A teacher is suing after being put on paid leave for refusing to use trans and nonbinary students' chosen pronouns

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A teacher is suing after being put on paid leave for refusing to use trans and nonbinary students' chosen pronouns
Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
  • Virginia teacher Byron "Tanner" Cross told school officials he would not call trans students by their pronouns.
  • He was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident and is now suing the school.
  • This comes as over 100 pieces of anti-trans legislation are being considered across the country.
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Virginia fitness teacher Byron "Tanner" Cross was placed on paid administrative leave after saying he would not use trans and nonbinary students' chosen gender pronouns. Cross is now suing to reverse his leave, claiming it's a violation of his first amendment rights.

According to NBC Washington, Cross said during a recent school board meeting that it went against his religious beliefs to call trans students by their chosen pronouns.

The state suggests schools implement regulations that require schools to call trans and nonbinary students by their chosen pronouns rather than ones that correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth. The proposed policy update came after a state mandate ordered all public schools to review their existing gender pronoun policies, according to the Hill.

The Leesburg Elementary School gym teacher was placed on leave after parents and fellow teachers filed complaints about his statements.

Cross hired attorneys from conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom to fight his leave, stating the decision violates his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, according to The Hill.

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The legal battle between Cross and his school is a flashpoint in the culture war taking place across the US between trans youth, their advocates, and lawmakers looking to cut back on protections.

As of June 1, there are over 100 pieces of anti-trans legislation being considered by state legislators.

Advocates say that the passage of these bills will lead to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among trans youth.

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