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A state lawmaker who filed a bill this year to more clearly exclude transgender people from Virginia’s anti-discrimination laws has asked a court to force Attorney General Mark R. Herring to respond to a request for legal clarity on the term “sex.”

Del. David A. LaRock, R-Loudoun, filed a writ of mandamus against Herring in Richmond Circuit Court late last week after waiting seven months for an official opinion on whether the term “sex” includes sexual orientation and gender identity for the purposes of discrimination law.

Through the unusual step of taking Herring to court, LaRock will essentially be asking a judge to order Herring to perform the duties of the attorney general’s office, which include providing advisory opinions to members of the General Assembly.

LaRock, who said he’s personally paying the law firm helping him with the filing against Herring, requested guidance from Herring on Sept. 21. As of Wednesday, he said, he has still not received an opinion.