Trump calls in State of the Union to ban social transitions for trans youth

President Trump used the State of the Union to urge Congress to ban schools and states from allowing transgender and nonbinary students to socially transition without parental consent, citing a Virginia teenager's case; the family lawsuit against the Appomattox County School Board is ongoing.

President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to call for a federal ban on states and schools allowing transgender and nonbinary students to socially transition without parental consent. He cited the case of a Virginia teenager, Sage Blair, and the family's dispute with the Appomattox County School Board. The family filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging the district did not disclose that Sage was identifying as male. An appeals court in August upheld a dismissal of the suit and suggested a different civil rights claim might be pursued. Key details: - The president urged Congress to ban schools and states from allowing social transitions for students without parental permission and referenced Sage Blair's case in his remarks. - Michele Blair sued the Appomattox County School Board in 2023, alleging the district withheld information about Sage's gender identity; the litigation is ongoing. - A federal appeals court in August upheld a lower-court dismissal but noted that a claim that the school acted with "deliberate indifference" to threats could be pursued under civil rights law. - The address came amid a broader set of actions by the administration affecting transgender people, including measures on federal recognition, access to gender‑affirming care, and military service. Summary: The president's remarks spotlight a contested family and school dispute and press for federal restrictions on social transitions for students. Legal proceedings connected to the Virginia case continue, and broader policy changes affecting transgender people remain in effect. Undetermined at this time.