In a move that has ignited significant public discussion, the Chesapeake Public Schools Board of Education in Virginia voted to revise its employee policy to prohibit the compelled use of transgender-identified students’ and staff members’ preferred pronouns and personal titles.
The decision, reported by The Christian Post, was approved by a 7–2 vote during a December school board meeting and centers on protecting the constitutional and conscience rights of educators and staff.
According to the newly adopted policy language, school district employees are instructed to “refrain from providing to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.”
The policy further clarifies that no staff member may be forced to address students or fellow employees in a manner that violates their constitutionally protected rights, including religious convictions and freedom of speech.
The policy also extends protections to students, stating that they cannot be compelled to refer to staff members using titles or pronouns that conflict with their beliefs.
School Board Chair Angela Swygert explained that the policy is not intended to prohibit voluntary behavior but to prevent coercion. She stated that “the voluntary use of alternative pronouns and titles by employees amongst their peers is not prohibited by this policy.”
Swygert added, “A person who does not fundamentally agree with the use of alternative pronouns and titles cannot be compelled to use them.” Her remarks emphasized that the policy aims to balance personal respect with constitutional freedoms.
Despite the board’s approval, the decision faced strong opposition from members of the public. The majority of speakers during the public comment period criticized the policy, arguing that it could negatively impact transgender students and staff.
Following the vote, the editorial board of The Virginian-Pilot issued a sharply critical response, claiming the policy “proudly proclaim[s] its intolerance.”
The editorial warned that the measure could “single out transgender teachers, staff and students for embarrassment and ridicule,” and characterized the policy as regressive in its handling of gender identity.
The Chesapeake decision occurs amid a broader national debate over gender ideology in public schools and the limits of compelled speech.
Across the country, several school districts have faced lawsuits and legal settlements after disciplining teachers who declined to use preferred pronouns on religious or philosophical grounds.
In Virginia, the West Point School Board previously agreed to a $575,000 settlement with a teacher who was terminated after refusing to use male pronouns for a biologically female student. A similar case in Kansas resulted in a $95,000 settlement involving a teacher dismissed under comparable circumstances.
Supporters of the Chesapeake policy argue that it reaffirms First Amendment protections and prevents government institutions from enforcing ideological speech. Critics, however, contend that the policy risks marginalizing transgender individuals and increasing social tension within schools.
