Transgender policy

I oppose the setting of guidelines for dealing with transgender students in public schools.  I do not oppose students being transgender, as I do not oppose students being Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, ADHD, etc.  There are policies ALREADY in place that protect students from bullying and discrimination and those need to be followed. What is being proposed forces a particular view on ALL, with the threat of discipline to students and faculty, if non-compliant.  School should be safe and focused on learning.  Social issues should be dealt with outside of that environment.  Children were given to parents, not the state.  Parents are free to encourage their children to be who they want to be, but the school's purpose is EDUCATION, not social engineering.  Let's get back to the basics.


Oppose accommodations for transgender preferences

In my life time I have worked as a school teacher, counselor and pastor.  Many people at times struggle with a variety of issues that disrupt mental health.  Policy makers will find it impossible to accommodate the various sides of this issue. All positions on this issue will be bullied. When you chose to ignore what science so easily tells us you create confusion.  Having worked with adolescents who experience turmoil, questions of sexual identity will be a time bomb.  We have largely been a Christian nation with beliefs rooted in a Judeo-Christian ethic and urge policy makers tp build policy based on that ethic. To suggest to children their sexual identity is up to their choice is to introduce the greatest confusion. Follow the science. Sexual identity is hardwired into the genes. Listen to basic biology.


Strongly support

strongly support


STONG SUPPORT

I strongly support this, it is beyond important to support the health and well-being of all children, and especially those that are more likely to struggle with this and to have less support, such as transgender children. It is necessary to support them at all times and keep them safe.


PLEASE NO!

Strongly oppose!!! This will cause significant destruction to our youth. Please do not go forward with this!


Opposed transgender

This is ridiculous, our kids have enough to deal with, this is awful that we have parents that support this. Lord help them. What are we doing to our children.


Strongly Oppose!!!

This is child abuse and must be stopped!


strongly support

every student deserves to be treated with respect. As a nation, we are slowly realizing that it isn’t about equality, it is about having equity. We need to help those who need the extra help and support, no matter what their beliefs are. Every student should receive the support they need in order to be successful. The Virginia department of education should strive to improve by being more inclusive and supportive for its students to help improve humanity as a whole.


Transgender

Begin typing to enter your comments. You are limited to approximately 3000 words I strongly oppose. This will make our schools unsafe for all. This is going too far on over stepping parental rights by the government. Another way to sneak in socialism.


Oppose

I strongly oppose the policy changes being put forward.


Public school policy around gender

Strongly oppose normalization of a what is for most, a faddish, freakish, attention-seeking notion.


Strongly opposed

Strongly opposed. I AM the parent not the school.


Support Trans Students

There have always been trans kids in schools and there will always be trans kids in schools. This is not just a matter of making Virginia’s public schools more inclusive; it’s recognizing reality. Trans Rights are human rights.


Fully support

Transgender individuals deserve to be protected, this proposal is a step in the right direction.


Fully support

Fully support the model policy.


Disagree

i do not agree!!!!


Oppose

Strongly Oppose


FULL SUPPORT

Trans lives matter! We need our kids to grow in welcoming and supporive school environments.


Strongly Oppose

As a parent of a daughter in Fairfax County Public Schools, I strongly oppose the proposed mandates. - The Department of Education should be focused on improving academics and getting students back in school for in-person instruction; the virtual learning approach in my county is failing and leaving a generation of students behind - this is a crisis that requires immediate focus and attention - These matters should be left to parents to navigate and not the school system; this will not help transgender students, it will further isolate and ostracize them and alienate the vast majority of students in public schools - Opposing these mandates does not imply "hate" towards transgender students as some of the posters have suggested; we can have an honest disagreement on the approach to handle this without the inflammatory labels; i want what is best for my daughter and other students in public schools and these mandates are not it


Oppose transgender mandates

I strongly oppose the transgender mandates proposed by the Department of Education. Of course all students should have the ability to feel safe and supported, but these mandates violate the rights of all students and teachers. Bullying and abuse are covered in existing mandates  that capture the transgender student experience. Allowing transgender students to use bathrooms and restrooms would be a violation of privacy rights for ALL students. Taking away the rights of parents to teach their children and guide them on their journey is brainwashing and abuse in itself! This is censorship of any family that has different views than yours and of that of the transgender activist groups. Just because others believe something different than you, we (students and parents) should not be punished.


I disapprove of these transgender policies

You always say children are to young to make these kind of decisions and are to impressionable to decide on their own and now you want to force it into everybody's beliefs and and make more of an impact on how we raise our children. I in no way condone bullying or being abusive to someone who has made the transgender decision. The path should run both ways. They should not bully me because I disagree with their choice and refer to them in their natural gender as I see them. That's the problem with society today nobody can agree to disagree. Now it is if you don't think or believe the way I do then you are a racesist, homophobe, or what ever tittle they want to pin on you. But I do not agree with transgender bathrooms in our schools you are asking for trouble and when did the school system decide they raise our children better then the parent. And when did it become the norm of the state government to decide the parent should not be told something about their own children.


Unequivocally support!

I strongly support this!


Strongly Oppose

A smoke screen ! This is a direct attack on the traditional idea of the nuclear family. It's purpose is to weaken the nuclear family, resulting in a weaken State and Country. Transgender is being used as a tool to divide, weaken and cause confusion.


Strongly Oppose

Strongly oppose.


Oppose. Click to read why

There is no reason to wreak more havoc on our children. They've had such a rough go with school closures, face coverings, and depression that they certainly don't need added confusion and tension . True gender according to chromosomes is identifiable before a child is even born. This is science . Change this, and everything will need adjusted according to the next persons preferences. Policies like this mold our children into whining - get whatever I want - babies. Whining isn't something teachers should be expected to put up with on top of trying to give our children a decent education. I'm not even sure that's possible this day in America's government schools, when all's relative and triggers are unavoidable.. If you expect to turn toleration around, you better start listening to the other side and looking in the mirror. What kind of world do we want for our children? One that accepts anything and everything as good and right and relative? Or one that is based on the Truth ? Thank you for considering my deeply held beliefs. -A concerned parent


Support for Transgender students

I'm a parent of three in Hanover county schools and am an involved parent and volunteer in our school division. I want to express strong support for this initiative protecting and supporting Transgender students in Hanover County and all Virginia school divisions. I and my family have witnessed firsthand the harm that is done when transgender students are harassed, singled out and made to feel unsafe in their school communities. It happened in my daughter's middle school. It was difficult for me to explain to my children that sometimes people,out of hate and ignorance,can treat people that way just for existing as a trans person. Please continue these efforts to provide a positive, safe, nurturing school environment for transgender students. This guidance sends the message that equity is paramount.  It sends the message that our teachers and administrators will be supported when they participate in solutions and education regarding situations of bullying, harassment, or discrimination that arise regarding our transgender students. Supporting transgender students is the right thing to do and the right message to send to all Virginia families. Thank you It's the right thing to do and the right message to send all Virginia families.


