On Nov. 19, conservative media watchdog Accuracy in Media (AIM) released a video on its YouTube channel criticizing Meridian’s failure to comply with state policy for transgender students regarding the use of restrooms and locker rooms.
In July 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin published the document “Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.” These guidelines included requirements that students use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their biological sex.
The policy outlines that “Students shall use bathrooms that correspond to his or her sex, except to the extent that federal law otherwise requires. See Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, 972 F.3d 586 (4th Cir. 2020).”
A year earlier, FCCPS released a statement indicating that the division would follow the provisions outlined in the Supreme Court Case of Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, which established a precedent allowing students to use bathrooms that correspond with their sexual identity in line with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
However, this past July, five school districts in Northern Virginia, not including FCCPS, were investigated by the Department of Education (ED) for violating Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, based on complaints of transgender students using bathrooms aligning with their gender identity.
FCCPS was not included in this investigation because while the other school districts have written policies to protect the rights of transgender students, FCCPS does not. As a result the ED could target these policies as contrasting state policy.
AIM claimed they launched their investigation into Meridian due to its proximity to Arlington County Public Schools, which was recently in the spotlight following the arrest of registered sex offender Richard Cox after complaints of his inappropriate behavior in girls’ locker rooms. Cox identifies as female but is biologically male and was permitted to use these facilities as a result of Arlington’s policy, which allows individuals to use locker rooms and restrooms based on their gender identity.
AIM’s president, Adam Guillette, spoke to The Lasso about the basis of their investigation and its examination beyond concern for legal compliance.
“A sex offender was regularly using the girls’ locker rooms…he was a convicted sex offender, but he was convicted a while back before they had official sex registries,” Guillete noted. “He took advantage of these rules to regularly use the girls’ locker rooms on weekends and do those things in front of young girls.”
Guillette highlighted how this issue should be a concern for Meridian as a result of our proximity to Arlington.
“We visit school districts all around the country, but what’s exceptionally unique about yours is that you are literally fifteen minutes from where a convicted sex offender took advantage of those policies to do unconscionable things,” Guillette said.
Both of these cases occurred at Wakefield High School and recreational centers in Arlington outside of regular school hours.
Since the incident, Arlington County Public Schools was consolidated into the ongoing case of Fairfax County School Board v. McMahon, in which both districts are fighting to continue to allow facilities to be used on the basis of gender identity. Oral arguments will take place at the end of January.
Nonetheless, Guillette stands firm with AIM’s concerns for the safety and well-being of students at schools like Meridian.
“There is an executive order protecting girls in locker rooms and in sports, there is a state law protecting girls in locker rooms and in sports, and there is a darn good reason, given what happened in Arlington to protect girls in locker rooms, bathrooms, and in sports,” Guillette explained.
In response, FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade commented, “We continue to value and support every student in our school community, and we will continue to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect.”
