Sage Blair is an American ex-transgender activist. After a difficult childhood, Blair socially transitioned in an unaccepting household as a teenager. Over the next two years, Blair experienced harassment and assaults from peers and was sex trafficked by adults on two occasions before graduating high school. Blair “desisted” and brought a lawsuit against the school district. Blair’s harrowing experiences led to being invited by Donald Trump to the February 2026 State of the Union address.
Background
Sage Lily Blair was born in ~2007. Blair was placed in foster care as an infant after Blair’s seminal parent died and Blair’s birth parent was unable to provide care. Blair was later adopted by grandparents Michele and Robert Blair.
In the summer of 2021, after Blair completed eighth grade, Blair was brought in for evaluation and treatment, including a week of inpatient psychiatric care. Blair was then diagnosed with “severe gender dysphoria,” but reportedly neither parent was informed or aware.
In August 2021, having just started ninth grade at Appomattox County High School, Blair was using the name Draco and using masculine pronouns. Blair told a school counselor that both adoptive parents were not supportive of this gender identity. A school counselor allowed Blair to use the boys’ restroom. Blair was reportedly harassed, sexually assaulted, and threatened for using the restroom. Blair was then allowed to use a bathroom in the nurse’s office.
Lawsuit
Michele Blair sued the high school staff and school board as a result, alleging various constitutional violations.
According to the lawsuit, Blair “had a psychotic breakdown and ran away” on the day Blair’s adoptive parents learned about what was happening at school. The family alleges that Blair ran away for nine days before being located by the FBI. Blair was reportedly found with an online acquaintance. Blair was reportedly sex trafficked and suffered abuse and trauma as a result of the school’s actions. The judge withheld custody from Blair’s adoptive parents for over two months. During that time, Blair was transferred to a state facility for boys where Blair was reportedly sexually abused. Blair ran away again and was reportedly trafficked again. When Blair was found months later in Texas, Blair was returned to Virginia and spent more months in a court-appointed mental health clinic.  Blair eventually reunited with the adoptive parents, who arranged for Bair to meet with a Christian counselor who specialized in sexually exploited girls. Blair completed online gigh school.
A federal district court dismissed the case in 2024, but the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals partly revived it in 2025. Blair’s appeal was led by Mary Elizabeth McAlister of the Child & Parental Rights Campaign (CPRC). Vernadette Broyles of CPRC was also involved.
Ex-trans activism
Sage and Michele Blair were guests of Donald Trump at the February 24, 2026 State of the Union address. Blair was reportedly given a full scholarship for online classes at Liberty University.
References
Villareal, Daniel (February 24, 2026). Trump targets trans teen, pushes transphobic law, & praises anti-LGBTQ+ leader in State of the Union. LGBTQ Nation https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/targets-trans-teen-pushes-transphobic-law-praises-anti-lgbtq-leader-in-state-of-the-union/
Allen, Samantha (February 24, 2026). Trump Focuses on Trans Youth During State of the Union: “We Must Ban It Immediately.” them https://www.them.us/story/trump-state-of-the-union-transgender-youth-healthcare-restrictions
Wiggins, Christopher (February 25, 2025). Trump uses State of the Union to demonize transgender kids and their families. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-sotu-targets-trans-kids
Sundel, Jenna; Whisnant, Gabe (February 24, 2026). Who Is Sage Blair? Virginia Teen Invited by Trump to State of the Union. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/who-is-sage-blair-trump-state-of-the-union-11575541
Urquhart, Evan (January 30, 2023). VA: The Difficult Story of Sage’s Law. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/the-story-behind-sages-law
Anti-trans coverage
Meckler, Laura with Razzan Nakhlawi and Katie Mettler (March 21, 2026). A teen’s traumatic path from bullying and abuse to Trump’s State of the Union. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/21/transgender-lawsuit-sage-blair/
Stonestreet, John; Leander, Kasey (October 2, 2023). The Story of Sage Blair: Why Christians must stand against ideologies that fail kids. BreakPoint https://breakpoint.org/the-story-of-sage-blair/
(February 25, 2026). In Address, Trump Calls for More Limits on Trans Youth. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/virginia-trans-student-trump-sotu-guest.html
Media
TheFamilyFoundation (January 19, 2023). January 19, 2023 Sage’s Law Press Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t0cH6U_G2w
Resources
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (August 7, 2025). Blair v. Appomattox School Boards et al. Case No. 24-1682 https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/241682.P.pdf