A Virginia elementary school teacher is put on leave, telling the schoolboard that he would not affirm transgender kids because it is against his religion to do so.
Byron Tanner Cross is a PE teacher who gave a speech to the Loudoun Country school board meeting on Tuesday, placing an argument against the policies that force teachers to use pronouns that a transgender child identified with. Another policy allows transgender kids to take parts in sports of the group of the gender that they identify with.
He was not satisfied, saying that it “defiles the holy image of God” and constitutes “child abuse”.
He tells the board, “My name is Tanner Cross and I am speaking out of love for those who are suffering from gender dysphoria. It’s not my intention to hurt anyone, but there are certain truths that we must face when ready.
We condemn school policies [that] would damage children, defile the holy image of God. I love all of my students but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences. 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.
It’s lying to a child, its abuse to a child, and it’s sinning against our God”.
Shawn Lacey, the principal of Leesburg Elementary, sends out an email to the parents to inform them that Cross has been put on leave as of now. The length of his leave is still unclear.
In the email it states, “I’m contacting you to let you know that one of our physical education teachers, Tanner Cross, is on leave beginning this morning. In his absence, his duties will be covered by substitute staff already working in our building.”
Loudon County is home to around 400,000 people and has become a microcosm of the issues that include controversial issues that the nation is facing right now. There are an influx on conversations that involve the critical race theory, transgender rights, gay rights, and free speech.
Parents have been up in arms from the school’s policy to promote diversity, thinking that they are limiting their free speech and throwing away their tradition.
Tanner Cross’ wife, Angela, posts a response on social media platform, Facebook, thanking people for their support.
She said that he was sorry that he didn’t get to say goodbye to his students. In response, Ian Prior, a spokesman for Unsilenced Majority, says that “It is shameful what Loudoun County Public Schools did to this teacher for expressing his beliefs to the school board.
He was exercising his First Amendment rights of free speech.”