Sage Blair: sage blair and Michele invited to State of the Union

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 25, 2026 3:50 AM ET

Two Appomattox residents, Michele and sage blair, are set to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union speech in Washington, D. C. The invitation follows a public dispute over how Appomattox County Schools officials handled Sage’s gender identity and bullying concerns.

Sage Blair and Michele invited

Officials extended guest invitations for the State of the Union to Appomattox locals Michele and Sage Blair. The pair are described as special guests from Appomattox, Va., who will travel to Washington, D. C., for the Tuesday address.

Appomattox guests heading to Washington, D. C.

The invitation brings national attention to a local family dispute. Michele filed legal action in 2023 against multiple Appomattox County Schools officials, alleging those officials concealed information about Sage’s gender identity and did not address bullying, a lawsuit that Michele says ultimately contributed to Sage’s decision to run away.

Lawsuit filed in 2023

In the 2023 lawsuit, Michele named multiple Appomattox County Schools officials and accused them of concealing details about Sage’s gender identity and bullying at school. Michele’s complaint links that concealment and the bullying to Sage’s later decision to run away from home.

Claims of concealed gender identity

During the President’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump pointed to the case of Sage Blair. The family’s claim that the school concealed her gender transition was raised in the address, and the broader context of the speech also included calls for more limits on trans youth.

Vernadette Broyles comments on invitation

Vernadette Broyles, who represents Michele through the Child & Parental Rights Campaign, issued a press release tying the invitation to the larger debate. Broyles said the invitation "highlights the national conversation on putting parental involvement and child safety first. "

Kidnapping, rape and trafficking

Michele has said that after Sage ran away, Sage was kidnapped, raped and sex-trafficked across state lines. Those allegations are part of the sequence Michele has presented in connection with the lawsuit and the family’s decision to accept the invitation to the State of the Union.

The pair’s attendance in Washington, D. C., and the references to Sage’s school experience and subsequent alleged victimization have placed the Appomattox case in the center of national discussion during the State of the Union address.