The family of a little girl in western Virginia has removed her from her private Christian school after administrators said she did not appear feminine enough.
Sunnie Kahle, 8, likes autographed baseballs and hunting knives alongside stuffed animals and jewelry, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.
“It’s fun,” Sunnie said.
Sometimes her schoolmates at Timberlake Christian School asked whether she was a boy or girl, Sunnie told the station.
Her grandmother, who is her legal guardian, said she has just always been like that. ”Sunnie realizes she’s a female but she wants to do boy things,” Doris Thompson said.
But administrators at the school in Timberlake, Va., did not appear to agree. They sent Sunnie’s grandparents a letter reminding them of school policy.
“You’re probably aware that Timberlake Christian School is a religious, Bible-believing institution providing education in a distinctly Christian environment,” Doris Thompson said, reading from the letter. ”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.”
School administrators told ABC 27 they have not accused Sunnie of any wrongdoing and simply want the family to follow all guidelines set for students.
The school’s website says Timberlake is a ministry of Timberlake Baptist Church and has 400 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Video courtesy of ABC 13 News
Melanie Eversley writes for USA Today. Via RNS.
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