parenting

Legal Aid Groups Demand Virginia Schools Comply With Title IX, Supreme Court Decisions

America First Legal (AFL) and the Founding Freedoms Law Center (FFLC) sent a joint letter to all 132 Virginia school districts “to educate them about recent legal changes on matters affecting sex and ‘gender identity’ within public schools.” 

AFL, a nonprofit law firm defending Americans’ constitutional rights, explained in a press release that schools have obligations to comply with Title IX and two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Mirabelli v. Bonta. Otherwise, “they could face significant legal and financial liability” for violating Title IX and the First and Fourteenth Amendments. 

The letter to the school districts, a seven-page legal memo, warned that not following B.P.J. and Mirabelli “could subject a school district to the loss of its federal Title IX funds, formal investigations by the federal Department of Education, and lawsuits by aggrieved students and parents, as well as the Department of Justice.”

B.P.J. was a landmark decision, handed down in June 2026, where the Court ruled that states are allowed to protect girls and women’s sports with laws separating sports based on biology.

AFL stated that Virginia schools are violating Title IX if they privilege boys who claim to be girls over female students: 

In five Northern Virginia school districts, for example, girls who are uncomfortable sharing locker rooms and bathrooms with biological males are expected to find separate facilities. AFL’s letter explains that this is sex discrimination under Title IX and that in B.P.J., the Court made clear that under Title IX, “sex” refers to biological sex, not “gender identity.”

It’s not just girls who want to keep sex-segregated facilities. Boys want their privacy, too. Title IX and the decision in B.P.J. protect them from unwanted invasion of their private spaces by girls who claim to be boys. 

Districts had been relying on a 2020 court case, Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, to allow students access to facilities based on their self-proclaimed “gender identity,” rather than on their sex. Gavin Grimm was a female student who “identified” as male and was denied access to boys-only facilities. The United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said this violated Grimm’s equal protection and Title IX rights.  

However, as the legal memo explained, Grimm has been overruled by the Supreme Court’s sensible decision in B.P.J.: 

Now, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in B.P.J., Grimm is no longer viable authority.

FFLC is the legal arm of The Family Foundation, a Focus on the Family ally that works on behalf of life, marriage, parental rights, free speech and religious freedom. The organization noted that the Court’s rulings “fundamentally altered the legal landscape” for school districts. 

Mirabelli v. Bonta was an important victory for parents, with the Court ruling against California policies requiring schools to hide information about a child’s sexual identity confusion. The Court said parents were likely to succeed in their challenge to state policies which “cut out the primary protectors of children’s best interests: their parents.” 

As a result, as FFLC President Victoria Cobb stated in a press release announcing the letter, “Virginia school boards no longer have any legal excuse for policies that put politics ahead of the law and ignore students’ and parents’ rights.” 

AFL and FFLC’s memorandum explained that schools will face consequences for ignoring Mirabelli: 

School districts that maintain policies allowing staff to facilitate a student’s social transition without notification to and consent of his or her parents can face liability pursuant to the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

The letter “summarizes the governing law, explains why many existing policies should be reevaluated, and identifies steps your school division should take now to reduce legal exposure.”  

Among other demands, the memorandum called on school boards to: 

• Review all policies governing athletics, locker rooms, restrooms and overnight accommodations to ensure eligibility is based on biological sex.

• Rescind any policy allowing staff to facilitate a student’s social transition without parental notice or consent. 

• Remove references to Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board as authority supporting “gender-identity”-based access to sex-separated facilities. 

• Consult legal counsel regarding potential conflicts with recent case law.

• Assess pending litigation risk and revise policies before they become the subject of administrative complaints or federal lawsuits.

Both AFL and FFLC concluded their letter with a warning: 

Founding Freedoms Law Center and America First Legal will continue to monitor Virginia school divisions’ compliance and are prepared to represent parents and students whose rights have been violated by unlawful policies or practices.

Related articles and resources: 

Barrett v. Kagan: Key Takeaways From Supreme Court Ruling on ‘Transgender’ School Policies

Blockbuster Supreme Court Ruling: Girls Sports Are for Girls

Clarence Thomas: There are Only Two, Unchangeable Sexes

Education Department Finds Northern Virginia School Districts Violated Title IX

‘Equipping Parents For Back-To-School’ – Updated Resource Empowers Parents

Federal Judge Rules Against Bathroom Privacy

Feds Open Yet Another Title IX Investigation Into Loudoun County Schools

Loudoun County Schools Defy Education Department Over Multiple Title IX Violations

Poetic Justice: Virginia school district loses federal funding day after bogus suspension.