Strongly oppose policy

The VDOE should be focused on educating our children, not indoctrinating them and causing confusion.  The quality of education has declined in Virginia while progressive agendas like this transgender policy have become the norm.  Promoting liberal ideologies should not be the aim of our public school system. I am sure most parents, teachers, administrators and students agree that people of all walks of life should be respected and treated with kindness and dignity.  No one is arguing to the contrary, however, this policy proposal extends far beyond the realm of education, inserting itself into family relationships and values (see Standard p13 which could jeopardize parental roles and rights).  It is also quite concerning that the draft policy p18 states, " Access to facilities such as restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to a student’s gender identity shall be available to all students.” This opens wide the potential for abuse and indecent exposure and uncomfortable situations for kids that are already grappling with many challenges in a school environment where their main focus should be to learn.


PROTECT TRANS YOUTH!! I SUPPORT

PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF TRANS YOUTH


STRONGLY OPPOSE!!!!!!!!! NO NO NO NO!

EXTREMELY VERY VERY VERY STRONGLY OPPOSE!!!!!!!!!!. ABSOLUTELY NO NO NO NO!!!!!!


Defies reason and good sense

The Virginia Department of Education has outdone itself!  Where do we find such people? The infringement on parental rights is astounding.  Remember, when you take over the responsibility you become liable.  Who among our glorified educators is now going to be qualified to perform the gender counseling? This looks much like a school takeover of a crucial aspect of a child's identity while confusing the hell out of his or her fellow students. This is an outrageous overreach of the role of public school educators who are struggling with the performance of their current responsibilities. Parents will not be able to exit the public school system fast enough, hence the pressure for school choice and home schooling. The teacher's unions will never successfully compete with angry parents. Look for future defunding of public schools.


Support

I support this guidance document and VDOE's efforts to advance equity in Virginia’s public schools by supporting transgender students.


Transgender Curriculum

Strongly Oppose! Focus on the academics! Let kids and their innocence be valued.


Transgender policy

I am opposed to this policy & against everything it supports. Boys & girls bathrooms & locker rooms need to be kept separate. Boys are boys & girls are girls. Period.


STRONGLY OPPOSE!!!!!!

Strongly oppose!!!!


Strongly support

I strongly support the rights of trans youth. All children should be accepted and support d throughout their development, regardless of sex or gender identity. It is the duty of schools and communities to foster safe and nourishing environments for their students.


FULL SUPPORT

SUPPORT ALL THE WAY


Not in favor

As a Bible believing Christian I do not believe these changes are appropriate. Furthermore, I find them to be far from neutral and are very overreaching in the area of morals, ethics and parental rights. I do agree that the child should be bullied under any circumstance! Thank you for allowing us to voice our opinion.  I am very much opposed.


Support trans kids

All kids should feel safe and comfortable at school and these guidelines will help transgender and genderqueer kids feel safe at school


Strongly Oppose (INDOCTRINATION!!)

It’s beginning. The indoctrination of our children. You can thank none other than Joe Biden for this. Don’t come back crying when your kids get diddled by godless animals running around the school or when our country collapses under the weight of anti-christian, anti-family principles


Support these model policies

To Whom It May Concern, I would like to voice my support for the guidance being provided in the Model Policies. It is clear that the people opposing these measures have not read the guidelines and do not understand the lives of transgender youth and the challenges they face. Opponents of measures ensuring that we have gender-inclusive community spaces such as public schools are not motivated by an interest in fairness, equity or inclusivity, nor is their position informed by research, compassion; rather, they are basing their reactionary positions on fear and the desire to cling to an antiquated (and incorrect) understanding of gender and perceived gender roles. Trans youth deserve the same respect and protections afforded all students; as a group particularly vulnerable to bullying, they no doubt deserve additional consideration and accommodation. Public policy must serve the people, using the best information available. That information, based in evidence, supports the measures proposed herein, and I strongly urge that these guidelines be adopted with due haste. Sincerely, Priya Curtis


Opposed to transgender policies

Parents are to decide when their child is old enough to talk to them about sexual preferences and gender choice. The teachers at schools are to teach  how to read, how to write, how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide (Math). Respectfully I as a parent will do my job. Do not push life styles and beliefs on children that you have not birthed and raised.


Oppose

I oppose


Strongly Support

i strongly support protecting our trans and non binary youth and providing them an educational setting that fosters their growth as young people and allows them to thrive. Schools and educational spaces are fundamental and need to be at the forefront in the protection and development of all students including trans and non-binary peoples.


Transgender Policy

Vehemently oppose!!!


Strongly Oppose

Schools will be permitted to help a student explore, facilitate and make decisions regarding their gender expression of sexual identity while at school, without a parent even knowing! Please Focus on policies that will get all of our children safely back in school in person and bridge the learning out that has occurred this past year amongst all students.


Strongly support, trans rights are human rights

Transgender people - especially trans youth - have faced horrifying amounts of discrimination, violence, and ignorance, solely for existing. This policy would only help protect trans youth from systematic discrimination, and would combat the alarmingly high trans suicide rate that comes with living in an unaccepting and oppressive society. For those who are in opposition to this policy, I sincerely hope you can educate yourself on trans issues and see why protections for transgender and non-binary people is so important. If your child was transgender, wouldn't you want them to feel safe and accepted in their school?


Vehemently oppose this transgender policy!

This is a disgrace!


I do not support

Absolutely disgusting this is a violation of the constitution freedom of religion god does not approve


Guidance document regarding gender in K-12

I strongly oppose this Virginia Dept. of Education Guidance Document which will promote gender confusion for kids in K-12 schools.  It will be damaging to the kids, and the parents will be deceived as to this policy’s agenda!


I oppose this policy

I oppose this policy.  Sex education is the responsibility of the parents, not the schools.  The schools are teaching children false information.


Oppose - protect ALL children

We all want our students to have a safe learning environment, but these policies go too. These policies violate parents rights. These policies encouraging lying by teachers and students. These policies discourage transparency in what is being allowed, taught, and encouraged regarding sexual identity. This policy violates Parents Rights. § 1-240.1. Rights of parents. A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent's child. Praying for our schools.


What is real?

If I put antlers on my dog ... is he really a deer? People are suffering from reality deprivation. Teach students HOW to think not degenerate indoctrination.


support!

lgbt youth deserve to feel safe and accepted


No, I DO NOT support this!

