LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) will suspend two boys who attend Stone Bridge High School because of their interactions with a female student who identifies as male, and chooses to use the boys’ locker room at school.
Earlier this year, 7News Reporter Nick Minock was the first to report that LCPS launched a Title IX investigation into the students after they were recorded on video asking why there was a girl in the boys locker room.
7News was also the first to report that the female student who identifies as male was the one who recorded the video in the locker room — A violation of district policy.
LCPS’s Title IX Office launched an investigation based on that video and the male-identifying student’s complaint. That office has now determined the two boys are responsible for sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination, according to attorney, Josh Hetzler, who represents the families.
Hetzler said they were notified by LCPS Friday evening.
The punishment includes a ten day of suspension and a no-contact order with the complainant, including not being able to be in any of the same classes.
The boys are also required to meet with school administrators to determine a corrective action plan, according to Hetzler.
SEE ALSO | ‘I really fear for my son’: Family leaves Loudoun Co. after LCPS locker room investigation
The family of one of the boys found to have harassed and discriminated against the male-identifying female student moved out of Virginia with his family.
We’re told that should the student return to LCPS, his suspension and other discipline will commence at that time.
The boys’ parents previously raised concerns that the Title IX violations will be on the boys’ academic records. The boys will be juniors in high school this fall, which is when students begin applying for colleges.
The Virginia Attorney General investigated this situation over the summer and determined LCPS utilized an unlawful, discriminatory, and retaliatory Title IX investigation to silence students’ sincerely held religious beliefs. Attorney General Jason Miyares referred the matter to the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for further investigation. We are waiting to learn whether either or both of those agencies will act on those referrals.
LCPS’s policy allows students the option to use bathrooms and locker rooms at school based on self-determined gender identity, not biological sex.
SEE ALSO | Locker room latest: Dad says family may leave Loudon County over Title IX investigation
LCPS’s decision to suspend the students comes on the heels of the Loudoun County School Board’s decision not to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s demands that LCPS and other Northern Virginia districts reverse bathroom and locker room policies which allow students to use the facilities which match their chosen gender identity, not biological sex.
In July, the U.S. Department of Education determined LCPS, Fairfax County Public Schools, Prince William County Public Schools, Alexandria City Public Schools, and Arlington Public Schools’ bathroom and locker room policies violate Title IX.
However, on Friday, all five school systems announced they would not change those policies.
Arguing they are in place to comply with a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in a case called Grimm v. Gloucester County.
In that case, the court found refusing to allow a transgender student to use the bathroom that affirms their gender identity constitutes sex-based discrimination.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education told 7News it had begun the process of cutting federal funding to those five school districts, which could cost each of them tens of millions of dollars a year.
“The Virginia divisions will have to defend their embrace of radical gender ideology over ensuring the safety of their students,” a portion of the department’s statement read.
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