001Time is running out for five Northern Virginia school districts. They've been given a deadline of this Friday to change their gender related policies or risk losing federal funding and possibly even face legal action. >> At the heart of it all, whether students should be allowed to use restrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Tonight, we are zeroing in on Lowden County where the school board took up the issue in a heated meeting. >> Our Katie Leso joins us now live from Ashurn. And Katie, it has been a long night there. It certainly has, Leslie and Lorenzo. A little more than an hour ago, the school board members went into a closed session. They're meeting with their legal counsel to discuss next steps here. This is the second time that
002they have met with their legal counsel that we are aware of. Now, in order for them to make any sort of vote or decision, they would have to do that publicly. So, the big question is, are they going to come out of that meeting and make a decision tonight? Now, as they are debating and discussing behind closed door, there's was also a debate that happened out here in the parking lot. On one side of the parking lot, those in support of the current bathroom and locker room policy. >> This is a no-brainer. >> Candace Tuck is with Equality Louden. >> This is about protecting children. Trans children need protection just like everyone else does. >> On the other side, parents who want the policy removed. I'm concerned for the safety of all children. Tay Harding,
003citing several incidents, including a sexual assault inside an LCPS bathroom a few years ago, says the current policies do not keep all kids safe. If they have girl parts, they should go to the girls facility. If they have boy parts, they should go to the boys facility. The US Department of Education says LCPS's current policy of allowing students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that coincide with the gender they identify as being versus the gender assigned at birth violates Title 9. >> This is what I'd like to tell you. When we provide an environment that is safe for a trans kid, we provide an environment that is safe for every kid. >> The predators of girls are the same people that are the predators of trans kids. It's not the trans kids that we need
004to keep our kids safe from. >> There's only 0.1% of the student body that wants to use the other genders bathrooms. And so you're trampling on the dignity and privacy rights of 99.9% of the students for the agenda of the 0.1%. >> While they stand on opposite sides of the issue, there is one thing both groups can agree on. Although for different reasons, they wish it wasn't a conversation at all. >> And quite frankly, I think is a national embarrassment. It's a laughingstock across the country. >> I wish it weren't a conversation we were having. I'm not surprised, I'm disappointed. I think that we're better than this. >> And it is not just Lowden County. There were five Northern Virginia school districts that were put on notice. They have until Friday to change their policies
005or the US Department of Education says they could face federal funding cuts or even legal consequences. In Laden County, I'm Katie Lasso. Back to you. Hey, given that timeline, there are several difficult conversations that will continue to happen between now and end of the week.