I DO NOT APPROVE of this push to eliminate differences between females and males. God made us male or female. Schools should not have the right to force this issue. Curriculum choices, education - not indoctrination.


Strongly Oppose Transgender School Policy - Put God back in school and see what happens

The people who are making decisions on the education of our children are 110% responsible for the violence and hatred in America and they need to be punished. I am absolutely, 110% opposed to the transgender school policies that are proposed for several reasons which are outlined below: 1. Put God back in schools and see what happens. Stop having these nonsense drills to prepare students for an intruder and focus on making sure the students are taught how to act so that these threats aren't an issue any longer. Do your research on this, focus on the school shootings that have taken place since the bible and prayer was removed from schools, and then process the facts. Treating everyone fairly isn't important, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If a child gets their feelings hurt for not getting the honor roll, then perfect, you have given that child another reason to work a little harder and hopefully receive an honor roll certificate at the next opportunity. Don't punish the students who work hard to get the honor roll by taking away the praise they deserve, so that a student who didn't earn the honor roll's feelings aren't hurt; in life, you have to work hard for what you want or you'll never have it. Do NOT let students leave public schools thinking that it is okay to live on welfare - IT ISN'T in most cases. You should work for what you want, or you shouldn't have it. There are no excuses in the life of a failure, public schools should not let students think that there are.  Having God to pray to and guide you during these times will help tremendously. 2. No child should be allowed to have conversations about their gender with anyone in a public setting without their parents being fully aware of the situation. Allowing this WILL cause heartache and even more confusion for the student(s). A child has to be comfortable with who they are in all aspects of their life, they can not possibly be one "person" at school and another in their home life and be happy. 3. Public schools are a place that is intended for students to learn and grow as individuals so that they become responsible, respectful members of society upon graduating. No student should be having conversations about gender when they should be learning. Schools are NOT responsible for making sure students are gender secure, that has to start at home. You have to let this work itself out and remain a neutral party, a safe place for ALL students. 4. Don't change history, don't make math harder than it needs to be, don't teach students how to test Teach these kids how to succeed in life; give them the tools and support that they need to be a smart, successful adult and at that point, they can decide who they are. Without the knowledge to make the right decisions in life, violence and ignorance will continue to grow at a staggering rate. School systems across America have forgotten what is important, what is right, and what is wrong.  They aren't even concerned with getting back to the nitty-gritty and correcting the issues that they have caused in this world for fear of hurting someone's feelings. Screw feelings, everyone has them, and never will everyone be happy - DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE GREATER GOOD.  This conversation should not be happening right now, or ever. It is disgusting to me that the folks who are being paid with my tax dollars are concerned about transgender equality. Teach the students right from wrong and watch this issue disappear. Then, and only then, the folks in these paid positions can focus on decision making that actually involves learning and teaching students right from wrong. Stop brainwashing kids to think that liberalism is okay; teach them the facts, dating back to the beginning of time, unedited , and let them decide. I mean it when I say that the people who are making decisions on the education of our children are 110% responsible for the violence and hatred in America and they need to be punished. Heather Lynn Trout


Support

Well done Virginia fog ignoring the hateful comments of the  bigots and fundamentalists and doing what is right.  I fully support these proposals and am glad Virginia is moving out of the dark ages when fundamentalists and bigots controlled the regulations.


Opposed

Parents havea right to know what their kids are being taught. It is the parents responsibility to teach their children on sensitive topics like transgenderism. When our country is in such a crises, perhaps we should return to those things that made America into such a great country. Throughout history cultures that embraced the transgender lifestyle quickly experienced destruction. Our nation was founded on the Bible, those who follow that book and the God who wrote it have life. Those who reject it experience destruction. Please choose life for our Commonwealth by teaching our children what lines up with the Bible that God made you male or female, whichever one you were born.


Strongly support

I strongly support the proposed guidelines to protect transgendered or questioning students. All students deserve dignity and the right to determine how they are addressed during the school day. The comments alone on this website show the amount of bigotry, intolerance, and misunderstanding in our community about trans issues, which further underscores a need to protect these children.


Do Not Support

I do not support this guidance as written.   Administrators are putting in procedures and policy that divides and further alienates students by separating and identifying people based on ideas that don't have an impact on education.


Gender policies

i strongly oppose this. No school or government has the right to impose on parental rights. I choose to raise my child in a biblical manner and totally disagree with these policies. We follow the Golden Rule in our household and love our neighbors as our selves. Where  are the scientific facts that male and female are biologically created the same? I pray dear Father in heaven to please intervene and not allow this to be a policy or law of the land. Help us, dear Father.


LGBTQ students

I support inclusive policies that protect the rights of LGBTQ students.


Strongly Support this policy

This policy is absolutely crucial. Virginia needs to do more to protect Trans youth, and this is a great move in the right direction!


Strongly oppose models policies for the treatment of transgender students in Va's public schools

These policies take away the rights of parents to hold discussions and decisions with their children. These policies are not based on reality. Anyone who knows children know that they change their minds constantly. They want this one day another the next day, something else next week. Transfer that to gender issues and you enter a mad house. In the end it is the child who is grievously injured as well as the parents.


Oppose New Transgender School Policy

I strongly oppose the proposed transgender policy under consideration for Virginia schools. This policy is anti-scientific and it promotes the harmful myth that gender is fluid when each human is scientifically born male or female.  To allow a male identifying as a female to have access to female restrooms and locker rooms, or vice versa, is a state-sponsored abusive and predatory environment. To allow a biological male to participate in female sports is unfair, at best.  A biological male is physically made differently than a female.  Males and females are created differently and thereby think differently.  Instead of celebrating our differences this policy tries to make everyone all the same.  To address a child as young as first grade and confuse them with such radical thinking is abhorrent.  No tax-paying parent should have to subject their innocent child to this unsafe environment and indoctrination in exchange for public education. The disregard for religious freedom in this policy is unconstitutional. You must vote against this policy.


oppose

I oppose this


Educate Responsibly - Where is the education in this?

I am deeply concerned that our system of educating the next generation is more concerned about socially shaping the next generation rather than educating the next generation on the facts and figures of science,english, history, and math.  There is a wealth of learning to be accomplished by children.  We as the adults in their lives need to be less concerned about reshaping their minds to fit a new social agenda and more concerned about actually educating. These proposed actions will cause a greater distraction from both learning and teaching.  It adds chaos to an environment that is already struggling.  It will create even greater hostility rather than an environment of peace and acceptance. The focus needs to return to true education.  Our children have already fallen behind in their education when compared to the great minds of the past and of other nations. How about focusing on ways to make sure everyone in the school is focusing on real education and leave all the extra stuff outside the doors of learning?  Leave the toys outside, leave the social shaping outside, focus on the science, focus on the math, focus on the things that are in common - not the divisive issues of society. we have fallen a great way from what our education system was first designed to accomplish.  Let’s use taxpayer’s money responsibly.  I am deeply opposed to this bill as I feel it goes against everything education should be concerned with.


