Press Releases

Organizations Advocating for Virginia LGBTQ+ Youth Respond to Hanover County School Board’s Proposed Restroom and Locker Room Policy

Hanover fails at every turn to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all of its students by proposing a policy that would place an undue burden on trans students to "earn" the right to use public school facilities.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ+ Rights

ACLU-VA's Comment Opposing Classroom Censorship Model Policies

The ACLU-VA  opposes the VDOE's proposed model policies that will only exacerbate an alarming trend toward classroom censorship, all while denying students the opportunity to be inspired by stories of people from all walks of life trying to live authentically in school curriculum.

ACLU of Virginia files Amicus Brief in Vlaming vs. West Point School Board Case

The ACLU of Virginia filed an amicus brief in support of West Point School Board against a teacher who refused to call a trans student by the correct pronouns. It's the teacher's job to provide an inclusive environment for all students. Free speech is not an excuse to discriminate.

ACLU-VA Statement on the Overturn of Roe v. Wade

We will never stop working to ensure that Virginia remains a place where women and people who can become pregnant are empowered to make choices for their lives and determine their own futures. Now is the time for Virginians to join together and fight. We’re not giving up – we're just getting started

ACLU-VA Statement on Gov. Youngkin’s Signing of Classroom Censorship Legislation

Gov. Youngkin signed into law Senate Bill 656 (SB 656), which would give parents the authority to prevent their children from learning material deemed “sexually explicit content.” While the bill is lauded by some as parental choice, its true intent and impact is classroom censorship.

ACLU-VA & Partners Investigate All Communication Between the Hanover County School Board and Alliance Defending Freedom

The ACLU-VA & partners filed a FOIA request for all communication between the Hanover County School Board and the Alliance Defending Freedom. The organization’s disturbing and erroneous positions clearly should disqualify ADF from providing legal advice to the Hanover County School Board.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ+ Rights

Amicus Brief in Support of Transgender & Nonbinary Students Allowed to Proceed

Alliance Defending Freedom and its clients are casting this as a free speech and religious freedom issue, but each public school teacher has an obligation to comply with the law and policies of their school district and to respect, protect, and educate all their students.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ+ Rights