Dave LaRock stands up to the ACLU-VA with the following statement:
Hamilton, VA – Delegate Dave LaRock today responded to a misleading press release and letter from the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia (ACLU-VA). The press release claimed that “…the Loudoun County School Board… has the legal authority and obligation to implement non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies to prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The letter, signed by Gail M. Deady, Esq., “The Secular Society Women’s Rights Legal Fellow” at ACLU of Virginia, was poorly-researched, as evidenced by the deliberately misleading content of the letter, as well as addressing it to the Loudoun County Government’s attorney, rather than the Loudoun County Public Schools’ division counsel. The letter is designed to intimidate and mislead Loudoun County School Board members into a hasty, unnecessary, and illegal action that could harm vulnerable children in Loudoun County. Similar action in neighboring Fairfax County brought a lawsuit that is pending before the Virginia Supreme Court, so action by the LCPS Board could also have significant financial cost to Loudoun taxpayers.
The claims in the letter are based largely on a highly-controversial opinion from Attorney General Mark Herring, and a policy letter from the Obama administration that is subject to a nationwide injunction from a federal judge. Neither the Herring opinion nor the Obama letter carries force of law.
The ACLU is providing false information when they claim LCPS has an “obligation to implement non-discrimination… on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” I sued Attorney General Herring over a related question, and he admitted in a May 10, 2016 opinion that
…the law is unsettled whether “sex,” as used in federal anti-discriminatory statutes, includes “gender identity” or “sexual orientation” as a categorical matter. Consequently, the scope of that term for the purposes of applying the VHRA is likewise unsettled. …it would be premature at this time to offer a definitive opinion on the question of whether sex discrimination categorically includes sexual-orientation and gender-identity discrimination…. Neither the Supreme Court nor the Fourth Circuit has decided whether Title VII’s prohibition on sex-based discrimination per se bars discrimination based on gender identity.’
The ACLU’s involvement demonstrates their typical eagerness to fundraise by opposing common-sense laws and pursuing a radical social agenda. They are misleading Loudoun County’s elected officials and the public in a way that could bring significant harms to Loudoun County citizens. Our Loudoun County School Board should see through this charade, and I encourage Loudoun County citizens to contact them. We must urge them to reject this foolish attempt to give the ACLU and their radical social agenda a victory they desperately need after their recent resounding electoral defeat.
About Dave LaRock
Delegate Dave LaRock represents the 33rd House District, including parts of Loudoun, Clarke and Frederick Counties, and the towns of Leesburg (partial), Purcellville, Berryville, Lovettsville, Round Hill, Hamilton and Hillsboro. LaRock serves on the Transportation Committee, the Science and Technology Committee and the Education Committee. Dave and his wife, Joanne, have lived in Loudoun for 29 years, building a successful family-owned general contracting business. The LaRocks reside near Hamilton with Laura, Abby and John, the youngest of their seven children.
16 comments
Lifting a Family Foundation e-mail for anyone in Loudoun (or elsewhere) that wants to get off their couch and do something:
Loudoun County School Board members plan to vote on the school district’s newly proposed “harassment” policy at their next meeting on Jan. 10th and they need to hear from you! Even though similar efforts were recently defeated in neighboring Fairfax and Prince William, groups like the ACLU are aggressively pushing this radical agenda in Loudoun County Public Schools.
At the Board’s last meeting, activists filled the room to pressure the Board into changing its policy to add “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity” as special protected statuses. As you no doubt recognize by now, adding this language into the district’s “harassment” policy is merely the latest ploy to open up school locker rooms, showers, and bathrooms to children of the opposite sex.
It even appears clear from the proposed policy that simply by referring to another student or teacher by the pronouns that correspond to their biological sex could be considered “sexual harassment” if that student or teacher decides to “identify” as being of the opposite sex while insisting that everyone else affirm them in it.
The School Board chose to delay the vote they had planned to take at its last meeting, citing legal concerns. Though it is clear that such a policy change would violate both state and federal law, we hear that it will likely be a close vote. School Board members need to hear from their constituents on this issue.
Please CLICK HERE to email the Board and make sure they know that you do not want your children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends to be stripped of their privacy, security and dignity in locker rooms, showers and bathrooms. And furthermore, that children should not be forced to ignore biological reality to indulge the subjective feelings of teachers and classmates.
Please also plan to attend the School Board’s January 10th meeting and sign up to speak if you’re willing. The meeting will be held Tuesday, January 10, at 6:30 PM, at the School Board Meeting Room, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA. You can sign up to speak by calling 571-252-1020 or via email at [email protected].
We believe this politically-motivated policy change can be defeated, but the school board members need to hear from the people that matter most to them – parents and residents.
We hope to see you there Jan. 10th!
All I can say is The Almighty has worked some miracles this year: Trump and VT Football
That is the TRUTH!
With a large enough level, and guys like LaRock, we can move the world!
Thanks for sticking up for the citizens of Loudoun County against a bullying, lying ACLU, sadly enabled by disgraceful Attorney General Herring.
Hopefully, we can elect a new Republican AG in 2017.
Yep, just great Dave.
On another note, looking back on your legislative record in previous years as a chief patron, I don’t see not one piece of legislation that you introduced that has anything to do with jobs or the economy in Virginia.
Perhaps I missed those bills that you introduced pertaining to jobs and the economy? Can you help me find them, Dave?
Please first find where politicians and government have the power and ability to do anything other than expand with government workers and thus become a greater drag on the economy.
Ok, here is one, want more?
https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/60-minutes-preview-mississippi-factory-jobs/?client=safari
This is bribing with taxpayer dollars, what’s the return — politicrats picking winners and losers.
How do you figure that? The tax breaks?
Now, are you going to tell me that those people in Mississippi would be better off on Welfare?
Read the other post where Democrats are moving a bill to de-criminalize child prostitution. Government isn’t all dollars and cents.
On the local level, we have Democrats here in Loudoun that want an anything-goes bathroom policy despite the fact that child predators often use public restrooms as their stomping grounds.
When Democrats assault common decency, we need to fight back at all levels of society and that includes government.
That other post and this post, the root problem is still the love of money.
Can’t you see that?
No, I don’t. Explain please.
Well that is one way not to answer the question.
Good for you, Dave! It’s nice to have a voice of reason and common sense in the midst of carefully twisted claims. The siren song of inclusion has drawn many to shores of confusion. The ACLU-VA might also be asked if they desire ‘protection from bullying’ for a 50-yr-old male teacher who identifies as a 9-yr-old girl. Enabling and celebrating a mental disorder is not the school system’s purpose.