Thetransgender policy for schools

I strongly oppose the New Transgender policy!


The Transgender policy for schools


Do not support transgender

I do not support transgender in the schools but then this is how the government works they destroy us from the schools on out but my support Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says God made man God made women I will not be bullied into trying to believe something that the government wants us to believe At least I will stand in front of my Lord and Savior and say I didn’t give up on you Jesus I didn’t do what they wanted me to do I didn’t give in to the peer pressure and the evil that is going on in our country right now.


OPPOSE

Our children are to be guided by the adults in their lives to help them make decisions that they can live with for all of their lives. How is teaching them transgender identity going to do that?? They need to be old enough, which would be out of the school, to handle the long term repercussions of such a vast decision. This is not the schools place to push an agenda on our children.


Strongly Support

I believe all Virginia students deserve to be treated with respect and have their education prioritized. In this case, doing so requires protections for our trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students. These protections were not available when I went through the Virginia public school system. Gendered dress codes do not increase learning. Teachers disrespecting their students by using the wrong pronouns does not increase learning. Students having to only use prohibitively out of the way, singled out, poorly constructed bathroom facilities does not increase learning. Please put these protections in place to let students learn. Thank you.


Support for the Model Policies for Transgender Students in VA Public Schools

As a nonbinary Virginian who attended VA public schools throughout my educational career, I am writing in support of the Model Policies on the Treatment of Transgender Students, because I believe all students should have equal access to education where they can thrive and reach their full potential. I had very little guidance or support for exploring my identities within the LGBTQ+ community when I was a high school student. Having explicit policies that acknowledged the existence of nonbinary and transgender identities and provide guidance on how to address the specific needs of nonbinary and transgender students would have meant the world to me and several of my peers at that age. By providing guidance to teachers and staff, it will be easier to create an inclusive environment consistently for all students in all schools, rather than having to hope for and rely upon the select few teachers who have personal connections or are exceptionally forward-thinking to take on the extra work of advocating for their transgender and nonbinary students. GLSEN's 2019 National School Climate Survey shows that transgender and nonbinary students feel less safe at school and miss school more often because of feeling unsafe compared to their cisgender peers. Transgender and nonbinary students also report higher rates of victimization and discrimination than their peers, especially regarding respect for their names and pronouns and access to bathrooms and locker rooms. Transgender and nonbinary students should feel safe and included in their learning communities. No one deserves to be bullied, harassed, or discriminated against in their school, which is a place where they are supposed to be able to learn and be a part of a community that accepts them for who they are. Schools teach students how to succeed but they also teach students how to treat each other. This proposed rule will make Virginia schools a better place to learn for transgender and nonbinary students, which creates a better learning environment for all.  Thank you for your commitment to ensuring safe and welcoming schools for all Virginia students. Sincerely, Jaeger Spratt


STRONGLY OPPOSE

It is the right of parents to make decisions with their children NOT THE GOVERNMENT OR SCHOOL. These policies are ludicrous. Children need the guidance from their parents who love them and truly want what's best for them. This will harm our children. WE SAY NO!


definitely oppose this...very harmful for all

This is totally amoral to do this to our innocent children and a slap in the face to parents's rights. I do believe this harm children and cause them confusion and pain. The government should not be able to do this.


Strongly Opposed to new transgender policies.

These policies, particularly those that cover facilities access, make it easier for abusers to get away with their actions, and will cause irreparable harm and pain to the innocents who will suffer. In full, The proposed policies articulate views – such as the view that “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six ” – that are far different from those of many parents. Through its blanket endorsement of views like these, the VDOE has gone far beyond the path the General Assembly prescribed. Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex. Many children would feel uncomfortable when they encounter a member of the opposite sex – particularly adults – in gendered facilities or when entering a shared hotel room as part of an overnight school activity. Children, particularly adolescents, can experience hypersensitive and traumatic reactions to these situations. Schools should not be accommodating the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions”. The model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children. The Department’s proposed policies would pit children against their parents when it comes to important questions about sex and gender identity.


Oppose

Oppose this bill.  Our children don't need to be exposed to biologically opposite sex individuals in the privacy of bathrooms or other venues that are meant for single sex only.


Disagree strongly with transgender policies as set fort on Page 6, 10, 12, 13, 1 7 & 18.

I do disapprove of this radical push to eliminate differences between females and males and the brainwashing of our children and grandchildren.


Proposed transgender  policy.

Schools should not be given authority to hide ANY thing from parents! Science says there are only TWO genders and they should not be mingled in bathrooms and shower rooms!


Strongly OPPOSE

Oppose this bill.


I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE TRANSGENDER POLICIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL

I STRONGLY OPPOSE ANY TRANSGENDER POLICIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL OR KEEPING KNOWLEDGE FROM PARENTS.


statewide transgender policy

strongly oppose


Transgender policies

Very much oppose this !!!


Cannot support this more

This is a wonderful policy to aid in educating and including the youth of today.  If I was provided access to this as a child my life would have been drastically different for the better. I cannot support this enough.


Transgender policy

Regarding the proposed transgender policy, I strongly urge our authorities not to pass these measures. I have several concerns. First, the research around transgender issues is thin and does not support measures these strict. We actually have very little idea about the effects of gender identification over a person's lifespan and precious little idea about the influences of institutional participation on these issues. There has simply not been enough time to sufficiently study the longitudinal effects and concerns and there is just no way that these measures are grounded in solid research. Second, I worry about the disproportionate nature of this response. While I have sympathy for students who might struggle with these issues in our school system, there are not enough of them to change the rules for every other student, teacher, and administrator. The many bear the weight for only a few and we should think very, very carefully before we encode that in our laws and regulations. Third, I take great exception to the idea that we need to change the English language to reflect the perceived reality of only a handful of people. We teach our children that words mean things and to move away from that for notions not founded in research and data bears a potential consequence I don't think we've adequately considered. For the few students with legitimate concerns here, surely our superintendents and principals can be trusted to handle as they see fit without potentially demonizing and criminalizing other students and teachers simply trying to achieve their educational mission.


Absolutely Oppose this Tragic Proposal!

Parents have every right and obligation to know everything that is happening to their child!  Legally and morally, to think that I the state or its representatives know more or better than parents, who bear the ultimate responsibility in every dimension till adulthood, is ludicrous and dangerous to the fabric of our society! Even if the state has concerns, it is obligated and necessary to bring the legal authority of the child (which is the parent) into the discussion. To pass this policy that keeps schools and it’s representatives from informing parents on any concern of the child is reprehensible!


