LYCHBURG, Va. (WSET/WTVR) - The family of a Virginia girl has accused her school of discriminating against the child because of her "boyish" look and behavior. Eight-year-old Sunnie Kahle's grandparents took her out of Timberlake Christian School (TCS) in Lynchburg after they received a letter from the principal.
"You're probably aware that Timberlake Christian School is a religious, bible-believing institution providing education in a distinctly Christian environment," Sunnie's grandmother Doris Thompson read from the principal's letter.
The letter further explained other students were confused about whether Sunnie was a boy or a girl. It also stated school administrators can refuse enrollment for condoning sexual immorality, practicing a homosexual lifestyle or alternative gender identity.
"We believe that unless Sunnie, as well as her family, clearly understand that God has made her female and her dress and behavior need to follow suit with her God-ordained identity, that TCS is not the best place for her future education," principal Becky Bowman wrote.
"How do you tell a child when she wants to wear pants and shirt, and go out and play in the mud and so forth, how do you tell her, no you can't?" Doris Thompson asked. "You've got to wear a pink bow in your hair, and you've got to let your hair grow out long, how do you do that? I can't do that."
A TCS administrator, who wished to remain anonymous, said the problem with Sunnie went "far beyond her hair length." The administrator said
Sunnie is a good student, but "things disturbed the classroom environment."
"How do you label a child, eight years old, or discriminate against an eight year old child?" Sunnie's grandfather Carroll Thompson
asked.
