SETTLED — Teachers Who Oppose ‘Transgender’ Policy and VA School District They Sued Just Settled the Lawsuit

A circuit court heard arguments on Tuesday in the case of three teachers who sued a Virginia school district over a “transgender” policy that would force them to mislead and deceive parents. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) announced that the parties have settled the lawsuit.

Under the policy, teachers must use students’ preferred names and pronouns and cannot disclose this information to parents.

Deborah Figliola, Kristine Marsh, and Laura Nelson filed a lawsuit against the school board on the teachers’ behalf. They claimed that the “transgender” policy violates the state constitution, the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and other legal provisions.

ADF said that as part of the settlement, the Harrisonburg City School Board will not force teachers to mislead and deceive parents and will respect their First Amendment rights. From ADF (emphasis added):

In the order resolving the case, the school board agreed that Deborah Figliola, Kristine Marsh, and Laura Nelson do not have to ask students to share their pronouns and the teachers need not necessarily use pronouns inconsistent with students’ biological sex. The school district also acknowledged that it “does not support hiding or withholding information from parents” and it will continue to inform staff that similar religious accommodations are available to employees.

Why would the school district have created such a policy if it doesn’t support hiding or withholding information? I think we know the truth, but the district certainly wasn’t going to admit the truth.

“As teachers, we care deeply about the children entrusted to our care,” Figliola said. “We could not idly stand by while the schools’ administration enforced a policy with a radical, one-size-fits-all approach to students struggling with their gender, and that allowed parents to be pushed out of the picture. We’re thrilled for this legal victory that allows religious educators in the Harrisonburg school district to do the job we love, in a manner true to our faith.”

Photo credit: Alliance Defending Freedom

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