Federal Investigation Finds Loudoun County Violated Boys’ Title IX Rights
The Department of Education (DoEd) closed its investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Tuesday, concluding the school district violated the rights of two boys who asked, “Why is there a girl in the boys locker room?”
DoEd’s Office of Civil Rights began investigating LCPS over its treatment of a now-infamous Title IX dispute between three high school students.
Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded schools and education programs. In May, a female student filed Title IX complaints against two boys she had filmed rhetorically asking why she was in the boys locker room.
The girl had been using boys’ facilities under LCPS Policy 8040, which allows students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their “gender identity,” rather than their “biological sex.”
On August 18, LCPS concluded two of the boys’ comments constituted sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination under Title IX. One student was given a ten-day suspension, with additional “corrective action” to be determined in conjunction with faculty.
The other no longer lives in Virginia. His family moved to North Dakota in a futile attempt to prevent LCPS from labeling him a “sexual harasser.”
The boys had filed their own Title IX complaint arguing girls should not be allowed in boys bathrooms and locker rooms, but LCPS dismissed it without action. It’s unclear whether the female student faced any consequences for improperly filming in a school locker room.
LCPS punished the boys for violating Title IX, but DoEd says they are the true victims. Its investigation found the school district violated both boys’ Title IX rights by:
- Failing to properly respond to their complaint about a female in the boys locker room.
- Failing to treat both Title IX complaints equally.
- Retaliating against them for reporting sexual harassment.
“[Office of Civil Right’s] investigation revealed a sex-based double standard,” the department’s press release reads, continuing:
The statement reiterates the department’s well-established position that Title IX requires sex-segregated bathrooms and locker rooms. Last month, DoEd put LCPS and four other Virginia school districts on “reimbursement status” after they refused to separate private spaces by sex rather than “gender identity.”
The districts must submit their bills for reimbursement pending termination of their federal funding, worth a combined $50 million.
Yesterday’s press release gave LCPS 10 days to realign with Title IX by:
- Rescinding the boys’ suspensions.
- Redoing the investigation correctly.
- Writing apologies for failing to properly investigate Title IX complaints.
- Assuring both boys and their parents that LCPS will investigate their Title IX complaint.
- Training LCPS staff to properly receive and respond to Title IX complaints.
Failure to comply will result in referral to the Department of Justice — and it certainly won’t increase the district’s stock with DoEd.
The department’s involvement is a big win for the boys and their families, who are still fighting LCPS’ judgement. On September 12, the district denied the boys’ internal appeal. Founding Freedoms Law Center and America First Legal plan to sue LCPS on the families’ behalf in the coming weeks.
Please join the Daily Citizen in praying federal involvement will convince LCPS to do the right thing and leave the boys alone.
Additional Articles and Resources
Loudoun County Boys Win Reprieve from Unjust Suspension
Poetic Justice: Virginia school district loses federal funding day after bogus suspension.
Loudoun County Schools Defy Education Department Over Multiple Title IX Violations
DoEd Finds Northern Virginia School Districts Violated Title IX
Irate Parents Excoriate Loudoun County Schools Superintendent and Board Over Sexual Abuse Coverup
Virginia School District Ignores Parents’ Opposition, Implements ‘Gender Identity’ Lessons
‘Equipping Parents For Back-To-School’ – Updated Resource Empowers Parents
Department of Education Launches Multiple Investigations Into Title IX Violations
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