Virginia Judge Questions Faith Groups in Fight Over Transgender Inclusive Student Policies Virginia is no stranger to helping the nation reach legal decisions impacting transgender students and Wednesday's hearing in a rural court could be the start of another nationally-relevant fight. LYNCHBURG, Va. (CN) — A Virginia judge had tough questions for conservative groups Wednesday afternoon in a dispute hoping to block the state from implementing transgender-inclusive policies in the upcoming school year. The Virginia Department of Education claimed the policies “address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices and include information, guidance, procedures” and their promulgation was required under legislation passed last year. But several parents and Richmond-based conservative groups, the Founding Freedoms Law Center, the Christian Action Network and the Family Foundation of Virginia, claim the policies infringe on teachers' First Amendment rights alongside the rights of parents.