their parents’ permission.
Thursday’s ruling joins several others in court cases across the country over school policies affecting transgender students. Virginia’s highest court in December resumed his claim by a high school French teacher who was fired for religiously refusing to use the preferred pronouns of a transgender student.
US Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit prevent Whether to revive a lawsuit filed by parents challenging a Massachusetts school district’s policy of not notifying parents that their children have begun using different names or pronouns at school. 4th round rejected the challenge A similar policy was filed by parents in a Maryland school district last August.