In a letter to students, staff and families, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) said it will continue to “develop and implement gender-affirming policies for all ACPS students” despite new policies outlined by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
On Friday, Youngkin’s administration proposed new policies to restrict bathroom use and which pronouns transgender students can use. The new policies would restrict students to the bathrooms and locker rooms associated with the sex assigned at birth regardless of gender identity, NPR reported.
The letter, from interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and School Board Chair Meagan Alderton, said ACPS’ policy of nondiscrimination has included recognized gender identity and gender expression as protected classes, a status that won’t change despite state policies.
“As a School Board and division, we are concerned with these ‘model policies’ that do not align with our mission, vision and core values to support all students and staff, in particular our core value of ensuring that w provide a welcoming environment for everyone in our school community,” the letter said.
Several School Board members took to social media to voice their support for the letter and condemnation for the proposed state policies.
Trans kids: We see you. You are safe with us. https://t.co/WlLooQuFMR
— Ashley Simpson Baird (@ASBforACPS) September 20, 2022
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/WhfURhu4m5
— Kelly Carmichael Booz (she/her) (@kellycbooz_acps) September 18, 2022
The new policies are part of a broader trend of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced at a state level. The letter said the new policies proposed by Youngkin’s administration would “set the clock back” for civil rights in Alexandria.
Alexandria to Youngkin: Nope pic.twitter.com/nSbMb6idHD
— Andrew Beaujon (@abeaujon) September 19, 2022
Just got this message from the school about Youngkin's horrendous policy on trans students.
I'll be interested to hear more specifics about how exactly they plan on continuing to protect students if this policy gets enacted. pic.twitter.com/JvtMwCzOYk
— Becky Hammer (@beckyhammer) September 19, 2022
Recent Stories
More than 200 people have signed a petition against ABC Virginia opening a new location on S. Washington Street in Old Town. At the same time, another Change.org petition has…
Seven months after Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed in a brawl at the Bradlee Shopping Center McDonald’s, the city has made some progress on putting together a series of…
Updated at 3:15 p.m. Alexandria City High School’s campuses evacuated at 2:25 p.m. today after a bomb threat was made earlier by phone. Principal Peter Balas wrote that the bomb…
Ask McEnearney reviews the real estate market from the 4th quarter of 2022 and how it compares to the 4th quarter of 2021.
Hi, my name is Moneim Z., and I am a blind male with chronic kidney disease, who needs a living kidney donor for a transplant. My blood type is B+, and I can accept a kidney from individuals who have blood types B and O.
To read my story, please see the attached letter.
To contact me directly, please email me at [email protected] or call at 571-428-5065. My living donor coordinator at INOVA Hospital, Amileen Cruz can be reached at (703) 776-8370 , or via email at [email protected]
Thank you!
If you’re looking for a mental health professional in Virginia, Washington D.C., or Maryland, we can help.
We provide a confidential and convenient way to get the help you need from the comfort of your own home.
We offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if our services fit your needs.
The services we offer are:
