The U.S. Department of Education has warned the school districts of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudon and Prince William that they could lose federal funds or face legal action to ensure transgender students have bathrooms tailored to their gender identity.
investigationwhich began in February after complaints from the First Law of America, founded by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, the policy argues that it gives trans students more rights than cisgender students under Title IX.
The education sector has recently reinforced the agenda to transgender school policies across the country, declaring June, traditionally recognized as Pride Month, as “Title IX Month”, and pledged to roll back policies that affirm transgender students.
On July 25, the Department’s Civil Rights Office said that the Obama era and policies adopted under Biden violated Title IX and “tramples on the rights of students to serve extreme political ideologies.”
The Education Bureau said districts have lost federal funds and “voluntarily agree” to the possibility of referrals to the Department of Justice, citing a Trump-era order that only recognizes two genders.
With this resolution, districts will withdraw their pro-transgender policy, issue memos requiring future rules to implement gender-segregation facilities based on birth sex, and adopt a “biology-based” definition of “male” and “female” when enforcing Title IX.
Five districts that educate about a third of Virginia’s public school students are located in liberal regions that resist Gov. Glen Youngkin’s “custody” agenda. His administration has introduced a “model policy” that requires parents to notify them of whether students appear as transgender and to notify parents that they will change their records with written consent. Even with parental approval, teachers can refuse to use student preference pronouns based on personal beliefs.
Additionally, this policy required students to use facilities that suited their sex at birth, whereas trans students could use single stoles or unisex bathrooms.
The model policy sparked protests from parents and students who staged thousands of strikes in Virginia. Five districts ultimately rejected the policy, citing a federal court of appeals ruling in the case of former Virginia Gavin Grim, who found that transgender bathrooms were violated by Title IX.
It is unclear whether the court will support the repeal of the policy as Virginia school districts remain bound by the Fourth Circuit ruling. Grimm case. Complying with education division resolutions could lead to new lawsuits from transgender or LGBTQ advocacy groups.
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the constitutionality of a “bathroom ban” for transgender people.
Officials from five districts said Washington Post Reviewing the findings of the education sector, seeking to reassure families that trans students will not face discrimination or lose accommodation.
Public Schools in Fairfax County, Virginia’s largest district, said in a statement that they “we are still committed to promoting a safe, supportive, welcoming and inclusive environment for all students and staff.”
Loudoun County Public Schools said they will “continue to ensure full compliance with state and federal laws” while maintaining an environment where staff can “swell up to all students and reach their full potential.”
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Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
