Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican running for governor, has raised concerns over the potential loss of federal funding for five Northern Virginia schools due to their non-compliance with transgender policies. During an interview on ‘Fox & Friends,’ Earle-Sears emphasized the importance of student safety in locker rooms and bathrooms, arguing that the Trump administration’s recent executive order barring transgender students from using facilities based on their birth-assigned gender has left some schools in a difficult position.
Earle-Sears expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “Virginia doesn’t have any issue with that. It is these five Northern Virginia schools that are having some sort of… issue, understanding that safety means safety and education is what they’re supposed to be about, not about these other issues.” This comment highlights the growing divide between the state’s educational institutions and federal policy on transgender rights.
She also brought up a specific case where a transgender student was found to have sexually assaulted another child at one of the affected schools. According to Earle-Sears, the school failed to take appropriate action, instead sending the student to another school in the state where the same behavior occurred again. “All in this issue about biological men in a girl’s bathroom. This is nonsense,” she said, accusing her opponent, Abigail Spanberger, of not speaking out against the situation.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding her campaign continued with the viral spread of a protest sign at an Arlington County school board meeting. The sign, which equated transgender bathroom access to racial segregation, drew widespread condemnation and was criticized by Spanberger as ‘racist, abhorrent, and unacceptable.’ Earle-Sears, however, argued that her opponent’s response was weak and that she should have taken a stronger stance.
With the gubernatorial race intensifying, the political implications of this issue are becoming more significant. The potential loss of federal funds for non-compliant schools adds another layer to the debate over transgender rights in public education. As the election approaches, both candidates will likely continue to highlight their positions on this issue to sway voters.