Del. Dave LaRock files “Sage’s Law,” HB 2432, to protect parental rights and at-risk children in Virginia

Sage’s Law seeks to address several failures of the government that were experienced first-hand by a Virginia teenager and her parents over the past year. Michele Blair, the mother of the bill’s namesake, shared her story of being intentionally kept in the dark about her daughter’s gender struggles while at school by both teachers and counselors, which led to Sage being bullied, assaulted, sex-trafficked, and then kept from returning to her parents after she was rescued because of unfounded claims of child abuse. Sage’s story is heartbreaking and compelling.

“Virginia law needs to be absolutely clear that affirming a child’s biological sex does not justify taking a child away from their family. Subjective determinations of whether a family’s beliefs are “abuse and neglect” are unacceptable. Teachers, school counselors, social service workers, and courts must respect the parent’s fundamental rights in the parent-child relationship by involving parents immediately when a child is experiencing serious challenges. The horrific treatment of Sage Blair has shown the need to provide protections for parents and children in Virginia.,” said Delegate Dave LaRock.

Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation of Virginia, said, “In Virginia, possibly like no other state, the role of parents has taken center stage. Parents have been demanding more respect from teachers, administrators, and counselors, and frankly, from how they are treated or, should I say, mistreated in Virginia law, the parent’s rights revival is long overdue. Parents are begging for Virginia laws to honor that they, not the government or a school administrator or counselor, are, other than rare exceptions, the best people to help their child walk through life’s difficulties.”

Joshua Hetzler, Legal Counsel for the Founding Freedom’s Law Center, said, “It cannot be overlooked that much of what happened in Sage’s school came after former Governor Northam’s administration’s Model Policies for Transgender students took effect, which The Founding Freedoms Law Center tried to stop from being implemented, and adamantly warned that this sort of thing would happen. Now Sage’s story represents how children are at risk of being harmed all across Virginia, and their parents are being shut out of critical life decisions. Sage’s law was born out of the necessity to help ensure that this never happens again to any child or parents in Virginia.”

Sage’s Law, HB 2432, is online here.

Sage’s story is covered in an article on The Federalist here.

About Dave LaRock

Delegate Dave LaRock has served the 33rd House District, including parts of Loudoun, Clarke, and Frederick Counties, since taking office in January 2014. Dave and his wife, Joanne, reside in Clarke County. LaRock serves on the House Transportation Committee, the House Education Committee, and the House Committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns. He also serves on the Commission on School Construction and Modernization. In 2023, LaRock intends to run for election to serve Virginia’s 1st Senate District, comprised of Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties, and the City of Winchester.