Supreme Court Affirms Parents’ Rights Over California’s ‘Transgender’ School Policies

Top 5 Moments From Supreme Court Arguments Over Girls Sports

What’s Your School District’s ‘Transgender’ Policy?

Going ‘No Contact’ Is On The Rise — Here Are 3 Reasons Why

The “no contact” phenomenon is rapidly gaining traction, as secular media encourages young adults to “cut off” parents and family members at any sign of conflict. 

According to a 2025 YouGov Study, 38% of American adults say they are currently estranged from a relative – an incredibly depressing statistic. Yet, in a time where families need each other more than ever, going “no contact” is constantly being proposed as a solution to minor familial disagreements. 

What exactly does going “no contact” mean? An article entitled “6 Signs It’s Time to Go ‘No Contact’” explains:

It’s fairly taboo in most cultures to just cut ties with your family. (Blood is thicker than water, yadda, yadda, yadda.) But, sometimes, ending a relationship is necessary to protect your peace.
“[No contact] is ultimately a person saying, ‘This relationship has become so unmanageable for me, and staying in contact is no longer an option.’”
It’s something someone does when a relationship cannot continue in its current form (or exist at all) because of how it’s affecting your mental health and well-being.

In another article from the same website, the author encourages people to cut off relationships with their family members: “Life with my parents felt impossible, but once I chose to distance myself from them, the world became much easier to navigate.”

Laura Wellington, a mom who took to TikTok after being randomly cut off and uninvited to her daughter’s wedding, warns that estrangement is becoming a more normalized way to address family tension, even in cases without abuse or neglect. 

“I was literally just completely blindsided by this,” said Wellington. “The pain of being cut off – it’s a pain you can’t describe unless you feel it.”

In an episode of Oprah Winfrey’s podcast, psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman said: 

The old days of “honor thy mother and thy father,” “respect thy elders,” and “family is forever” has given way to much more of an emphasis on personal happiness, personal growth, my identity, my political beliefs, my mental health. So much so that today, “protecting my mental health” is the single most common thing that I see in every single letter from every estranged adult child.

However, recent research suggests that “family estrangement is significantly associated with lower life satisfaction and higher levels of depressiveness.”

Additionally, the Cornell Family Estrangement and Reconciliation Project writes: 

The biggest regret for many older adults was an estrangement with a family member. Their advice to others was to do whatever possible to reconcile with estranged relatives rather than waste years – if not decades – in anguish and despair as they had done.

If family estrangement is so deeply regretted, what is contributing to the current “no contact” epidemic?

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Richard L. Blake suggests 3 reasons American adults are cutting off their parents. 

The first involves differing beliefs. From political views to disagreements regarding romantic partners, any conflict of opinion has seemingly become a reason to separate from one’s family members. 

“There were people more likely to cut off someone for having a differing opinion than for people who have done serious violent crimes,” said Blake. 

Additionally, psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert told Fox News Digital: 

I regularly work with families where estrangement isn’t driven by abuse or neglect as much as it is by political identity and voting behavior. … Parents are cut off because of who they voted for, what news they watch or the views they express. … What would once have been handled as disagreement is now framed as moral injury.

Social media or external influences may also encourage an adult to cut off their parents. A recent influx of “no contact” testimonials have reportedly inflamed the problem of familial estrangement in recent years. 

“Someone might see a video on TikTok – ‘I cut off my parents, and I’m much happier now. They were toxic narcissistic boundary crossers. And now I’m great,’” said Blake. “And people mimic that. Or they think, ‘Oh, this person’s getting a lot of attention.’”

“It’s this lie they’re getting sold on social media,” he continued. “‘Cut off your parents and your mental health will be better.’”  

Yet according to Blake, “Families are one of the most evidence-based buffers against mental illness.” 

Third and finally, poor communication – specifically the use of buzzwords like “abuse,” “toxic,” “boundaries,” “narcissist,” and “gaslighting” – can contribute to familial estrangement.