Strongly support

Very strongly support this measure as a Virginia resident.


Transgender school policy

This policy will have a devastating effect on families. It is absurd, radical and dangerous. It is the parents right and responsibility to raise their children, NOT the states !


Support our LGTBQ youth

it is imperative that was as a community of Virginians we support ALL students in their learning journey.   Our LGTBQ students are at high risk of persecution in our schools and it is up to all of us to provide them with protections so they can have a safe and healthy environment in which to learn.


Insanity

This is actually beyond insanity, it is a satanic delusion.  God made man male and female (Genesis 5:2). Every cell contains XX or XY chromosomes and no amount of drugs or surgery can change that. Nor can a person change their God given gender by simply wishing it. To try to accommodate the fantasy of a sick, or more likely demon possessed, person is simply criminal. Adopting this or any similar policy is a crime.


Transgender policy: Do not like this policy document.

I do not like the proposed Transgender policy.


Support this policy and transgender students

I strongly support the policies outlined in the document "Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools." Trans and gender non-conforming students are so vulnerable to bullying and harassment, and desperately need to be supported by the school system throughout their formative years. The negative comments on this forum only prove that these kids needs extra protection and support, as there are so many in our community who would deny them the safety, love, and acceptance that all children need in order to thrive.


Transgender school policy

I strongly oppose this transgender school policy


DISAGREE

Hello, I strongly disapprove of this radical push to eliminate differences between females and males and the brainwashing of our children and grandchildren. Thank you for hearing my comments. Janna Bowman Arlington, VA


In Support of Model Policies on the Treatment of Transgender Students

I, Lindsay Grohowski, am writing in support of the Model Policies on the Treatment of Transgender Students, because I believe all students should have equal access to education where they can thrive and reach their full potential. This is incredibly important to me as a School Counselor in the public school setting and as a queer, non-binary adult. I have worked with countless middle school students who feel unsupported and hopeless because of the way adults and students alike have responded to their gender identity. They pay attention to our actions and policies like this are absolutely critical and frankly, will save lives. GLSEN's 2019 National School Climate Survey shows that transgender and nonbinary students feel less safe at school and miss school more often because of feeling unsafe compared to their cisgender peers. Transgender and nonbinary students also report higher rates of victimization and discrimination than their peers, especially regarding respect for their names and pronouns and access to bathrooms and locker rooms. Transgender and nonbinary students should feel safe and included in their learning communities. No one deserves to be bullied, harassed, or discriminated against in their school, which is a place where they are supposed to be able to learn and be a part of a community that accepts them for who they are. Schools teach students how to succeed but they also teach students how to treat each other. This proposed rule will make Virginia schools a better place to learn for transgender and nonbinary students, which creates a better learning environment for all.  Thank you for your commitment to ensuring safe and welcoming schools for all Virginia students. Sincerely, Lindsay Grohowski


STRONGLY DISAGREE!!! You cannot change your sex, no matter who says so!

PLEASE!!! Let us go back to normalcy again!


Strongly oppose

I believe these issues regarding children should be between the child and the parents who love them more than anyone.  While I have great compassion for all that kids are going through, I don't believe the State has authority over parents rights.  The fact that teachers/counselors could keep info regarding a child from parents is unconscionable. The sharing of restrooms/locker rooms is also a huge safety issue, both physically & psychologically. The focus of public education needs to be on "reading, writing, arithmetic".  There are serious civil & religious liberty lines threatening to be crossed with these policies.  Please leave America's children's identity values within the families who care for them the most. Thank you for your time!


Strongly Disagree with this policy!

I strongly disagree with the effort to adopt policy which furthers gender confusion.  Schools should have the responsibility to teach truth and not to play politics.  Gender confusion is simply another avenue in which those responsible are seeking to lie to people.  The truth is, there are two sexes - there was never a multitude of sexes until the recent years when society decided to lie to people.  The truth is, that upon birth, any medical physician worth his salt says that the child is either a male or female.  The physician does not place "unknown" in the blank - unless of course that has become the new hospital policy in which lying again is being proclaimed!  This policy is extremely dangerous from several vantage points.  First, is the outright lying that is taking place to tell a child we don't know what they are!  Stop the lying!  They were designed by their Maker as either a male of female.  scripture designates male and female - and not a bunch of "other."  Second, is the safety factor of the school.  Boys and girls deserve to have the decency and safety of using the restrooms and locker rooms in privacy.  Third, why on earth would we desire to promote something that is creating significant problems for teenagers today?  Adding this only fosters the growing suicide issues facing teens!  Stop the lying!!!  Fourth, why would the adults in the public system desire to lie to parents by stating one thing to their children when they are at school one version and then lying, again, when the parent is present.  This is absolutely disgusting and I vehemently oppose the policy!


VDOE Transgender Student Inclusion Policies

Support


Public School Transgender Policies

I do not approve or think necessary these proposed guidelines that seem to want to blur the lines between male and female and seem to be written to indoctrinate students and usurp parental responsibility. A teacher cannot be expected to know which pronouns to use when  students could change their sexual preferences, perhaps on a daily basis. There should be verifiable and substantial evidence that a sex change has taken place. Parents should be included in all counseling sessions with students regarding their gender identity and any other family life issues in the areas of health or sexuality. Parents should be made aware, and indeed have a right to know, if a biological male is using a bathroom or locker room designated for girls. Gender neutral dress code standards will cause chaos. How do these changes in public policy advance or improve the building of strong, traditional families which have been proven to result in a stable structure to ensure a healthy society?  Every major and credible study shows that a traditional family structure equals overall positive outcomes.


Opposing Comment

This policy proposal by the VA DOE is clearly a violation of religious liberty as it offers no protection to students who cannot refer to others with pronouns that differ from others’ pronounced sex at birth due to faith based convictions. The government is over stepping its bounds and assuming responsibility over minors that is reserved for parents, who themselves should teach principles and indoctrinate their children, and hopefully in ways that are in accordance with God’s Word. This proposal is a war on the U.S Constitution and Bill Of Rights, but ultimately on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God over all. His Word and incarnation provide us with the philosophical basis needed for a coherent understanding of human rights, sexual identity, law, etc. What philosophical basis does a secular state have for such fundamental categories? A secular state has none. We need God fearing people in office who will legislate and utilize State and Federal constitutional and governing frameworks to the glory of God, not to commit high treason against Him the way this policy does.


Strongly Support

First and foremost, I strongly support this! All students have the right to learn in a safe environment, free from discrimination, particularly in the public school system. It is appalling to learn about the discrimination that still occurs in Virginia, but with this guidance being implemented in our public systems we have the chance to eradicate it.


