Lee Livengood Should be Fired for Sexually Harassing a Student

His abusive behavior should not be excused

On November 27, 2018, Liberty High School Assistant Principal Lee Livengood decided to barge into a men’s restroom. Once inside, he began to harass a student, yelling and demanding that he exit the stall and use the urinal, therefore exposing himself.

Livengood blocked the door while making these demands, and told the student “I’m not going to lie. You freak me out.”

If Livengood had entered the bathroom, cornered a student who isn’t transgender, and demanded that they expose themselves, he would no longer be a high school administrator.

Instead, because he victimized a transgender student and hired a high-priced lawyer, he gets to continue working in a role where he interacts with minors every day.

Lee’s actions were likely motivated by a desire to affirm the gender essentialism he subscribes to in the most obvious way possible, by demanding the student expose his genitals.

Of course, for a school administrator to make such a demand is beyond inappropriate, it is illegal. According to West Virginia law, he could be found guilty of sexual harassment.

Unfortunately, this is hardly a surprising result. Transgender people are consistently viewed as less deserving of basic human dignity in the eyes of the law, and this is just the latest example.

No amount of sensitivity training can send the message to students of Liberty High that firing Livengood would have. His continued presence on campus serves a message to students that it’s okay harass, corner, and bully transgender people.

At worst, they’ve learned, you’ll have to endure a lecture from some gender studies graduate student.

If you believe Lee Livengood should be fired and face a criminal investigation for his actions, let Liberty High School administrators know at 304–326–7470 , let the Harrison County Board of Education know at 304–326–7300 or by filling out their online contact form, and let the Harrison County Sheriff know at 304–624–8550 .