Loudoun County Public Schools has policy that appears to guide staff to ignore parents who disagree with their children choosing a different gender identity

Loudoun County Public Schools has a policy titled “Rights of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students” that was adopted in 2021 and appears to guide staff into ignoring parents who disagree with their children identifying as transgender. The policy mandates that staff “use a student’s chosen name and gender pronouns.” If parents disagree, the policy appears to state that the district will continue to ensure that a student is still “affirmed” while at school:

However, in the situation when a parent/legal guardian of a minor student does not agree with a student’s request to use their chosen name and gender pronouns that reflect their consistently asserted gender identity, staff will discuss and may develop an alternative that respects both the student and the parent/legal guardian. This process will require consideration of solutions to address the student’s emotional needs to be affirmed at school as well as the goal of assisting the family in developing solutions in their student’s best interest.

The policy also appears to explain that students can make a decision on their own to use different pronouns at school. The policy states: “School staff shall, at the request of a student or parent/legal guardian, use a student’s chosen name and gender pronouns.”

Students are also allowed to use restrooms and locker rooms and participate in overnight field trips according to their preferred gender identity.