DANGEROUS FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AND TOTALLY WRONG!!!

Children deserve to be protected and SHAME ON LEGISLATORS AND PSEUDO-EDUCATORS who are willing to endanger students by forcing more confusion.   No student should be bullied or treated with disrespect but ignoring their biological differences and removing all protections and privacy of those differences is both abusive and the height of disrespect.   STOP using our children in your social experiments and protect children!!   This is beyond outrageous and I couldn't be more enraged at the very idea that you would place children in such a disturbing and damaging environment.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

The transgender policies are NOTHING but harmful to children! If you enact them, it opens a door for abuse, both physical and mental, of our children. It MUST NOT be passed!


Strongly support based on science and empathy

I strongly support policies that allow all students to learn in a safe respectful environment where they are treated with dignity. Many of the opposing comments are woefully ignorant of current science on gender identification as well as lacking in empathy and kindness towards other. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-redefined-the-idea-of-2-sexes-is-overly-simplistic1/


Strongly Support Model Policy

Every kid should feel safe at school regardless of their gender identity or gender expression. The statistics listed in the policy document demonstrate the harm that discrimination against transgender youth causes: "A 2019 national survey by GLSEN found that 84 percent of transgender youth feel unsafe at school, and those who experience victimization have significantly lower GPAs, are more likely to miss school out of concern for their safety, and are less likely to plan on continuing their education (Kosciw, Clark, Truong, & Zongrone, 2020). Compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers, LGBTQ+ youth report much higher rates of depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use, and lower self-esteem. LGBTQ+ youth of color may experience additional stress and adverse effects as a result of their intersecting identities, facing both bias against their gender identity or expression as well as racism" (pg. 9). "Furthermore, a recent study found that socially transitioned transgender children who are supported in their gender identity have no elevations in depression and only minimal elevations in anxiety relative to population averages (Olson, Durwood, DeMeules, & McLaughlin, 2016)"(pg. 9).


Oppose

I oppose this guidance document as it encourages gender questions that children (especially pre-pubescent children) are not ready to understand.


Strongly support

I strongly support the policies outlined in the guidance document "Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools." I support this because all students deserve to feel safe and supported by their school without fear of discrimination. All students should feel included and represented, especially in a learning environment. I hope that those who have left negative comments try and see this from the point of view of a child. They do not deserve to be bullied or harassed and it emphasizes the importance of enforcing these policies.


LGBTQ proposed law proposal survey

I support efforts by the Virginia Department of Education to create a more inclusive learning environment for all students, including but not limited to students identifying as transgender. Gender itself is a social construct and gender stereotypes should not be encouraged. We should strive for a world where no one is considered "gender non-conforming" because everybody can wear any kind of clothing or participate in any activity and not have it be considered masculine or feminine. The very concept of gender is antiquated and should be abolished. Sex is not assigned at birth; it is observed. Sex is a biological state of being. Spaces where children will be in a state of undress should be divided by SEX, not gender, with individual facilities for those students whose biological sex does not comport with their inner feelings of gender. No student should be forced to use a restroom or changing space where they feel uncomfortable or unsafe, and that means that not only will transgender students need a safe and neutral space, but students who are not transgender but who do not wish to be in a state of undress with persons of the opposite biological sex must also be accommodated and provided with restrooms and changing rooms where they feel safe and comfortable.  To the fullest extent possible, Virginia schools should provide private, single changing spaces, showers, and toilet facilities for any student who wishes. One need not be transgender to feel uncomfortable being undressed in front of others. Many teens are uncomfortable with their bodies for various reasons. Others may have cultural or religious prohibitions against being in a state of undress with others, even of the same sex. Private spaces are the only answer, no matter how costly.


I Strongly Oppose the transgender policy

I Strongly Oppose!


Strongly oppose this policy!!

I strongly disagree with the effort to adopt policy which furthers gender confusion.  Schools should have the responsibility to teach truth and not to play politics.  Gender confusion is simply another avenue in which those responsible are seeking to lie to people.  The truth is, there are two sexes - there was never a multitude of sexes until the recent years when society decided to lie to people.  The truth is, that upon birth, any medical physician worth his salt says that the child is either a male or female.  The physician does not place "unknown" in the blank - unless of course that has become the new hospital policy in which lying again is being proclaimed!  This policy is extremely dangerous from several vantage points.  First, is the outright lying that is taking place to tell a child we don't know what they are!  Stop the lying!  They were designed by their Maker as either a male of female.  Scripture designates male and female - and not a bunch of "other."  Second, is the safety factor of the school.  Boys and girls deserve to have the decency and safety of using the restrooms and locker rooms in privacy.  Third, why on earth would we desire to promote something that is creating significant problems for teenagers today?  Adding this only fosters the growing suicide issues facing teens!  Stop the lying!!!  Fourth, why would the adults in the public system desire to lie to parents by stating one thing to their children when they are at school one version and then lying, again, when the parent is present.  This is absolutely disgusting and I vehemently oppose the policy!


Totally, Terribly wrong.

The state does not have the right to keep secrets from parents about their own children—especially when it comes to intimate details on sensitive issues like gender and sexuality Besides just being totally wrong, it is Totally wrong.  Subjecting children to the propaganda of the state is the wrong just like it was under Hitler in Germany and Stalin in Russia.  As is normal and proper, no one loves and cares for the welfare of children than their parents. The policies proposed by the DOE should be fought against by all parents, even moving to another state if necessary.


Oppose

These proposed policies on transgenderism are neither scientific or kind.  I strongly oppose this misguided attempt to indoctrinate our children instead of educate them.


Oppose this un-natural and unbiblical nonsense

It's very simple...this proposal violates nature and nature's God.


Squirrels are not dogs, cats are not fish, Men are Men and Women are Women period!


VDOE model policy for treatment of transgender students

This proposed policy usurps parental rights.  If there is a legitimate concern of abuse or neglect, it needs to be investigated, but this proposal ignores the parents rights for moral and religious guidance. This proposal allows the opportunity for a student to take advantage of a perverted desire to use bathroom or dressing room facilities of the opposite biological sex.  The policy also prevents anyone from questioning the student's motives and doesn't allow parents to be notified that their child or children are subjected to this potentially perverted activity. ********An interesting point is the policy doesn't address the potential liability if my child is raped or sexually abused as a result of this policy !!! The VDOE would be acting wisely to scrap this proposed policy. Sincerely, Stephen Vinson


I oppose

I strongly oppose this policy. It is not the school or governments place or right to keep secrets from parents about their own children — especially when it comes to intimate details on sensitive issues like gender and sexuality.


