A Virginia elementary-school teacher was placed on administrative lead after he refused to comply with the far-left school district’s pro-transgender ideology.
Byron “Tanner” Cross, a physical education teacher in Loudoun County, challenged the school district’s transgender policies during a school board meeting on Tuesday, likening them to “child abuse.”
“My name is Tanner Cross and I am speaking out of love for those who are suffering from gender dysphoria,” he told the school board.
“60 Minutes this past Sunday interviewed over 30 young people who transitioned but they felt led astray because of lack of pushback or how easy it was to make physical changes to their bodies,” Cross said. “… They are now detransitioning.”
Cross pointed out how damaging pro-transgender policies could be to young, impressionable children.
“I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences,” he said.
“I’m a teacher, but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it’s against my religion,” he continued. “It’s lying to a child, it’s abuse to a child, and it’s sinning against our God.”
The policies Cross was referring to required Loudoun County public school teachers to use students’ referred pronouns “regardless of the name and gender recorded in the student’s permanent educational record.”
Just two days after Cross confronted the school board, the district announced he would be placed on leave.
“I’m contacting you to let you know that one of our physical education teachers, Tanner Cross, is on leave beginning this morning,” Principal Shawn Lacey wrote to parents. “In his absence, his duties will be covered by substitute staff already working in our building.”
Loudoun County Public Schools confirmed Lacey had sent the email but did not explain why Cross had been put on leave.
Wayde Byard, a spokesman for the county, did note, however, that “the decision to place an employee on leave is not the principal’s.”
