Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit
ASHBURN, Va., Jan. 12, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a 5-4 vote Tuesday night, the Loudoun County School Board rejected a proposal to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the protected characteristics listed in its equal employment policy.
Instead, the board voted unanimously to add a paragraph stating the school system hires based on excellence and merit, and values diversity in employees and students. ACLU and others had asked the board to go beyond the requirements of Virginia and federal law and add additional categories of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." These categories would have violated Virginia's "Dillon rule" which requires local nondiscrimination laws to not be more stringent than the state law. State law does not include "sexual orientation," "gender identity," or "gender expression."
"This is good news that the Loudoun County School Board is not caving to radical activists regarding its employment policy," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Individuals should be hired according to qualifications and merit. The law already protects employees from discrimination based on race, age, biological sex, and religion. The Constitution does not protect a person's choice of sexual lifestyle."
Liberty Counsel filed an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court. The appeal seeks to overturn the Fairfax County Circuit Court's decision validating a similar proposal adopted by the School Board of Fairfax County. Liberty Counsel sued the school board for illegally changing its nondiscrimination policy and adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" and "gender expression" to its policy and student handbook. Virginia civil rights laws explicitly prohibit local governing bodies from altering the state's nondiscrimination policy. Liberty Counsel represents Jake Doe, a minor, John and Jane, the parents and Andrea Lafferty.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
