“FCPS Pride” Responds to Anti-Trans Lawsuit by The Family Foundation of Virginia Over VDOE’s Newly Approved “Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools”

From “FCPS Pride,” an LGBTQ and allies organization for Fairfax County Public Schools

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the largest and loudest anti-LGBTQ organization in Virginia, The Family Foundation of Virginia, announced that it is bringing suit against Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni and the Virginia Department of Education over VDOE’s newly approved “Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.” 

These policies were developed by VDOE with input from students, families and educators across Virginia, including Fairfax County. They are to serve as a template for school systems to develop their own policies by the 2021-22 school year. The mandate for the policies was HB145 and SB161, passed into law in the General Assembly regular session in 2020. 

Many school systems in our area are already developing their own policies in response to the state mandate.

“The members of FCPS Pride, including parents, family members and educators, are appalled and saddened that The Family Foundation of Virginia is launching this assault on the well-being of transgender and gender-expansive children. We have been thrilled and reassured with the level of support that has been developing within Fairfax County Public Schools, and we have confidence in our leaders that these scare tactics will not cause them to hesitate to welcome trans and gender-expansive students in our schools.” said “FCPS Pride” co-president Robert Rigby, a 23-year veteran teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools…

Here is the link to The Family Foundation of Virginia’s press conference this Tuesday afternoon.