Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), Virginias third-largest school district, announced that it will suspend two Stone Bridge High School students for sexually harassing and discriminating against a transgender male student in the boys locker room earlier this year.Following a Title IX investigation, the district determined that the students had violated its policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment and assault, in its educational programs and activities and imposed 10-day suspensions along with a no-contact order barring them from sharing classes with the transgender student. One parent withdrew her son from the school system and moved out of state this summer, though the disciplinary action will remain on his permanent academic record. Related GOP officials investigate school for supporting a bullied trans student GOP officials investigate school for supporting a bullied trans student Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders rolling back transgender protections, including one that redefined sex to bar trans students from using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. In February, America First Legal filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR), alleging that LCPS and four other Northern Virginia districts violated the Trump administrations interpretation of Title IX by allowing transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identity. OCR opened a formal investigation into the school directors in April.In May, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), who has supported transgender sports bans and restrictions on gender-affirming care, opened a separate inquiry into how the school district was handling its investigation into the locker room incident. Miyares referred the case to the Trump administrations Department of Education and Department of Justice, both of which have increasingly been used to target transgender communities. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today By July, OCR concluded that the districtsincluding Loudounwere in violation of Title IX for basing facility access on gender identity rather than biological sex. The agency issued a proposed resolution agreement giving the schools 10 days to rescind their policies or face enforcement. LCPS refused, voting to maintain access for trans students. In response, the Department of Education designated the districts high-risk and shifted them to a reimbursement systema first step toward withholding federal funding. Last week, the Department of Education told 7News that it has begun the process that could cost each district tens of millions of dollars annually.Meanwhile, the students disciplined by LCPS are being represented by the conservative Founding Freedoms Law Centera Christian law firm connected to the anti-LGBTQ+ group Focus on the Family and America First Legal. Their attorney, Josh Hetzler, filed a Title IX appeal seeking to pause the suspensions and warned at a press conference that if LCPS fails again to do the right thing, we will have no choice but to pursue swift legal action in the coming days. Hetzler also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to get involved in the case.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.