Youngkin, a Republican elected in 2021, proposed an overhaul to rules that would affect transgender students’ ability to use the bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity and require schools to receive parental approval before using a transgender student’s changed name or pronouns.
Youngkin found himself at odds with many voters and elected officials in the state that—despite his surprise victory—has trended Democratic in recent years.
Critics of the changes, which are set to go into effect October 27 following a 30-day comment period, accuse Youngkin of targeting an already-vulnerable population to score political points with conservatives.
Supporters of the “parental right” policies argue that parents have a right to know what their children are doing in school, including if they identify with the LGBTQ community.
The Richmond school board voted Monday night to reject Youngkin’s policy changes, instead passing their own Transgender Protection Resolution.
“Transgender students deserve to learn and thrive in an environment free of bullying, intimidation, and fear,” the board’s resolution reads. “Therefore, be it resolved that the Richmond City Public School Board rejects Governor Youngkin’s model policies and affirms its commitment to providing protections for all students regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
The resolution, introduced by board member Liz Doerr, passed 8-1, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. It also received praise from Superintendent Jack Karmas.
“I just wanted to note for the record that the administration strongly endorses Ms. Doerr’s resolution,” he said, according to the Times-Dispatch.
Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter criticized the Richmond school board’s decision in a statement to Newsweek on Tuesday.
“Children belong to families not bureaucrats and schoolboard members,” Porter wrote. “Virginians spoke clearly last year and they continue to say that parents matter. Parents deserve to be involved in all critical discussions about their children. Schoolboards should bring them into the conversation, not cut them out of it.”
Other Virginia schools resist Youngkin policy
Richmond joins other school districts, including Arlington and Alexandria in the state’s Washington, D.C., suburbs, in pushing back against Youngkin’s policies. However, Youngkin said that schools will be required to comply when the rules go into effect, during an interview with WJLA-TV last week. The issue has divided Virginians, with more than 55,000 residents weighing in on the public comment forum.
“So this wasn’t something that school districts are given a choice,” he said.
The new policies sparked student-led protests in Virginia schools, including some in Richmond, last Tuesday. Thousands of students from nearly 100 schools joined the protests, walking out of classes. President Joe Biden’s administration expressed support for the students.
“He believes transgender youth should be allowed to be able to go to school freely, to be able to express themselves freely, to be able to have the protections that they need to be who they are,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Update 10/4/22, 1:04 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a statement from Youngkin’s office.