In reference to this language, Geremy Keeton, senior director of counseling services at Focus on the Family and a licensed marriage and family therapist, said:

Terms like “abuse” and “toxic” are necessary, informative and useful when used objectively and accurately – and in the rightly defined ways. Yet the terms and concepts are too powerful to be misapplied. They can be useful or detrimental.

When these words arise, Dr. Blake advises:

I tell parents to pause before they really react … and then say back, “Okay, you’ve used the word toxic. Can you describe the behavior or behaviors that you consider to be toxic?” Then you’re dealing with facts and events, rather than who’s a better person or who’s the worst person.

Regarding the heartbreaking, rapidly growing problem of family estrangement, Keeton also commented:

Our culture on the whole seems to be swinging a certain way right now. Families who need help and reconciliation are frozen in stalemates or simply shut down at times. Family is being treated as disposable by some. I say this while fully acknowledging the need for distance, boundaries and greater safety in many instances too.
Discernment, not reaction, is needed. Wisdom, seeking true wisdom, is key.

If you’re struggling with family estrangement and need a listening ear, Focus on the Family offers a free, one-time counseling consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor. To request a counseling consultation, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) or fill out our Counseling Consultation Request Form. 

Related Articles & Resources:

The Silent Epidemic of Parent-Child Estrangement

Family Estrangement: 6 Ways to Reconcile with Adult Children

Healing Parent and Adult Child Relationships

Distance In Relationship with Grown Child

The Gut-Wrenching Heartbreak of Parental Estrangement

Just Annoying, or Truly Unsafe? How to Navigate Get-Togethers With Difficult Family

Help For Abusive Relationships

Court Upholds Florida Law Protecting Children From ‘Adult’ Performances — Including Drag

A federal court restored enforcement of a Florida law protecting children from “adult live performances,” shows or presentations that depict nudity, sexual conduct or specific sexual activities. 

Hamburger Mary’s, a drag-themed restaurant chain, challenged the state’s Protection of Children Act, saying it violated its freedom of speech. A district court enjoined the law, keeping the state from enforcing it while the suit was going through the trial process. 

A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld that decision, but the full court then reheard the case and overturned the universal, state-wide injunction in an 8-5 decision. 

Florida’s SB 1438 was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. The legislation made it a first-degree misdemeanor for hotels or restaurants to admit a child to an adult live performance. Establishments that did so could receive fines or have their licenses revoked or suspended. 

The law defined “adult live performances” as “any show, exhibition, or other presentation in front of a live audience which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities … lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.” 

The Protection of Children Act defined a performance as out of bounds for children when it: 

1. Predominantly appeals to a prurient, shameful, or morbid interest. 

2. Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community of this state as a whole with respect to what is suitable material or conduct for the age of the child present. 

3. Taken as a whole, is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for the age of the child present.

Hamburger Mary’s complaint said the restaurant “has presented drag performances at its venue since 2008,” explaining that it offered “family friendly” performances on Sundays. The lawsuit said:  

There is no lewd activity, sexually explicit shows, disorderly conduct, public exposure, obscene exhibition, or anything inappropriate for a child to see.

Even though its “family friendly” drag shows were so tame, the chain “advised its customers that children would not be permitted to attend any drag shows,” out of fear they would be prosecuted under the act. Hamburger Mary’s said the statute had “a chilling effect” on their protected speech. 

Why change policies if your performances are suitable for children? 

The restaurant said the act violated its First Amendment rights, arguing that “the statute is not content-neutral” and “is view-point discriminatory because it targets drag queens.” The suit pointed out that Florida’s SB 1438 was passed after the DeSantis administration began investigating and speaking out against children attending drag shows with inappropriate content. 

But the law targeted any venue that allows children to view adult live performances that depict lewd sexual conduct – not just drag shows. The word “drag” does not appear in SB 1438.

In asking for an injunction against the law, the restaurant chain also argued that the law’s use of the term “lewd” and the phrase “the age of the child present” made it “unconstitutionally overbroad and vague.”

The 11th Circuit majority ruled that the district court erred in blocking any enforcement of the law for two reasons:  

First, the district court lacked authority to impose a universal injunction that prevented the enforcement of the Act against everyone in Florida.

