Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) – LGBTQ kids and staff at Loudoun County Public Schools will now be protected by the school’s anti-discrimination policy. After a lengthy and impassioned public hearing Tuesday the school board voted 5 to 4 to include gender identity and sexual orientation in the school system’s anti-discrimination policy.

Vice Chair Brenda Sheridan, Beth Huck, Joy Maloney, Chris Croll and Tom Marshall voted in favor of the policy change, while Chair Jeff Morse, Debbie Rose, Eric Hornberger and Jill Turgeon voted against it.

Before the vote, about 80 speakers made their cases to the board. Among them Willow Woycke who is a transgender woman who oversees a support group for parents of transgender kids.

“These parents fear for their kids when they are at school. Fear of bullying, of not drinking enough so they don’t have to use the restroom,” Woycke said.

Another parent Natassia Grover also had concerns about her children and urged the board to vote no on the policy changes.

“I have a petition here with over 1500 signatures, probably close to 1600 now, 90 percent of them from Loudoun County residents, all opposed to the inclusion of gender identity language in the EO [equal opportunity] policy because of the harmful consequences it would have to students and staff,” Grover said.

Among the speakers were students, including fourth grader Maggie Tirona. She asked if everyone’s different and nobody is the same, why treat LGBT students, teachers, adults and kids differently?

“A lot of LGBT people are locked in a shell not knowing when to come out, so give us your support so LGBT can come out of its shell and inspire others to listen to follow their heart and come out,” Tirona said.

Catherine Tulloch agreed people shouldn’t discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community. She called on the community to reach out to them with sympathy, love and Christian kindness.

“However, to close our eyes and say that other people must be in situations that are making them uncomfortable when there’s another person with another chromosome in that restroom or in that whatever is wrong,” Tulloch said.

Marshall said since others were bringing up God he would too. He said God gives people talents, strengths and challenges. While people can’t expect God to do everything for them, he added, people can ask for help when they feel most vulnerable, including when they are growing into adulthood. He said parents and schools need to protect kids during this time.

“Some of the most vulnerable students are in the LGBTQ community, and if adding language to our equal opportunity policy gives them a sense of appreciation and some understanding as well as acceptance, then that is the right thing to do,” Marshall said.

While many on the board didn’t oppose adding sexual orientation to the policy, there was much more hesitancy when it came to adding gender identity.

Rose argued the board is not prepared to implement a major change like adding gender identity to the policy.

Morse said there are court decisions on gay marriage that give the school system something upon which they could base the addition of sexual orientation into its policy.

“But the question of gender identity continues to be vexing for even the courts,” Morse said adding it could invite lawsuits.

Here is the new policy:

“The Loudoun County School Board is committed to providing for an equitable, safe and inclusive learning and working environment.

The Loudoun County School Board affirms a commitment to this principle for all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, age, or genetic information.

It is the intent of the School Board of Loudoun County that every policy, practice, and procedure shall reflect this commitment.Behavior that is not unlawful may nevertheless be unacceptable for the educational environment or the workplace. Demeaning or otherwise harmful actions are prohibited, particularly if directed at personal characteristics, including, but not limited to socioeconomic level, sexual orientation, perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

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