A settlement in the matter of Byron Tanner Cross vs. Loudoun County Schools Board was reached on November 10, 2021.
Back in late May, Leesburg Elementary School physical education teacher Byron “Tanner” Cross chose to take a stand and speak up against the Loudoun County School Board District’s Policy 8040, which dictated insertion of transgender policies and language rules into the educational setting.
For Cross’ objection to the policy and his statement that he would not adhere to it, Cross was promptly placed on leave, and then suspended by the Loudoun County School District. Cross filed suit against the school board with the aid of Alliance Defending Freedom. The VA Circuit Court issued an injunction allowing Cross to be reinstated up until December 31, 2021 while the County and ADF negotiated in court.
Cross’s suspension was one among the many misjudgments, mistakes, violations, and fraudulent behavior that the Loudoun County School Board has made. From two sexual assaults no doubt spawned from that very transgender policy, to the County’s cover up of said assaults, to the father of the first girl assaulted being targeted, maligned, and arrested, to the board implementing more invasive policies and curriculum surrounding sex and gender, the RedState team has documented the lot of them. It is certain that there will be more.
Loudoun County School Board decided to reduce one of its considerable losses and reached a settlement agreement with Alliance Defending Freedom and Cross.
Fox News Reports:
The Loudoun County School Board has agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting it from retaliating against Leesburg Elementary School teacher Tanner Cross, the teacher who got suspended for speaking out against the pro-transgender Policy 8040. The school board settled Cross’s lawsuit by agreeing not to take further action against him, but Cross and other teachers are still challenging 8040 in court.
“Just today, the court issued a final order permanently prohibiting the Loudoun County Public School Board from punishing me for freely expressing my views,” Cross said at a news conference after the settlement on Monday. “I can now confidently continue teaching at Leesburg Elementary School without fear of punishment for expressing my views.”
Policy 8040 stipulates that school staff must use students’ preferred pronouns to identify students, allow them access to facilities compatible with their gender identity, as well as provide training and support for LGBTQ+ students.
It’s a significant win. Scott Ziegler, the Loudoun County Superintendent, and Lucia Villa Sebastian, interim Assistant Superintendent are required to remove any reference to Cross’ suspension from his permanent record. Cross’s speech against Policy 8040 cannot be retaliated against in any manner. ADF also has to pay the legal fees that are covered by the school district.
Cross is among a number of teachers who filed further claims against 8040. This lawsuit will be continued against Loudoun County school board.