Dear John, Case dismissed! We are excited to share the news about an important win for Virginia schools and students! Yesterday, a Lynchburg judge dismissed a challenge against the Virginia Department of Education’s model policies for the treatment of transgender students. Following a hearing last week, Judge Fred Watson said the plaintiffs do not have standing to challenge the model policies. We celebrate this victory for transgender and nonbinary students throughout the Commonwealth, and also recognize that there is still more work to be done to ensure that all students have equal access to education in safe and affirming school environments. |
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Earlier this month, Equality Virginia, the ACLU of Virginia, and more than 50 organizational partners and school board leaders across the Commonwealth filed an amicus brief encouraging the court to deny the Christian Action Network's request to delay the model policies. The brief included powerful stories from trans and nonbinary youth and their families, detailing the hardships they have faced within the school system in the absence of policies protecting gender diverse students. The court’s decision means that school districts must stay on track to adopt trans-inclusive policies that are consistent with the VDOE guidance by the start of the 2021-2022 school year, as required by law. These policies will help ensure that transgender and nonbinary youth in each school division are protected from discrimination and mistreatment, and are able to learn and succeed in the classroom this year and beyond. When gender diverse students are respected and supported, the entire school community thrives. |
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From EV Executive Director, Vee Lamneck: “This ruling is important progress and emphasizes the continued need to protect transgender and nonbinary youth in Virginia. These policies will create safer classrooms and will reduce bullying, discrimination, and harassment. It’s imperative school boards adopt these policies as soon as possible because the lives of transgender students are at risk.” According to GLSEN, transgender students are more likely than all other students to have negative experiences at school. A 2017 report from the organization found that 75% of transgender youth reported feeling unsafe at school. A similar GLSEN study found that students were less likely to experience discrimination at schools with supportive transgender and nonbinary policies. For more information on how to advocate for gender diverse students in your area, please take a look at our FAQ Guide on Advocating for Transgender and Non-Binary Students. |
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The fight continues until all students are safe, supported, and know they belong in our schools! Yours for Equality, Kyleigh Hynes
Safe Schools Coordinator |
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