Virginia Teacher Who Opposes Using Preferred Pronouns Asks Court to Lift ‘Unconstitutional’ Suspension

Students raise their hands to answer a teacher’s question during a socially distanced classroom session at Medora Elementary School in Louisville, Ky. on March 17, 2021. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

A Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) teacher asked a Virginia court on June 2 to lift his suspension for opposing a proposal requiring instructors to use transgender students’ preferred pronouns.

Tanner Cross spoke briefly against the proposal during a May 25 Loudoun County Board of Education public meeting, then was told by letter two days later that he had been suspended pending further investigation “of allegations that [he] engaged in conduct that had a disruptive impact on the operations of Leesburg Elementary School.”