All students deserve respect

All people, children, students, deserve to be educated fully and treated with respect and dignity. Regardless of those who fail to understand or comprehend any truth beyond what they have directly experienced. Please, work to improve the education system. Protections and education benefit all students, not only LGBTQ+.


STRONGLY OPPOSE VDOE DRAFT POLICY FOR TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS

I strongly oppose VDOE's proposed guidelines based on radical theories that eradicate all distinctions between male and female and indoctrinate our school children.  The proposed guidelines are dangerous to children and school staff, they undermine parental rights and disregard the God-given rights of U.S. citizens.  We cannot allow radical liberals in the legislature and executive branch to transform Virginia into a state in which parents can no longer parent their children, and children are being manipulated into disavowing their parents’ teachings and values –and even being commissioned to report parents who don’t fully embrace the new orthodoxies.  Enough is enough.   Stop this nonsense, please.


Strongly oppose!

I strongly oppose the proposed transgender policy under consideration. For a state that purports to “go by the science,” transgenderism emphatically denies biological science. This proposed policy is seeking the approval of a small minority of confused folks that need psychological and spiritual help. Instead of providing real help to these troubled few, our state seeks to impose its will upon the many. History will inevitably find that promoting transgender/gender identity policies, which contradict societal norms, will prove to have been destructive and harmful. The health and welfare of our children will suffer irreparable damage from the illogical, unfounded reasoning being proposed. It is shameful that the state of VA has stooped so low that it would consider endangering the lives of the young while also trampling upon the right of parents.


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose. It is not wise to allow children authority over parents and school staff as in the draft model policies for the treatment of "transgender" students. Students tend to be driven by the present which obviously changes moment by moment. It would be difficult for school staff to determine a child's chosen gender from one day to the next, opening opportunities for excellent educators and staff to be fired for a slip of the tongue, even if unintended. It may be difficult to even determine a child's chosen gender by looks alone especially since schools would not require evidence of chosen gender. Teachers have enough red tape to cut through each day. They need to be allowed to do that which they were called to do- teach, without ideological worries. Gender conversations are best held at home with parents who, at the beginning of the pandemic, when schools shut their doors, were called by Pam Northam the best teachers of their children! If that is so, and I wholeheartedly agree with, parents must be the ones not only having gender conversations with their own children but also MUST be made aware of ANY issue their students are having that school staff is aware of so that parents may teach accordingly. It is a parent's right to educate their child as they see fit. To charge a parent with child abuse or neglect for teaching their children according to their own principles and consciences is a violation of their constitutional freedom. It is also a violation of constitutional religious freedom for those parents, students, teachers, and staff that have deeply held religious beliefs that biological males and biological females are just that and none else. Parents also have the right to know, whether they choose to do anything about it or not, if their children are being subjected to using the same bathrooms and changing facilities that are designated for the opposite biological sex. And to also be intentionally made aware if there are no longer designations for biological sex, but shared by both biological sexes. These things may lead to unwanted touching and/or ogling. Virginia public educated students must be given the right to focus on learning math, language, science, history, arts, and sports. Education concerning special interest groups or specific ideologies can be had in the home, homeschool, or private school setting, which is what has been happening for years. It would be extremely distracting as biological males and females arrive to their classes dressed in clothing designed for the opposite sex. As far as school activities like P.E., think of the distraction that biological boys dressed in skirts and earrings to gym and wrestling matches would cause because they feel like or believe they are girls. The distraction of biological girls appearing topless to swim meets because they feel like or believe they are boys is just as bad. This is completely inappropriate and insanity!


Transgender Policy

I urge you to revise the proposed VDOE draft model policies for the treatment of transgender students due to the extensive potential for damaging effects to both students and faculty. First, our schools are a place where all students are to feel safe and welcome, providing them a healthful place to learn and grow into citizens that are able to contribute to society. This policy would facilitate and encourage the practice of lying and misinformation within the family unit - the unit we as a society work so hard to maintain! By withholding extremely important information about students from the people who love them most, it builds distrust and fosters the practice of lying. It actively prohibits parents from having open communication with their children, breaking down relationships and trust. Additionally, it requires faculty to be intentionally dishonest with parents, undermining the vital parent-teacher relationship and imbuing it with distrust. (Per “School divisions will need to consider the health and safety of the student in situations where students may not want their parents to know about their transgender status … There are no regulations requiring school staff to notify a parent or guardian of a student’s request to affirm their gender identity...” (Recommended Standard, p.12) And also, “School staff should be prepared to support the safety and welfare of transgender students when their families are not affirming. (Recommended Standard, p. 13)) Second, this policy would undermine the safety and health of students by opening vulnerable places - like locker rooms and bathrooms - up to students and staff of the opposite sex with no limitation. Since the current definition of gender identity as outlined in this standard is completely subjective, both students and faculty could change their gender identity to exploit vulnerable situations, without substantiating evidence or minimum duration, according to the Recommended Standard. Our society has fought valiantly for years to establish women's rights, prevent rape and molestation, and foster protections for the vulnerable, all with the goal of providing a safe and conducive learning environment in public schools. The Recommended Standard prioritizes transgender rights, superseding the rights and protections for cisgendered individuals and their family units. It undermines the family unit by fostering a dishonest school-home environment, encouraging students to be dishonest with parental figures, and requiring faculty to lie to parents when discussing the student. Ongoing evidence of gender selection is not required, according to the Recommended Standard, opening doors to opportunities for abuse, molestation and impropriety for all students and prohibiting faculty from providing protection to those in harm's way. The Recommended Standard prohibits a safe and conducive learning/educational environment for all students and faculty. I urge you to revise these standards to provide protections for both trans and cis gendered students.


transgender

STRONGLY DISAPPROVE


STRONGLY OPPOSE

LAST COMMENT  SHOULD BE OMITTED


I strongly oppose

I strongly oppose the proposal to teach students about gender identification and/or anything which would possibly cause a student to question their biological gender. This entire topic should be dealt with at home, or in a counselor or clergy setting with parent approval.


Proposal is bad policy

This proposed policy is a violation of privacy for students, it undermines parents authority, and it discriminates against a Christian view of sexuality. Not to mention that it is anti-science.


SUPPORT!!!!

It is imperative to support ALL students!


Absolutely NOT

It is not the public school's role to subvert the authority of the parents in raising their children according to their values, morals, and beliefs.   If this passed it would completely undermine the right of every parent to bring up their children as they choose, which is one of the most fundamental rights as citizens of our United States. VOTE NO.