The court pointed to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Trump v. CASA, where the Court said federal district judges can’t universally enjoin the enforcement of an executive or legislative policy against all people and parties. The 11th Circuit said the case didn’t just apply to nationwide injunctions, adding that “there is no statewide exception to CASA.” 

The opinion then explained: 

Second, Hamburger Mary’s was not entitled to even a more limited preliminary injunction to prevent the enforcement of the Act because its claims do not have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits.
The Supreme Court of Florida’s definition of “lewd” eliminates any overbreadth, and the use of the phrase “age of the child present” does not render the Act unconstitutionally vague.

Hamburger Mary’s v. Florida moves back to the federal district court, though the restaurant can appeal the circuit court’s decision to the Supreme Court. 

Meanwhile, the state can protect children by enforcing the law. 

Related articles and resources: 

Children in Drag

Christopher Rufo Explains the Real, Dark Intentions Behind Drag Queen Story Hour

Commonsense Tennessee Law Protecting Children is Upheld

Drag Queen at Seven Years Old — The Sobering Reality of Children in Drag

Drag Queen Story Hour Admits To Grooming Your Kids

Florida Governor Weighs Ordering Investigation Into Parents Who Take Children to Drag Shows

Judge Blocks Montana Law Protecting Children From Drag Shows

Kentucky Senate Passes Bill Protecting Children From Sexually Explicit Adult Performances – Including Drag Shows

No, You Shouldn’t Take Your Children to an LGBT Pride Parade

Tennessee Passes Bill Banning Drag Shows in Presence of Minors

Children Are the Future of Every City

Back in 2012, Kathy Keller – now the widow of the beloved Dr. Tim Keller, author and founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City – wrote a popular article for the Gospel Coalition with a counterintuitive headline: 

“Why the City is a Wonderful Place to Raise Children.”

Here’s how she began the piece:

In 1988 when Tim first mentioned the idea of us going to Manhattan to plant a church, I reacted by laughing. Take our three wild boys (the victims of below-average parenting, as well as indwelling sin) to the center of a big city? Expose them to varieties of sin that I hoped they wouldn’t hear about until, say, their mid-30s? My list of answers to “What is wrong with this picture?” was a long, long one.

Kathy went on to tell the Kellers’ happy story of not only surviving the move and the subsequent years in Gotham, but actually loving and thriving as a Christian family amid the darkness and light of an urban area.

But Monday’s Wall Street Journal, points to a developing trend suggesting families are fleeing cities in record numbers.

A Journal analysis of U.S. Census data has found that the total number of children in America’s largest cities is down 6% over the past decade, but especially so when it comes to families with boys and girls under the age of five. The number of toddlers is down 15% in cities, compared with a nationwide decline of 7% among children overall.

“In all, the number of children declined in about two-thirds of the 38 U.S. cities with more than 500,000 residents,” reports the Journal.

Given the overall declining birthrate in America, you’d expect fewer children everywhere, but mothers and fathers are giving up on cities for a variety of reasons and some for very specific ones.

The cities suffering the most significant loss include San Jose, Calif. (-20%), Los Angeles, Calif. (-16%), Albuquerque, N.M. (-15%) and Portland, Ore. and San Diego (-14%). 

Of course, mothers and fathers with children have to go somewhere, and you can probably surmise where many of those wanting to remain in urban areas apparently have relocated – cities in “red” states. Of the top ten cities that gained children, nine of them have more conservative representation. Fort Worth, Tex., and Jacksonville, Fla. (+11%) top the charts.

Other cities in “red” states enjoying modest growth include Columbus, Ohio, Charlotte, N.C., Kansas City, Mo., and Oklahoma City.

Parents fleeing big cities often cite the high cost of living. Despite Kathy Keller’s ringing endorsement of raising children in New York City, I knew someone who once quipped it was great to do likewise, but a whole lot easier if you had someone following you with a wheelbarrow full of cash. It’s easy to see why. Rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan can be as high as $10,000 a month.

The decline of children from major metropolitan areas is triggering devastating consequences. Fewer children lead to lower tax revenue and an aging population that increasingly draws on government benefits while fewer workers are paying into the system. This spiral has caused New York City’s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to call for “free” childcare as an incentive to keep younger families with children in the five boroughs. 

