Youngkin, Musk target Fairfax County’s proposed gender studies curriculum

(The Center Square) – Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Elon Musk are targeting Fairfax County Public Schools, highlighting a controversial plan to introduce gender studies in elementary schools.

Youngkin found success during his 2021 gubernatorial race by heavily promoting parental rights in education, especially progressive northern Virginia education policies.

It may be no coincidence that this year is another big election year in Virginia. With the governor term-limited, he has thrown his support behind Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in her bid to continue the Youngkin administration’s pledge to give parents more input on their children’s education.

On Tuesday, Musk posted a video of a Fairfax County mother of two, Caleigh Weichbrodt, urging the district to listen to parents. She added that the proposed plan has made her rethink putting her children in public schools.

“My husband and I have a difficult decision to make this fall, as he is approaching preschool age, and we are faced with the decision of whether or not we are going to put our child in public school system, where Fairfax County has decided to move forward with instituting gender studies in elementary school,” said Weichbrodt during the February meeting.

The mother said despite parental objections, the board voted 16-0, saying the school district doesn’t see parents “as partners” in their children’s education but rather “an obstacle for their agenda.”

Weichbrodt concluded that sensitive topics should be “introduced sensitively” by parents, “not with an ideology passed down by the top.”

Youngkin pounced on the posted video from Musk, threatening that “elections have consequences.”

“Fairfax County has more people moving away than moving in while the rest of Virginia has successfully reversed a decade of net outmigration,” the governor posted to X. “Parents matter, and Fairfax continues to ignores them, thrusting radical ideology on parents and students while piling on high taxes and protecting criminals over victims. Virginia is stronger than ever and yet Fairfax county is running a $300mm deficit. Elections have consequences, and Fairfax citizens’ vote matters – time to change school boards and supervisory boards.”

Fairfax County Public Schools, along with several other northern Virginia school districts, have been targeted by America First Legal. It filed a complaint challenging the districts’ transgender policies, prompting the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights to investigate the districts.