Christian School Rebukes 8-Year-Old Girl for Looking Too "Boyish"

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Mar 26, 2014

Christian School Rebukes 8-Year-Old Girl for Looking Too "Boyish"

Eight-year old Sunnie Kahle recently left her private Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia after the administration complained that her appearance was not sufficiently female. Sunnie has a short haircut and enjoys wearing t-shirts and jeans; the administration believes that this confuses other children and does not coincide with the “biblical lifestyle” the school promotes.

Timberlake Christian Schools elementary principal Becky Bowman sent Kahle’s great-grandmother and legal guardian Doris Thompson a letter stating the school’s religious beliefs and included Bible passages referencing sexual immorality.

"We believe that unless Sunnie and 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," Bowman wrote.

Thompson told WDBJ7 that she found the letter offensive. "To claim that we are condoning sexual immorality in our home is nonsense," Thompson said. "We are Christians. We understand the Bible. Sunnie knows it very well. She has accepted Christ."

Thompson went on to explain that her great-granddaughter knows she is a girl, but is too young to understand gender identity issues.

Timberlake Christian Schools did not order Kahle to withdraw from the school, but she left to attend public school.

"I should just be able to be me and not let them worry about it," Kahle said of the ordeal.



Christian School Rebukes 8-Year-Old Girl for Looking Too "Boyish"