Byron “Tanner” Cross, the gym teacher at Leesburg Elementary which is part of Loudoun County Public Schools, was placed on leave after voicing his opposition to proposition 8040. The proposed policy would require educators to address trans students by their preferred pronouns. Citing his opposition as being rooted in his Christian faith, Mr. Cross spoke during a board meeting, stating, “It’s against my religion, It’s lying to a child. It’s abuse to a child, and it’s sinning against our God.”

He was recently reinstated after the 20th-Judicial Circuit of Virginia ordered Loudoun County to do so, stating that “his suspension was an act of retaliation following his exercise of his rights to free speech in that, 1) his speech was constitutionally protected, 2) the Defendants’ retaliatory action adversely affected the Plaintiff’s constitutionally protected speech, and 3) there was a casual [sic] relationship between the speech and the action.” 

The School district has vowed to appeal the ruling to the Virginia Supreme Court, quick to point out that parents and students have expressed fear after Cross’s testimony before the school board. They conveniently failed, however, to mention the huge outpouring of support for Mr. Cross, from both parents and students alike, whose voices aren’t aligned with the leftist agenda of the school district.

Speaking in support of Mr. Cross, another teacher, Jeremy Wright, called school board members the “Chardonnay Antifa” for their treatment of the embattled teacher.

Holding up a stack of papers, Mr. Wright said, “For the members of Chardonnay Antifa, here is your assignment with a copy of the First Amendment attached,” adding, “I’m going to leave this here, and I hope you learn something.”

 

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