Two Virginia High School Boys Suspended After Locker Room Filming Incident

Loudoun County, Virginia – Two male students at a Virginia high school have been suspended for ten days following an incident in a boys' locker room involving a female student who identifies as male and allegedly filmed the boys. The suspensions have ignited significant controversy, drawing criticism from parental rights advocates and the state's Attorney General, who question the school district's handling of the situation.

The controversy stems from an event where a female student, identifying as male, entered the boys' locker room and reportedly used her phone to film. The male students present expressed discomfort regarding her presence and the filming, leading to a Title IX investigation by Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). Advocate Erika Sanzi highlighted the perceived injustice on social media, stating, > "A GIRL who identifies as a boy uses the boys' locker room, films boys in there with her phone and THEY end up suspended?"

LCPS Policy 8040 permits students to use school facilities, including restrooms and locker rooms, that align with their "consistently asserted gender identity." However, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has referred the school district to federal authorities, asserting that LCPS improperly targeted the male students for expressing discomfort rather than for misconduct. Miyares stated that footage did not show discriminatory behavior, only the boys asking the student to leave.

While LCPS officials confirmed that no privacy laws were violated as no compromising positions were filmed, the incident has fueled ongoing debates about gender identity policies in schools. Parents Defending Education, where Erika Sanzi serves as Director of Outreach, frequently campaigns against school policies that allow gender transitions without parental knowledge, framing such measures as psychosocial interventions.

This event in Loudoun County underscores the escalating tensions between student privacy, parental rights, and evolving gender identity guidelines within educational institutions. The suspensions have brought renewed scrutiny to how schools navigate these complex issues, particularly concerning single-sex spaces and student conduct in sensitive environments. The legal and social implications of such policies continue to be a significant point of contention nationwide.