Subpoenas From Grand Jury Targeting LGBTQ+ Students

Greetings,

It has come to our attention that the recently convened Special Grand Jury, amid the Attorney General Jason Miyares’ investigation into the Loudoun County school division’s handling of a sexual assault case, has issued subpoenas for records of individual students. In at least one case, a records request directly targeted a transgender student that was unrelated to the initial scope of the investigation. According to recently received information, the Grand Jury was requesting any documents tied to a keyword search for “transgender policy.”

Shamefully, the process has caught innocent students, advocates, and their families up in this investigation. Legal representatives have indicated that the process to file injunctions to protect student records have to be made against individual records, which results in costly efforts to keep sensitive student information private.

Equality Loudoun wants to make families aware to read any important emails or letters you may receive to ensure additional students and families are not being unduly burdened or their privacy invaded. One family received what is referred to as a FERPA notice on May 4 with a deadline of May 10 to respond. In dealing with matters such as these, timely action is often required.

If you find yourself dealing with similar issues, we ask families to please send an email to contact@eqloco.com so that our nonprofit can monitor the situation and act as appropriate.

Equality Loudoun, Board of Directors