Some parents at one Fairfax, Virginia, middle school have expressed their outrage over a proposed policy change by the school district that would penalize children in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades for “misgendering” or “deadnaming” people.
The parents say such policies go against free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Examples of such behavior which could lead to stricter discipline include a student greeting a fellow male student as “he” even though he prefers to be called female, or calling transgender or other LGBT people by a name other than their newly chosen name.
The penalty for such actions allows for a suspension of up to five days, according to the district’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Booklet.
Concerned parents recently rallied outside the Luther Jackson Middle School to show their opposition to the school board’s proposed policy, according to The Federalist.
“It could be that some people are waiting for the stillness and quiet of a summer evening when we’re all not paying attention,” Stephanie Lundquist-Arora told the parents. “But I’m here to say, our enthusiasm for the First Amendment will not wane; we will not stop paying attention, even in the summer months.”
The Fairfax County School Board was supposed to discuss the change to the district’s student guide, but tabled the proposal until their next meeting on June 16, The Federalist reported.
In addition, parents at the rally also expressed their disapproval about the declining quality of their children’s education, including the chosen curriculum and the books available to children that portray different sexual acts.
CBN News reached out to the Fairfax County School Board for comment. In an email, Kathleen Miller, a spokesperson for the school board, sent the following statement:
“Please note that this language is not new. It was introduced to the SR&R last year. The language in the SR&R relates to the purposeful and deliberate misgendering of a student aimed at causing harm,” the statement read.
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