West Potomac High School teacher asks students to participate in school walkout to protest recent changes to state gender policy

A history and social studies teacher at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia sent an email to students through Schoology, asking them participate in a school walkout to protest the Virginia Board of Education (even though the board of education was not involved in the policy the teacher is asking them protest.) He is likely angry with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and his administration so the protest is likely against them.

The teacher explained that a school walkout will be organized by the Pride Liberation Project (PLP) on September 27, 2022, at 10 a.m. The teacher also said that “media will be present as well as government representatives” and asked students to “please come show your support.”

The teacher explained in the email:

The new draft Virginia school 2022 model policy, written by the Virginia Board of Education, discriminates against the LGBTQIA+ community. The new policy made changes concerning transgender people, the use of pronouns, including deadnaming students. In the draft, it states the staff should use the name that appears in the official record and use the pronouns that are appropriate to the sex that appears in the official record. The policy as written may cause students to be outed given the parameters. The draft has a 30 day comment period, so it hasn’t been approved yet. BUT take action.

The Pride Liberation Project is a LGBTQ organization that actively targets minors. The organization states online: “Our values drive our theory of change. We recognize that no student can champion our community alone. That’s why we strive to build diverse coalitions of LGBTQIA+ students, partner with like-minded organizations and movements, and take actions that are generally open to all.”