Virginia
Fairfax County schools lose more than $3 million in federal funding
Department of Education cut funds over trans-inclusive bathroom, locker room policy
The U.S. Department of Education is cutting more than $3 million in funding from Fairfax County Public Schools because it allows students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.
The county’s Magnet School Assistance Program will bear the brunt of the $3.4 million loss in the upcoming fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. One of the three schools affected is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, ranked in August as the fifth best U.S. high school by U.S. News & World Report.
The cut follows the district’s decision to retain trans-inclusive policies in spite of the Trump-Vance administration’s Sept. 23 deadline requiring school districts to agree to change such policies. The Department of Education’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, Craig Trainor, wrote a letter to a variety of districts on Sept. 16 stating that the policies violate Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education.
Fairfax County Public Schools’ Regulation 2603.2 notes that “gender-expansive and transgender students shall be provided with the option of using a locker room or restroom consistent with the student’s gender identity.” Trainor’s letter defines such a policy as non-compliant with federal civil rights law, making the district ineligible for specialty magnet grants.
Michelle Reid, the district’s superintendent, released a statement in response to the Department of Education’s criticism, stating that abiding by federal demands would “discriminate against [Fairfax County] students.”
While the funding cuts target Fairfax County, controversy over gender-inclusive bathroom policies stretches throughout Northern Virginia.
The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in February began its probe into five Virginia school districts for allegedly violating Title IX provisions and promoting “gender ideology.” The investigation targeted Alexandria and Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties.
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares launched an investigation in May into how Loudoun County Public Schools managed objections to a trans student in an Ashburn high school’s boys’ locker room. Their action ensued from the district’s Title IX investigation of whether three male students sexually harassed the trans student amid their complaints.
Most recently, Virginia lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears called trans-inclusive bathroom policies “reckless” during an August Arlington School Board meeting. Her criticism came after the board affirmed its pro-trans policies.
Earle-Sears criticized the board for risking the loss of millions in funding by protecting transgender students.
Alongside Fairfax County, the Department of Education is withholding a total of $24 million from New York City and Chicago schools due to similar trans-inclusive regulations. The three school districts are some of the nation’s largest.
Virginia
Winsome Earle-Sears ‘Life and Marriage Tour’ to include Northern Va. stops
Voters to consider marriage equality, reproductive rights referenda in November
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears has announced her campaign against efforts to enshrine marriage equality and reproductive rights in the state constitution will make several stops in Northern Virginia.
Her “Life and Marriage Tour” will include stops in Manassas, Winchester, and Harrisonburg. Earle-Sears said the “Life and Marriage Tour” will also travel to Virginia Beach, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Charlottesville, and other cities across Virginia “throughout September and October.”
The announcement did not include specific dates.
“Virginia, you’ve been asking where the Life and Marriage Tour is headed — here’s a look at our current tour locations,” she said on X on Tuesday. “We’ll be traveling across the commonwealth throughout September and October, and we’re still building the journey.”
Current Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, last November defeated Earle-Sears, a Republican, in the race to succeed Republican Glenn Youngkin.
Voters in 2006 approved the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which defined marriage in Virginia as between a man and a woman.
Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Virginia since 2014. Youngkin a decade later signed a bill that codified marriage equality in state law.
Two successive legislatures must approve a proposed constitutional amendment before it can go to the ballot.
Spanberger signed bills that finalized the marriage equality and reproductive rights referenda’s language.
The referenda will take place on Nov. 3.
Virginia
Doug Ollivant to face Eugene Vindman in Va. 7th Congressional District
Republican defeated challengers in Tuesday’s primary
Republican Doug Ollivant will face off against incumbent U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
Ollivant defeated his Republican opponents in Tuesday’s primary. Vindman ran unopposed.
Vindman in 2024 ran to succeed then-Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the U.S. House of Representatives after she ran for governor. Spanberger succeeded Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2025.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Tuesday easily won his primary. All other Democratic incumbent members of Congress from Northern Virginia also won their respective primaries.
Virginia
Winsome Earle-Sears launches campaign against Va. marriage equality amendment
Former LG lost to Abigail Spanberger in 2025 gubernatorial race
Less than a year after losing Virginia’s gubernatorial race, former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is campaigning across the state against constitutional amendments that would protect marriage equality and reproductive freedom.
She is launching a statewide “Life and Marriage Tour” ahead of November’s election.
Although same-sex couples can legally marry under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, Virginia’s constitution still contains language that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Supporters say removing the language would protect marriage equality should federal precedent change.
The original ban was written into the state constitution in 2006.
It has been hinted at in the past by Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas that he would consider revisiting Obergefell v. Hodges regarding contraception and marriage rights for same-sex couples. He stated this in his concurring opinion regarding the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling, which allows for state-level abortion bans.
Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman said removing the ban would bring the state’s constitution in line with existing law.
“20 years after banning marriage equality, it’s time for our commonwealth to fully complete our evolution — and finish the job on protecting marriage equality for all,” Rahaman said.
In an email to supporters, Earle-Sears said these amendments “raise serious concerns” and could alter principles about which Virginians care.
“That is why our efforts are focused not only on informing voters, but also encouraging them to carefully consider these proposals and vote NO on both amendments,” Earle-Sears said.
Virginia voters will consider three constitutional amendments this November.
Earle-Sears is campaigning for voters to reject two of them: the Virginia Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment and the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment.
A “Yes” vote on the Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment would include removing a provision that states marriage is between one man and one woman and prohibitng the state from denying a marriage license to two adults based on their sex, gender, or race, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
In 2025, during debates against now Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Earle-Sears argued it is not discrimination to think that gay people should not be allowed to marry. She claims it conflicts with her faith.
According to ABC 8, in 2024 she wrote that she had a “moral opposition” to marriage equality, after former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, signed a marriage equality bill that barred denying marriage licenses based on sex, gender, or race.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, a “Yes” vote on the Reproductive Freedom amendment supports adding a section to the state constitution that would give Virginians the right to make and carry out decisions regarding reproductive healthcare, except in specific exemptions.
The Virginia Department of Elections wrote that if accepted, the amendment would allow the state government to pass laws to regulate abortion care in the third trimester of pregnancy, but require abortion care when it is medically needed to protect the life and health of the pregnant person or because the fetus is not viable.
During the 2025 election cycle, Earle-Sears was clear on her anti-abortion stance.
According to the Virginia Independent, she utilized campaign funds to donate to the Family Foundation of Virginia. The group is a faith-based, anti-abortion, and anti-in vitro fertilization non-profit.
The “Life and Marriage Tour” will include traveling throughout Virginia to speak with citizens, churches, community organizations, and local leaders. The exact locations have yet to be announced.
-
California4 days agoSan Francisco, long a queer safe haven, remains competitive for homebuyers
-
Netherlands5 days agoTrans, nonbinary Americans find refuge in the Netherlands
-
Calendar4 days agoCalendar: August 28-September 3
-
Movies4 days ago‘Teenage Sex and Death’ has never been more entertaining
