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The draft policy says "LCPS staff shall allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence."Hopefully there will be more pushback from teachers who can see the damage done to their students by perpetuating what Mr. Cross has rightfully termed a lie.
Cross said such a policy "will damage children and defile the holy image of God."
"I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences," he said.
The P.E. teacher said the act of referring to transgender students by chosen pronouns is child abuse and an act of "lying."
Language nearly identical to that in draft Policy 8040 was previously proposed for LCPS Policy 1040, "Equal Opportunity for Equitable, Safe and Inclusive Environment." The School Board's Equity Committee drafted two versions of that policy. "Version A" stated that "staff shall, at the request of an adult student or parent/guardian, address the student using the asserted name and pronoun."
On January 14, the School Board voted to adopt "Version B" of Policy 1040, which makes no mention of gender pronouns or asserted names, though it does govern staff behavior related to gender issues. The adopted policy prohibits "[d]emeaning or otherwise harmful actions" on the basis of "sexual orientation, perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression," among other characteristics.
Byard would not confirm whether LCPS placed Cross on leave because he was found to be in violation of school system policy.
Draft Policy 8040 was written in response to Virginia House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161, which are identical pieces of legislation. Those bills require school boards in the commonwealth to adopt "policies that are consistent with ... model policies developed by the [Virginia] Department of Education" no later than the start of the 2021-2022 academic year.
VDOE model policies regarding the treatment of transgender students in Virginia elementary and secondary schools were made available to school boards last year.
Per HB 145 and SB 161, those model policies were written "in accordance with evidence-based best practices" and in "compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws." The Pupil Services committee was scheduled to discuss draft Policy 8040 on May 20 but did not do so due to time constraints, according to the meeting minutes.
Attempts to reach Cross on Friday morning were unsuccessful.
Comment: "[A]s long as they are not coercive.
Right. "Get vaxxed, or we won't hire/continue to employ you" isn't "coercive". Only one of the many ways a person's personal choice is being taken away. Buckle under, or your ability to participate in society will be taken away.
- Vaccinate or no pay - Vaccination rates skyrocket in Australia
- Those who don't get COVID-19 vaccine could face restrictions, Ontario officials say
- Denmark tries to push through permanent 'epidemic law' that includes forced vaccination
- Oregon considers extending mask mandate & social distancing indefinitely, 60,000 residents decry 'government overreach'
- Ireland considers coronavirus vaccine IDs, those without will suffer restrictions
- 'No vaccine, no school', says Italian health minister
- You refuse to get vaccinated, but are you ready to be an outcast?
Vaccine certificates are poised to become the West's version of China's social credit system:China to bar people with bad "social credit" from planes, trains - "once untrustworthy, always restricted"