Suspended Teacher Files Lawsuit Against Loudoun County Schools

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A Loudoun County teacher who was placed on paid leave after disputing the school system's policy toward transgender students has filed a lawsuit. The teacher, Tanner Cross of Leesburg Elementary School, was placed on administrative leave last week after his comments at a school board meeting.

Cross has filed the lawsuit with the legal backing of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group "committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life," according to its website.

Loudoun County Public Schools has not specified an exact reason for Cross' sudden leave. In a letter to Cross, the school system said the leave was "pending an investigation of allegations that you engaged in conduct that has had a disruptive impact on the operations of Leesburg Elementary School."

The letter was hand-delivered to Cross less than 48 hours after his comments at a Loudoun County School Board meeting.

Read more: Teacher Who Disputed School's Transgender Policy Placed On Leave

At the board meeting, Cross stated that Policy 8040, which intends to affirm the identity of transgender and gender non-conforming students, ran counter to his religion. "We condemn school policies like 8040 and 8035 because it will damage children and defile the holy image of God," Cross said.

"I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa," Cross continued. "It's against my religion, it's lying to a child, it's abuse to a child, and it's sinning against our God."

The Alliance Defending Freedom said Cross' comments were protected under the First Amendment. "Mr. Cross's expression during public comment time at an open school board meeting was undoubtedly expression in his private capacity on a matter of public concern," said Tyson Langhofer, who works as senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom.

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Loudoun County Circuit Court.