Virginia Republican calls school district’s LGBTQ+ History Month ‘disgusting’
Virginia State Delegate Tim Griffin called Loudoun County School Board’s decision to honour October as LGBTQ History Month “disgusting” (Facebook / Tim Griffin)
A Virginia Republican delegate has attacked Loudoun County’s LGBTQ+ History Month recognition in a campaign Instagram video, calling it “disgusting” and claiming schools are “transing the kids”.
Del. Tim Griffin criticised the Loudoun County School Board after it approved a proclamation recognising October as LGBTQ+ History Month. In the video, he said: “Loudoun County in Virginia is up to it again, where they are now having a gay month, an LGBTQ transing the kids month in October.”
Griffin went on to suggest, without evidence, that the timing was chosen to reach more children while school is in session. “If you thought that was only for June, I thought that as well, but I always wondered why they just did it during the summertime, where they couldn’t get as many kids into their transing program as possible,” he said. “But here we are again, where they’re going to try to teach this to kids.”
He also condemned the board’s decision, saying: “Despicable, disgusting. I hate to see this. Leave children alone. Like we shouldn’t have to do this.”
What did Loudoun’s LGBTQ+ History Month proclamation say?
The Loudoun County proclamation itself does not describe a programme to change students’ gender identities. It recognises October 2026 as LGBTQ+ History Month and encourages staff, students and the wider community to recognise LGBTQ+ history and contributions.
Loudoun County Public Schools has said the proclamation imposes no requirements on students. The district’s statement came after criticism from parents and conservative media outlets over the board’s decision.
The proclamation was approved by the school board in September with five members voting in favour, one opposed and three abstaining, according to reporting by the Loudoun Times-Mirror. Board member Deana Griffiths cast the lone vote against the measure, questioning what students would be taught as part of the recognition.
Ross Svensen, another board member, said: “We are here to ensure our schools are affirming, inclusive spaces,” adding that students are only able to learn when their environment respects them and is supportive.
Alongside recognising LGBTQ+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ History Month proclamation (PDF) also confirmed that schools would not discriminate on the grounds of gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression.
Why Loudoun County keeps becoming a flashpoint
LGBTQ+ History Month was established in 1994 by Missouri history teacher Rodney Wilson, who sought recognition for LGBTQ+ history similar to Black History Month and Women’s History Month. October was selected in part because schools were in session and because the month includes National Coming Out Day and anniversaries of major LGBTQ+ marches on Washington.
The observance is now marked by schools, universities, libraries and LGBTQ+ organisations across the US.
Griffin was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2023 and won reelection in 2025 with more than 69 per cent of the vote, according to Ballotpedia. Virginia’s next regular legislative elections are scheduled for 2027.
Loudoun County has also been nationally prominent in US school culture-war disputes. In 2021, two more teachers joined a lawsuit against a Loudoun County School Board policy that asked staff to use the correct pronouns of trans students.
