School Board meeting addressing transgender rights turns contentious

By Valerie Cury

The Loudoun County School Board held a public meeting on June 22 to discuss the issue of transgender student rights and new policies being proposed. 

The meeting was packed.

The Board cut off public comment after a third interruption. More than 250 speakers had signed up to speak, but by the time the meeting was cut off only 51 had spoken. All speakers were given one minute to speak.

The public input focused on transgender and gender-expansive policy proposals, which affect a transgender student’s rights, including restroom privileges and the student’s preferred names and pronouns. The policy proposal is identified as 8040.

A vote on 8040 is not expected until August or later.

Insightful comments

“It is possible to find compassionate ways, and protect every child fairly, without trampling all these core Constitutional rights,” said Candi Cushman, vice president of Family Foundation of Virginia. “We are asking you to put the protection of kids’ minds, bodies, and hearts first and foremost ahead of political advocacy …”

Another speaker, who is transgender, encouraged the Board to support 8040 because “it improves the physical and mental health of all transgender students.” As a transgender woman herself, she had a message for all transgender students: “Please know there are many people who love and support you.” 

The next speaker was a transgender woman from Herndon. She said that she was in attendance to “ask for compassion for those who experience things you may never completely understand.” 

The seventh speaker who said she was the mother of a transgender student, said, “I am back here today as a proud parent of a transgender son in a Loudoun County School.” She said the community was “focusing on the hate that seems to be dripping off the followers of Jesus in this room and from their kids in the schools,” referring to what she felt the majority of parents in attendance represented.  Her remarks evoked loud objections and boos from the crowd.

The School Board’s response

School Board Chair Brenda Sheridan called a five-minute recess to let things cool off.

Upon the Board’s return, Sheridan said the members had voted unanimously to end the public comment section should the crowd interrupt another time. “The board is here tonight to hear from everyone … We ask again that you respect each other, and everyone is allowed to speak and have their time … [or] we will end public comment and move to our next agenda item …”

The twelfth speaker’s remarks met with muted applause, which prompted Sheridan to issue one more warning, saying, “This would be the last time.”

Various individuals spoke in support of LCPS teacher Tanner Cross, who had expressed his disagreement with the 8040 policy at a previous School Board meeting. For upsetting a few parents and students at his school, Leesburg Elementary, the school district suspended him. However, that action resulted in a Circuit Court ruling against LCPS that required Cross’s reinstatement. Since then, LCPS has appealed the Circuit Court decision to the Virginia Supreme Court.

The speakers arguing on Cross’s behalf urged the Board to withdraw its appeal, calling it a waste of taxpayer dollars.

They also urged School Board members who are facing a recall movement to “resign now and save the taxpayers money.”

Another parent asked the Board, “Why is indoctrination allowed under your watch … Why is religious freedom trampled on under your watch … and why is science and basic freedom of speech being condemned in school?”

Another attendee asked, “If I declare I’m a woman today, can I follow you into the women’s bathroom? This is a school building after all.”

Retired State Senator Dick Black on “Board bigotry”

In an impassioned speech, retired State Senator Dick Black said, “You retaliated against Tanner Cross by yanking him from teaching for addressing a public hearing of this Board. His comments were not [treated as] protected speech …          

“It’s absurd for teachers to call boys girls and girls boys. You are making teachers lie to students, and even kids know that it’s wrong.

“This Board has a dark history of suppressing free speech. They caught you red-handed with an enemies list to punish opponents of critical race theory,” which is a 40-year-old academic concept that teaches that racism is a social construct and not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice. Black said that the Board’s policies are “teaching children to hate others because of their skin color, and you are forcing them to lie about other kids’ gender.”

Black concluded by saying that he was disgusted by the Board’s bigotry.

Debate ends, “The Star-Spangled Banner” and finger-pointing begins

The crowd burst into cheers, clapping, and waving posters— enough for Vice Chair Atoosa Reaser (D-Algonkian District) to move to end the public comment session. The motion was seconded by Leslee King (D-Broad Run). The Board voted 9-0 to end public comment, and the members left the dais.

“Shame on you,” protestors shouted and began singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The attendees did not leave and, led by Hamilton resident Jon Tigges, formed a line and took turns saying what they had planned to state in the public hearing with the Board.

Approximately 20 minutes into the continued “public comment,” a heated discussion began on the right-hand side of the room between two acquaintances—Jackie Schworm and Scott Smith—on opposite sides of the 8040 policy issue.    

It appeared that Schworm was making threats against Smith, poking him with her fingers. Smith began cursing loudly at Schworm while displaying aggressive behavior. A few people tried to get Smith to leave, but they were unsuccessful.

Deputy intervenes in “unlawful assembly”

Sensing that an argument was imminent and could spark fisticuffs, a Loudoun County deputy intervened and told Smith he had to leave. Smith continued behaving aggressively, pushing back at the officer.

Another officer tried to help get Smith out of the room, but Smith continued to resist. Four officers finally subdued and handcuffed him. He was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.

At this point Scott A. Ziegler, superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools, announced the meeting to be an unlawful assembly. Therefore, attendees who did not leave would be trespassing on school property. Ziegler directed law enforcement to clear the room.

Jon Tigges, who had organized the unofficial speakers’ group, refused to leave until everyone in the room had finished speaking. He was escorted out in handcuffs and put in a police van.

The photographs here show individuals at the June 22 Loudoun County School Board meeting. They represent speakers on opposing sides of the LCPS draft 8040 transgender and gender-expansive policies now under review. Also included are photos of the crowd, protesters, and those arrested or detained.