UPDATE! Judge rules school board action unconstitutional, teacher reinstated!
Last week, we asked you to support Loudoun County Public School teacher Byron “Tanner” Cross after the school board placed him on leave for saying he would refuse to recognize and sanction transgenderism by using pronouns that don't fit the biological make-up of students.
In a few short days, AFA’s petition supporting Cross has reached 49,520 signatures.
The Leesburg Elementary teacher addressed the regular LCPS monthly school board meeting about the district’s pro-transgender policy. He told the board, “I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it’s against my religion. It’s lying to a child, it’s abuse to a child, and it’s sinning against our God.”
Two days after telling the school board he would refuse to “lie to [students] regardless of the consequences,” the school announced Cross had been put on immediate leave from his duties as a physical education teacher.
Cross, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, immediately filed a lawsuit against the school board and today, the Virginia 20th Judicial Circuit Court ruled that Cross’ First Amendment rights were violated by the school.
The court said, “Upholding constitutional rights serves the public interest. Affirming the unconstitutional action taken against [Cross] which has silenced others from speaking publicly on this issue, serves the public interest. The public’s knowledge that [Tanner’s] speech was permissible, is encouraged and is free from governmental oppression serves the public interest. Governmental bodies being held in check for violating a citizen’s constitutional rights, serves the public interest.” Read the ruling here.
This is great news, as the court has once again ruled a Christian’s right to express their view, although unpopular with liberal-led factions, is a protected right under the First Amendment.
We thought you’d like to join us in thanking God for this great victory.
Please continue to pray for Mr. Cross and the many other Christian teachers who face these types of adverse conditions in public schools all across our nation.
ORIGINAL ALERT
For the second time in as many months, the Loudoun County Public School board has come under fire. This time, teachers and parents are speaking out against the district's policy of requiring staff to recognize and sanction transgenderism by using pronouns that don't fit the biological make-up of students.
Last week, AFA asked you to support Fight for Schools, a group of parents pushing to recall six of nine LCPS board members for implementing the very dangerous and Marxist Critical Race Theory.
Now, Leesburg Elementary teacher Byron "Tanner" Cross addressed the regular LCPS monthly school board meeting about the district's pro-transgender policy. He told the board, "I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it's against my religion. It's lying to a child, it's abuse to a child, and it's sinning against our God."
Two days after telling the school board he would refuse to "lie to [students] regardless of the consequences," the school announced Cross had been put on immediate leave from his duties as a physical education teacher, according to Foxnews.com.
TAKE ACTION
Byron "Tanner" Cross is demonstrating exactly the kind of boldness and dedication to the truth that AFA encourages on a daily basis.
Sign our petition to the Loudoun County Public School board praising Mr. Cross for protecting these students and for his brave stand for truth. Urge the Loudoun County school board to reinstate Mr. Cross and reverse its dangerous and unhealthy transgenderism policy.