But the fallout isn’t just financial. 

Fewer children lead to a less dynamic and energized environment and a far more selfish and self-centered population. Children elicit wonder and creativity. Without lots of children, churches and organizations become stale and lose vitality. Traditions fade and the entire vibe of the city shifts. Instead of seeing couples walking with children, you see singles and couples walking their dogs. 

Kathy Keller concluded her essay in 2012 by highlighting a laundry list of reasons to love city living. She prefaced it by stating:

My sons loved the city growing up, and love it even more now, not just New York, but all cities. London, Hong Kong, Berlin, Singapore all excite them, whereas a quiet, empty suburb bores them to tears. They love the density of people, the diversity of culture, even the sounds and bustle. While they have an appreciation for mountains and the sea, for camping and hiking, they always want to return to the city, with its needs (one son is a pastor) and its possibilities (one is an urban planner). Having them nearby is just a bonus.

Whether you have chosen to raise children in a city, suburb, or rural setting, we can all be in agreement that every area desperately needs young people – and that the Lord has a perfect plan for each one regardless of where they may live.

3 Ways to Pass Faith on to Your Children

Recently distilled and released research confirms what generations of mothers and fathers have discovered to be true: parents remain the strongest influence on the current and long-term faith of their children.

Earlier this summer, our friends at the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) pored over mountains of data and came to the following conclusions:

• Religious practice in childhood is highly predictive of religious practice in adulthood

• Higher parent–child relationship quality in childhood is associated with stronger retention of religious belief and practice in adulthood

• Higher parental marital quality is associated with greater faith transmission

• Congregational involvement on the part of both parents and adolescents is linked to higher levels of faith commitment when children reach adulthood

In short, our children are watching and taking mental notes. How mothers and fathers behave today has a lasting impact on how their children live and what they believe tomorrow.

It was belief in this fundamental and foundational principle that drove Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson to begin the ministry in 1977. He talked and wrote often about the influence his parents, especially his father, had on him personally as he grew in his Christian faith. In fact, it was in a Sunday evening church service that his pastor dad was preaching when he was just three years old that he walked the aisle and committed his life to Jesus.

Here’s how he recalled that pivotal incident:

[My father] invited those who wished to do so to come forward, and I joined them. I recall crying and asking Jesus to forgive my sins. It is overwhelming for me now to imagine the King of the universe caring about an insignificant kid barely out of toddlerhood!

Not all children will heed a call to faith that early or dramatically, of course—nor should they be expected to. Yet it is important to note that my own conversion at that young age was possible because of my parents’ example. From my first days, I saw them on their knees, praying and talking to the Lord. They later told me that I attempted to pray before I learned to talk, imitating the sounds I had heard.

If you set a faithful example beginning with the day your sons and daughters are born, they will never forget what they have seen and heard. Even if they reject God later, the remnant of those early memories will be with them for the rest of their lives—and may well bring them back to the fold. As parents, this is our privilege and duty as outlined in Scripture: “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, KJV).

That conversion occurred nearly 90 years ago, and its impact continues to shape Focus on the Family today. Without James and Myrtle Dobsons’ example, would their son have served the Lord and years later launched a global ministry? 

Team members here share a magnificent obsession that was seeded in that small church service—to encourage and equip mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, to pass on their faith to the next generation. It’s the most important task of parenting, and it would be impossible for us to overemphasize its importance.

IFS concludes their report with practical recommendations for mothers and fathers on how best to pass on their faith in Jesus Christ to their children:

1. Be your children’s role model for faith: If you’re not serving the Lord, don’t expect your children to behave any differently.

2. Prioritize a strong marriage and parent-child relationship: Be certain your children know how much you love your spouse and make sure you’re not putting work or social events ahead of time with your sons and daughters.

3. Make faith formation a joint effort and build it into everyday family life, including making it a regular topic of family conversation: The Christian walk is not simply a Sunday exercise but instead a seven-day-a-week adventure. 

IFS didn’t invoke the wisdom of the Bible, but Moses’ admonition in the book of Deuteronomy applies here:

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deut. 6:6-7, ESV).

Focus on the Family considers it a privilege to serve mothers and fathers and families by equipping and cheering them on when it comes to passing the baton of faith on to the next generation.