Bryon “Tanner” Cross, a teacher in Loudoun County, VA, who refused to use preferred pronouns for trans students, has been put on leave.
Cross, a Christian, passionately about those “ suffering from gender dysphoria” at a policy meeting on Tuesday regarding the “Rights of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students.”
“My name is Tanner Cross, and I am speaking out of love for those who are suffering from gender dysphoria,” Cross told the assembled group.
Cross continued:
It’s not my intention to hurt anyone, but there are certain truths that we must face when ready. I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences. I’m a teacher, but I serve God first, and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it’s against my religion. It’s lying to a child, it’s abuse to a child, and it’s sinning against our God.
Expressly, Cross referred to a recent 60 Minutes episode that focused on trans youth who were “de-transitioning” after rushing into the transitioning process.
Leesburg Elementary principal Shawn Lacy issued a brief statement on Friday; the district confirmed that Cross was put on paid leave.
“Because this involves a personnel matter, I can offer no further information,” Lacy wrote.
Angela Cross took to Facebook on Friday to say her husband was placed on leave “as a result of his speaking out.”
“As Americans, we believe that every American has the right to their beliefs, but NO AMERICAN HAS THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THEIR BELIEFS ON OTHERS,” she wrote.
“We spoke out first and foremost to protect the children and also to defend the first amendment rights of teachers and staff,” Angela Cross wrote.
“We spoke out first and foremost to protect the children and also to defend the first amendment rights of teachers and staff.”
The specific policy Cross refused to follow stated that “staff shall allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence,” according to the Loudoun Times-Mirror.
Angela Cross stated that her husband “will do everything he can” to return to work soon.