Overview

• Two transgender Virginia public school students filed lawsuits against the state over guidance that restricts their rights, including participation in sports and use of preferred names and pronouns.
• The guidance, issued by Governor Glenn Youngkin's administration, has been criticized for violating a 2020 law aimed at protecting transgender students' rights.
• The ACLU of Virginia, representing the students, argues that the policies harm transgender and nonbinary students and conflict with existing laws.
• School districts across Virginia have shown mixed compliance with the guidance, leading to a patchwork of policies.
• The lawsuits are part of a broader national debate over the rights of transgender students in schools.