The only scheduled debate in Virginia’s 2025 governor’s race took a dramatic turn this week, as revelations about a registered sex offender’s repeated access to girls’ locker rooms in Arlington Public Schools and county pools ignited a fierce exchange over school policies, transgender rights, and student safety. The incident, which has quickly become a flashpoint in the state’s political landscape, has thrust local and statewide leaders into a heated discussion about the intersection of identity, privacy, and public protection.
According to The Center Square, the controversy centers on Richard “Riki” Cox, a 58-year-old registered sex offender who identifies as a woman. In 2024, Cox was the subject of a public records request that revealed a series of emails with an Arlington School Board member. The correspondence followed an incident at a county pool, where staff asked Cox to use a single-use, isolated facility rather than the communal locker room. In response, Cox wrote, “People using the shower but not the pool must use the single, isolated locker room away from everyone else, like they are some kind of freak or something.”
Cox’s case is not just about an uncomfortable email exchange. He faces more than 20 charges related to exposing himself in female locker rooms at Washington-Liberty High School, Wakefield High School, and other county facilities. The emails and subsequent revelations, published by Defending Education, indicate that after these complaints in 2024, Cox went on to expose himself six more times before his arrest.
Arlington officials have confirmed that, under current county and Arlington Public Schools (APS) policies, individuals are allowed to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity. This policy, designed to be inclusive of transgender individuals, is now under intense scrutiny as political leaders and community members grapple with the real-world implications of its implementation.
Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president of Defending Education, offered a pointed critique of Arlington’s approach. In a statement to The Center Square, she commented, “Only in Arlington Public Schools, long beholden to transgender madness, could a registered sex offender expose himself in two different high school locker rooms shared by young girls and shortly thereafter correspond with school board members to complain about the putatively insensitive treatment he received.” Perry went on to detail Cox’s complaints to school board member Kathleen Clark, noting that he felt “treated like a ‘freak’ and offended by pool staff when they asked him how long he planned to loiter in the locker room and instructed other patrons to single-use locker rooms.” She added, “Inconceivably, after these email exchanges, Cox went on to expose himself six more times before his ultimate arrest.”
The timing of these revelations could hardly have been more politically charged. Just hours earlier, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears had sparred in the lone gubernatorial debate over conflicting positions on transgender policies in schools. The debate also touched on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2022 guidelines, which require students to use school facilities based on their biological sex rather than gender identity.
Spanberger, who did not explicitly say whether she would rescind Youngkin’s policy, instead argued for a more localized approach. She stated that such decisions should be made by parents, teachers, and administrators at the community level. This stance, while aiming to respect local control, left some critics unsatisfied, especially in light of the Cox case.
On the other side of the debate, Earle-Sears was unequivocal in her support for maintaining the policy based on biological sex, arguing that “girls deserve privacy in sports and locker rooms.” When asked whether transgender students pose a safety threat, she pointed to “biological differences in size and strength” as a key concern. Earle-Sears’s position reflects a growing movement among some parents and policymakers who worry that inclusive policies may unintentionally compromise the safety and privacy of female students.
The story quickly spilled from the debate stage onto social media. After a WJLA news segment on the locker room revelations, Earle-Sears posted Cox’s photo online, writing, “This ‘woman’ — child predator Richard ‘Riki’ Cox — repeatedly used a girls’ locker room and exposed himself to young girls. Abigail Spanberger thinks he has the right to be there.” Governor Youngkin also weighed in, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “While Abigail Spanberger stood with her running mate Jay Jones and his murderous fantasies, and evaded every direct question, including equivocating over men being in locker rooms with girls.” Both posts drew sharp responses from supporters and detractors, fueling an already intense debate about gender, identity, and public safety.
In the midst of the uproar, Spanberger’s campaign sought to clarify her position and reassert her commitment to student safety. A spokesperson told The Center Square, “Convicted sex offender Richard Cox is a predator who should be in jail — and that’s exactly where he is. Abigail is a parent of three daughters in Virginia public schools and a former federal law enforcement officer who went after child predators — nothing is more important to her than the safety of Virginia’s kids. As Governor, Abigail will work with state and local law enforcement officers to keep Virginia kids safe and make sure sex offenders are prevented from preying on children and are prosecuted for their crimes.”
The debate over locker room policies is not new, but the Cox case has brought a renewed sense of urgency and complexity. For many, it raises difficult questions: How can schools balance inclusivity for transgender students with the need to protect all children from potential harm? Who should ultimately decide these policies—state officials, local school boards, or parents? And how do incidents like this one influence public trust in the institutions responsible for children’s safety?
These questions are not easily answered, and the political divide is stark. Supporters of inclusive policies argue that transgender students deserve dignity and access without being singled out or stigmatized. They caution against using isolated incidents to justify sweeping restrictions that could harm vulnerable students. Opponents, however, see the Cox case as a warning sign, arguing that policies based solely on gender identity can be exploited by bad actors, putting children at risk.
As the campaign season heats up, it’s clear that the debate over school policies, gender identity, and student safety will remain front and center. With both sides dug in, Virginia voters face a choice not just about who will lead the state, but about the values and priorities that will shape its future.
For now, the story serves as a stark reminder that policies crafted in the name of inclusion or safety have real-world consequences. The challenge for Virginia—and for communities across the country—is to find a path forward that protects all students, respects diverse identities, and restores public confidence in the institutions tasked with keeping children safe.
