Campbell County passes resolution opposing federal bathroom mandate

CAMPBELL COUNTY (WSLS 10) - Another locality is taking a stance against allowing students to choose which bathroom to use based on which gender they identify with.

Campbell County Supervisors passed a resolution asking the federal and state government to give the county the power to make that decision for itself.

In a resolution Tuesday, the board says it will not sit idly by and allow the federal government to dictate its bathroom policies.

"The federal government is way outside of its jurisdiction here. I couldn't find anything as I perused the Constitution, I double-checked, there's nothing in there granting the president the authority to tell us who can and can't use Campbell County restrooms," said Campbell County Supervisor Chair Eric Zehr.

Zehr says right now, supervisors don't have the power to oppose the federal mandate, requiring them to allow students to choose which bathroom they feel most comfortable using.

So that's exactly what they're asking for.

"We're asking for the federal government, either you give us protection, either the State gives us protection, or let us at the local level protect our own people," said Zehr.

Zehr wrote the resolution, and he says the inspiration came from concerned people in the community.

People like Jesse Murch.

"I think it gets back to a position of government of being more closely aligned with the people because the Supervisors are really close, we all know who they are, rather than a top-down idea from the Federal Government, in this case the President, basically making a fiat decree that this is the way things are going to be," said Murch.

Zehr says it's that closer connection that helps him make more informed decisions that reflect the values of his county.

"I have a voicemail message right now from a grandfather begging that we as a board do something," said Zehr.

Zehr says there isn't a timeline for the county's request, but he hopes from lawmakers at both the state and federal level.

Zehr says he's already reached out to the school board, asking that they take the same steps that Grayson and Gloucester counties have already taken, requiring students to only use the bathroom of the gender that corresponds to their birth certificate.

He says he hasn't yet received a response from the school board.