Virginia's Madison County School Board voted unanimously to pass new parent-focused transgender policies, becoming one of a handful in the state to do so.
The rural county north of Charlottesville became the latest to adopt policies put in place by Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R-VA) Department of Education to reverse recommendations made by former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam.
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“Jesus spoke truth to the people,” school board member Charles Sheads said. “Children with gender dysphoria need the truth spoke to them.”
That was in response to local resident Becky Thompson who spoke during the public comment period calling the new policies "a bunch of crap" invoking "Jesus's call to heed the child."
The new policies have received backlash from Democrats and LGBT activists due to their requirement that schools receive parental consent before referring to a child by another name or pronoun as well as blocking students from using restrooms and other facilities opposite to their biological sex. They also disallow boys from competing in girls' sports.
Passage of the policies in Virginia's 134 school districts has been a rocky road, as many boards have not considered them. However, that is not unique in Virginia, as the vast majority also did not adopt Northam's policies, and several districts such as Fairfax and Prince William counties, the Old Dominion's two largest, have rejected Youngkin's policies out of hand, claiming federal civil rights law as the authority.
Despite that, Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an opinion telling school districts they are required to comply with the new policies and that the policies "fully comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws."
Prior to Monday's passage, Madison board chairwoman Nita Collier read aloud a memo from Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Lisa Coons stating, "Local school boards, and their members, that elect not to adopt policies consistent with those released by the Department for the upcoming school year assume legal responsibility for noncompliance. Local school boards should consider the potential costs of civil litigation or other associated liabilities in evaluating the consequences of their actions."
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The district consists of four total schools servicing about 1,600 students. Parent Eric Muller also expressed dismay, saying students will be psychologically affected by the policies and that board members' judgments are clouded by religion and politics.
However, such a decision by the school board is likely in political alignment with the entire county, which has not voted for a Democrat since 1940 and supported former President Donald Trump by 65% to President Joe Biden's 33% in the 2020 election.