Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Loudoun County School Board in Virginia, alleging that the board violated the constitutional rights of two Christian male students by enforcing its Policy 8040. According to the department, this policy requires all students and staff to accept and promote specific views on gender identity, which affected how students use facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms.
The Justice Department's complaint states that at Stone Bridge High School, a female student entered the boys’ locker room under Policy 8040 and recorded audio and video of male students. Following this incident, several boys spoke out about their concerns, including two Christian male students whose religious beliefs direct them to use biologically accurate pronouns and sex-segregated facilities.
According to the suit, Loudoun County determined these students' actions constituted "sex-based discrimination" and "sexual harassment," despite being motivated by their religious convictions. The school board suspended both boys for ten days and required them to participate in a "Comprehensive Student Support Plan," which the Justice Department claims further infringes upon their right to freely practice their religion at school.
“Students do not shed their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Loudoun County’s decision to advance and promote gender ideology tramples on the rights of religious students who cannot embrace ideas that deny biological reality.”
The Justice Department has requested permission from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to intervene in an ongoing case, S.W. et al. v. Loudoun County School Board.
