Family Sues Virginia High School Alleging Secret Gender Transition Led to Teen’s Tragic Ordeal
A Virginia high school student’s family has initiated legal action, asserting that school staff covertly facilitated their child’s gender transition, setting off a chain of traumatic events that led to the teen becoming a victim of sex trafficking.
Michele Blair has filed a lawsuit against the Appomattox County School Board, district staff, and a Maryland public defender. Blair claims that her daughter, Sage, underwent a gender transition orchestrated by school faculty without her knowledge. Later, a public defender opposed Blair’s efforts to regain custody of her child.
Blair expressed her anguish, stating, “They stole my right to protect my daughter. I’m the parent, I am an expert on my child, there is nobody in the school or court system that knows my daughter better than me. They will never know my daughter better than I do.”
Sage, who had a troubled childhood and mental health challenges, began attending Appomattox County High School in 2021. During her time at the school, Sage identified as male, with the school staff supporting her transition. Blair alleges that this information was intentionally concealed from her, leading to severe bullying by classmates, which the staff were aware of.
Blair described the bullying as verbal, physical, and sexual harassment, with constant threats of rape from male classmates. Shockingly, despite this, the school encouraged Sage to use the boys’ bathroom.
The relentless bullying eventually pushed Sage to run away from home at the age of 14, resulting in her being kidnapped and subjected to sexual assault in multiple states. She was initially taken to Washington, D.C., where she was drugged and raped by two men. Subsequently, Sage was transported to Maryland, where a registered sex offender drugged and raped her.
Although federal authorities eventually rescued Sage from this horrifying situation, her trauma persisted. Aneesa Khan, a Baltimore public defender, contested returning Sage to her parents’ custody, arguing that they did not adequately support Sage’s new gender identity, according to Blair. Consequently, Sage was placed in a juvenile facility for adolescent males, where she suffered further sexual assault, drug exposure, and denial of medical and mental health care.
Sage managed to escape from that facility but encountered yet another predator who trafficked her to Texas, where she endured more rape, drugging, starvation, and torture. Law enforcement in Texas eventually rescued her and reunited her with her mother in Virginia.
Attorney Vernadette Broyles, representing the family, noted that Sage has undergone intensive therapy to address the extreme trauma caused by the actions and omissions of the defendants. Sage also suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Natasha M. Dartigue, Maryland’s top public defender, defended Khan’s actions, asserting that Khan had represented her client appropriately in accordance with her legal and ethical obligations.
The case has drawn the attention of Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, who issued new guidance aimed at reforming school policies contributing to Sage’s ordeal.
A spokesperson for Governor Youngkin emphasized, “Sage’s tragic story demonstrates the importance of parental involvement. For Sage and students, parents, and teachers across the Commonwealth, the governor will continue to empower parents and ensure the privacy, dignity, and respect of all students with model policies.”
The Appomattox County Public School District has not responded to requests for comment.
Blair, reflecting on her daughter’s traumatic experiences, remarked that Sage “doesn’t remember a lot of it because of the trauma” and anticipates the challenges of managing her PTSD. However, she vowed to support her daughter unconditionally, saying, “But I will just love her through them all.” The family is taking things “a day at a time,” with Blair hopeful for a brighter future for Sage.