A rural Virginia school board changed its rules to block an LGBTQ+ club. Students are suing in federal court

A Virginia school board illegally responded to students’ efforts to create an LGBTQ+ support club by repeatedly changing the rules, renaming the problem and, ultimately, making the club impossible to form, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.The students say almost every other club remained welcome.The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and Potomac Law Group filed the complaint on behalf of two students and their parents against the King George County School Board, Superintendent Jesse Boyd, and King George Middle School Principal Casey Nice. King George is located about 50 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., between the nation’s capital and Virginia’s capital, Richmond. The lawsuit accuses school officials of violating the First Amendment and the federal Equal Access Act by barring a gay-straight alliance, or GSA, while allowing other noncurricular student groups to operate.The case transforms a yearlong local dispute, previously documented by The Advocate, into a federal civil rights fight. Students had already told the board about slurs, bullying, and a school culture that made LGBTQ+ children feel unsafe. Parents had warned that blocking the club sent a message that there was something wrong with their children.Now, they are asking a judge to intervene.“King George County Schools cannot move the goalposts to prevent an organization that promotes respect and equality for LGBTQ+ students from existing just because school board members disagree with its message,” ACLU of Virginia staff attorney Julia Kahn said in a statement.“The First Amendment and Equal Access Act protect all students, and the school board cannot pick and choose who the rules apply to,” Kahn said. “Why this club, and not others?”Related: Virginia school board adopts anti-transgender policy and blocks LGBTQ+ clubThe club was approved. Then came the backlash.According to the complaint, a seventh grader identified as Z.J.W. began working to establish the GSA in Au