The Republican nominee in the Virginia gubernatorial race has expressed support for a Loudoun County teacher who has been suspended over his comments against transgender students.

Tanner Cross, a physical education teacher at a Leesburg elementary school, during a May 25 school board meeting said he would not use a student’s preferred pronouns to refer to them.

The school board is considering a pronoun policy in response to a Virginia Department of Education directive to school districts to make their policies more trans-friendly.

“On a day when we’re celebrating and honoring and remembering the 1.2 million Americans who gave our lives for our freedom, to protect our constitution, it’s amazing to me that we see a Loudoun County school board ignore and absolutely trample on Tanner Cross’ constitutional rights to express not only his religious rights, but also his right to free speech at a time when they invited such a discussion,” said Glenn Youngkin on Monday during an appearance on Fox News. “Now they’re trying to cancel him simply for expressing his views that are in the best interests of the children and expressing his faith. It’s absolutely shameful.”

As governor, I will stand up for teachers like Tanner Cross. I am calling on the Loudoun County School Board to reinstate Tanner Cross fully because they have absolutely ignored his constitutional rights.

If we don’t stand up for our teachers and parents, who will? pic.twitter.com/mI5qGzfzBH

— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) June 1, 2021

Youngkin’s campaign in an email referred the Washington Blade to a Tuesday segment of “The Vince Coglianese Show” on WMAL, a D.C. talk radio station, that focused on the issue.

Youngkin during the segment accused the school board of promoting “their leftist liberal agenda.” Youngkin also called for the school board to “absolutely reinstate Tanner immediately.”

“It is an express violation of his constitutional right,” said Youngkin.

Youngkin has previously said he does not support allowing trans children to play on sports teams that are consistent with their gender identity. The former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group is widely expected to face former Gov. Terry McAuliffe — the frontrunner in the June 8 Democratic primary — in the general election.