The parents of Virginia teenager Sage Blair have filed a lawsuit against Appomattox County High School, alleging that the school failed to notify them when their child, then 14 years old, identified as male and faced relentless bullying after adopting male pronouns and a new name.
According to the lawsuit, Sage Blair began identifying as male at the outset of the school year on August 11, 2021. Regrettably, the parents claim that Sage experienced severe bullying from fellow students due to his gender identity. They further accuse the school of intentionally concealing this crucial information from them, leading to a traumatic series of events.
The parents contend that the unrelenting bullying eventually pushed their child to run away from home. Sage Blair endured six months of hardship during this time, including two instances of sex trafficking.
The lawsuit maintains that the school’s alleged negligence contributed to the state’s intervention, which led to Sage’s removal from the family’s care. After the initial rescue from abusers, the teen was placed in a juvenile center for boys, where further incidents of assault took place. Sage eventually escaped from the facility but fell prey to individuals who abducted and sexually assaulted the teen multiple times before authorities intervened once more.
The adoptive parents of Sage Blair have brought this lawsuit against Appomattox County High School, asserting that their child, at the age of 14, had begun using male pronouns and adopted the name ‘Draco” at school.
The lawsuit contends that the school failed to inform the parents, even though Sage had sought counseling due to bullying incidents on a bus, where male students had made threats.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that the school neglected to notify the parents that they were providing guidance and counseling to Sage regarding his gender identity issues. The school encouraged Sage to use the male restroom, where the teenager reportedly faced repeated threats.
The parents claim that it was only after the bullying escalated to physical threats that the school finally alerted Sage’s adoptive mother on August 25, 2021. On the same day, Sage’s mother, Michelle, discovered a school hall pass bearing the name “Draco.” This discovery prompted Sage to confide in his mother about the bullying and express that he would not have used the male restroom had it not been suggested by the counselor.
The lawsuit alleges that on the same night, Sage Blair experienced a “psychotic breakdown” and chose to run away from home. He believed he was meeting a 16-year-old boy who shared his interest in skateboarding. Sage left a note behind that read, “You’ve done your job, Jesus loves you, I’m afraid of what is to come if I stay. Be on your guard. There are bad people around here,” signing it with “All my love.”
Unfortunately, the person Sage believed to be a 16-year-old boy turned out to be a 36-year-old sex offender named Kenneth Fisher. Fisher had allegedly groomed Sage online and transported him to Washington and Baltimore. Over the course of a week, Sage was reportedly sexually assaulted by Fisher and trafficked to multiple individuals. Authorities eventually located Sage Blair in Baltimore.
Following Sage’s discovery, Michelle, the teen’s mother, drove through the night to retrieve him. However, the family was denied custody as attorneys accused them of misgendering the teen. The lawsuit asserts that the Maryland juvenile court deemed the home abusive and transferred custody to the state. Sage was placed in a juvenile facility for boys, where he allegedly experienced further sexual assault, exposure to drugs, and a lack of proper medical and mental health care.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
