A Virginia school board proposed a resolution that teachers and advocates are concerned will 'out' LGBTQ students to their parents
- A Virginia school board proposed a rule that could "out" students to their parents, The Washington Post reported.
- The provision is scheduled to be discussed at a board meeting on Monday.
A Virginia school district proposed a resolution that some advocates and teachers worry would "out" LGBTQ students to their parents, The Washington Post reported.
The Orange County Public Schools district plans to discuss the resolution on Monday as well as proposals on Critical Race Theory, NBC29 reported.
CBS19 reported that the provisions were brought up in a draft resolution that was presented at an April 25 board meeting. The Post reported that the provisions were proposed by board member Chelsea Quintern.
The resolution was incorporated as a way to abide by a state bill that was signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin last month. That bill requires schools to inform parents if their kids get assigned books or material with sexually explicit content, WUSA9 reported.
Both measures come as a number of GOP-led states have passed bills banning discussions about sexual orientation, race and gender identity in schools.
One of the provisions in the Orange County Public Schools proposal said the school board "requires schools to notify parents of healthcare services and involvement in critical decisions affecting students' physical, mental and emotional well-being; including, but not limited to self-identification," The Post reported.
A teacher who spoke to The Post anonymously said the resolution is "a clear instruction to 'out' students to their parents." The teacher told the Post that an estimated 80% of students in the Gay-Straight Alliance club across the district are "not out to their parents."
"Counselors are looking up their ethical guidelines" in response to that resolution, he told the Post. "Teachers are talking about civil disobedience."
The Post, referencing a video of the meeting posted on Facebook by an attendee, reported that Quintern said she was ready to bring the issue to a vote but other members have asked for more time to hear public opinion and review statewide guidance, which is expected to be released on July 1.
LGBTQ advocates believe that the provision to out students to their parents goes beyond Youngkin's bill, which only calls for parents to be made aware of sexually explicit content.