Last updated on March 28th, 2024 at 09:41 pm
The original post mistakenly said the School Board made this decision. Instead, it was the Board of Supervisors. The article has been edited with the correction.
In a controversial move, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia has declared Easter Sunday 2024 as “Transgender Visibility Day,” causing outrage among many Christians who see this an intrusion on their most revered holiday. The board extended its existing recognition of June as LGBT Pride Month and October as LGBT History Month, amounting to an unprecedented 62 days of LGBT celebration in the district’s schools.
Rev. Emma Chattin, the executive director of the Transgender Education Association, commended the board’s decision, underlining that visibility is especially significant for trans women of color who encounter multiple societal prejudice barriers. Conversely, Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, a Fairfax local, called the move a direct message to Christians that they are not important, as it converts their significant day into a celebration of an ideology that counters their fundamental beliefs.
The nine Democrats on the school board unanimously supported the proposal, while the sole Republican, Patrick Herrity, was absent. Board member James Walkinshaw expressed his hope for complete support for such proclamations in the future from all board members. Democrat Dalia Palchik highlighted the high depression and suicide rates among transgender students, making it morally and public health imperative that the community rallies together.