After months of tense, divisive, and at time explosive debate, Loudoun County School Board members approved a measure Wednesday night that will grant more protections for transgender students.

The vote came on the second day of the school board’s meeting, which was extended into Wednesday after Tuesday’s public comment period ran four hours long. The policy, required by a recently adopted Virginia state law, would allow students to be called by their names and gender pronouns, and to participate in activities and use facilities consistent with their gender identity at school.

“We’ve seen court decisions from across the country affirming transgender rights…stating in no uncertain terms that equal protection under the law means exactly that,” said board member Ian Serotkin, who voted in favor of the policy. “Even if it was not the law, it would still be the right thing to do.”

The policy passed 7-2 with members John Beatty and Jeff Morse the two no-votes.

The vote follows months of disputes over the public school system’s attempts to improve equity and address systemic racism – conversations that have been thrust into the national spotlight. 

In June, a meeting over inclusive gender policies and the system’s plan to combat systemic racism erupted into chaos: one man was arrested, one person was cited for trespassing, and board members reported receiving threats. On Tuesday, members of the public were not allowed in the meeting room unless they were speaking, and they were not permitted inside the building until just before it was their turn to give testimony.

During Wednesday’s sparsely attended vote, board members passed the policy with newly introduced amendments; one will expand gender inclusivity trainings to all LCPS staff, not just mental health counselors, and another will require schools to “modernize” restrooms to improve privacy, and create more single-user restrooms for all students.

At one point, member John Beatty introduced a motion to delay the vote and send it back to a school board committee, “to give more time for people to come with their concerns, so that [the board] can find something that’s beneficial for everyone in Loudoun County.” His motion ultimately failed, with only Morse voting in his favor.

“Under the guise of inclusivity, we are taking action on a policy that’s unnecessary, it’s ambiguous, it’s divisive, it’s anti-family, it’s anti-privacy, it’s anti-teacher,” Morse said in a lengthy speech before voting against the policy. “This policy is not needed, this policy does not solve the issues it’s purported to solve, the policy has forced our focus out of education, and I will not support it.”

Serotkin pushed back on Morse’s comments.

“You seem to imply that bullying or discrimination against LGBTQ students at LCPS is a thing of the past and doesn’t happen today,” Serotkin said. “And if you if you believe that, I would encourage you to speak to more of our gay and transgender students, because I don’t know how you could say that with a straight face, I’m sorry.”

But Wednesday’s back-and-forths between board members paled in comparison to the passionate public comments made on Tuesday night. Despite the high-security, tensions boiled for among parents and teachers during the four-hour long hearing. Some teachers said the gender inclusive policy violated their religious liberty as Chrisitans. One teacher even resigned in front of the school board while delivering her testimony.

“I quit your policies, I quit your trainings, and I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents, the children,” said the former teacher, Laura Morris.

Others testifying brought up the school system’s attempt to incorporate critical race theory, an academic discipline that’s become a policitized term sparking conservative outrage, claiming it damaged the academic integrity of the schools. LCPS has repeatedly said critical race theory is not a part of their proposal, but five parents are now suing the school system over its plan to combat systemic racism, a long-standing issue within LCPS.

The wealthy Virginia county, now a burgeoning home for the tech industry, has seen a political and demographic change in recent years.  Once traditionally Republican, the county is now reliably Democratic, and non-white students make up about 56% of LCPS’ population, compared to 42% 20 years ago.

School board chair Brenda Sheridan, who said she has received numerous “heinous emails, voicemails, and threats,” framed Wednesday night’s vote as not a “first” step, but a “next step.”

“We know that our transgender and gender expansive students need even more,” said Sheridan, who introduced the amendment that would expand trainings on gender inclusivity to all LCPS staff.

“I also believe and feel that many people have demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding our trans students. Many of our community members have a lack of understanding, and I want to ensure that all of our transgender students will be respected and affirmed when interacting with any of our staff in Loudoun County Public Schools.”