Proposed Virginia Transgender School Policy

Our family strongly opposes this proposed state-wide policy! I have read the proposed policy in it's entirety. It appears this policy was developed by the same people who have pushed to make this subject what it is today; far more than it should be. These are the people who have made these sexual behaviors "cool" to the youth. I saw only 1 parent in the list of individuals who were consulted in developing the document. This type of overgovernment is one of the big reasons that private schools and home schooling have become so desired. Most of the young who are now exposing these behaviors would not have them or think they have them had so-called progressives not told them that if they have one inkling of these feelings then that is really what they are. It is so sad. Many of the people who helped to develop this document stand to gain consulting work if it is approved. Bad!


Oppose Model Policies for Treatment of Transgender Students

Many of the Model Policies for Treatment of Transgender Students violate other people's rights, specifically: school staff, parents, and all non-transgender students. This is unlawful. Much more research is needed to accurately determine how best to help children who are experiencing gender dysphoria. Following unsubstantiated recommendations by people who have a political agenda rather than time-tested scientific research.


Strongly Oppose

Although compassion is a good thing, I think at times young children are naturally confused when it comes to gender and sexuality.  Why add to the confusion?  Stop playing politics, stop indoctrinating kids and educate them!  On top of COVID lockdowns, this is all we need! Kids can be protected without boys using girls bathrooms.  I can't imagine what the consequences of such policies would be.


Transgender

I do not approve of the proposed guidelines based on radical theories that eradicate all distinctions between male and female and indoctrinate our school children.


Don't take out parent communication

I am in complete support of transgender students having the freedom to go by the pronouns of their choosing. This is their right to decide who they are as a person. They should be able to do so without push back at home or at school. What I do not support is taking the parent communication off the table. I believe we can find a way to support our transgender students in our communities without taking the parents out of the equation. I love my children dearly and care about what they go through at school. I would want to be part of those conversations and communication that happens at school because I love them.


Transgender proposal

Let us not put teachers and administrators between parents and their children.  Also, it is not the role of the schools to affirm gender identity one way or the other.  How about focusing on teaching the basic such as writing, math, and reading?


Transgender bathroom

Please protect our children do not allow the transgender to use the same bathroom.  We love them, but its insane to allow them to use the bathroom that they want. Thanks


In opposition to transgender regulations proposed by VA Department of Education

The proposed policies related to HB 145 and SB 161 articulate views – such as the view that “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six ” – that are far different from those of many parents. Through its blanket endorsement of views like these, the VDOE has gone far beyond the path the General Assembly prescribed. The model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children. The Department’s proposed policies would pit children against their parents when it comes to important questions about sex and gender identity.


Overreach

It has come to my attention that the Department of Education of Virginia thinks that it should teach that there is not binary sex or that it is assigned at birth.  That is extremely unprofessional and unscientific. Moreover the proposal is outrageous that any student being seen to have questions about sexuality will be considered someone to protect from their own parents. Your proposal to mandate such policy state wide is an overreach of any semblance of your place to teach Virginia students.


Oppose

I strongly oppose the transgender regulations proposed by the VA Department of Education. Schools should make accommodations for any transgender child/adult that will NOT impact the whole study body. No child should be subjected to sharing a bathroom, locker room, hotel room, etc of someone of the opposite sex even that person identifies.


OPPOSE....A dangerous encouragement

It is an established fact that the rate for suicide among Transgender is 11 times that of the national norm and no its not because they are mistreated. One study proved they do this in the most supportive of environments as much as the non supportive ones.  You would be enabling a tragedy for many.  Stop trying to normalize an affliction for the sake of political world view.  These people desperately need love and help not hyper accommodation to encourage their affliction.  Stop stepping all over the freedom of others by commanding them to lie to a person who based on nothing more than their subjective feelings disagrees with what they see in the mirror each day.


We have two sets of illogical children here; the gender-confused child, and the school Admin

Its commonly accepted practice that children are not considered developed, learned, or experienced enough to make life-altering decisions.  Society and government have demonstrated this on controls down to things as common as driving, voting, alcohol, viewing adult media, tattooing, or piercing, etc... Yet we debate forcing society and government bureaucracies to attend to the whims of a child who may “feel” they are not the sex they were born with.  It is utterly illogical and absurd. How to treat this child?  We can ask - do you allow degrees of bullying based on other criteria?  Why would you allow mistreatment of any child then? Very simply, you hold them to the same standards as any other child, including their biological sex.   They can “choose” their sex when they are adults. Also, for your teacher’s own future legal liability and safety, why would you want to create any complex system, of unworkable and completely impracticable rules beyond this?


Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools

I strongly oppose the DOE's proposal for a statewide-and mandatory-transgender model policy for all K-12 schools. This policy essentially mandates promotion of gender confusion to school aged children and undermines the rights of parents.


Strongly oppose.

There is no acceptable reason to have other adults in my child's life keeping secrets with my children. That is a line that teachers shouldn't cross. We encourage our children to be honest and come forward if any adult takes advantage of them. You are now trying to encourage children to keep secrets with these other adults. These philosophies also go against our lifestyle views. I will love my child if they start to have these issues or don't. But I do not want to support or encourage it. Gender confusion is a new hot topic issue that is attracting attention and trying to gain popularity when a very small few actually identify this way. I do think the kids that identify this way should be protected and shouldn't have to suffer from bullying or presucution. That doesn't mean that we need to saturate or kids in these choices or encourage them to follow this way of life.


Opposed to the expansion

LGBT issues for adults are a matter of public policy. It is acceptable to communicate to public employees that they not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender, since discrimination is wrong. However, LGBT is a topic for families to discuss within the family, and what we’ve seen in recent years is advocacy for immorality by left-leaning educators. This has undermined families and influenced youths to choose the immoral path out of peer pressure and teachers influence. The topic needs to be avoided by public employees just as much as religious viewpoints and political viewpoints. Regrettably, the left-leaning individuals have no compunction about restricting their advocacy because they’re protected by Democratic Party advocates. This is unequal treatment under the law.


Strongly Oppose Trans Changes

While I fully agree that any student should be treated respectfully, I absolutely do not approve of these proposed guidelines! They are a state overreach of power based on radical, unscientific theories that seek to eradicate all distinctions between male and female and treat our school-aged children as social experiments in sexuality. Rather than making children feel safe, these policies create chaos and confusion in the hearts and minds of children where none existed before. Additionally, these guidelines especially endanger girls, making them subject to possible abuse and/or harassment in bathrooms, locker rooms, etc., and also subject to biological inequities in sports competitions. Furthermore, the family is the most foundational and fundamental unit in society, and these policies only serve to destroy that family unit by undermining parental authority and involvement in their children’s lives. Unquestionably, the vast majority of parents love and care more about their own children than the state or anyone else ever will. What automatically qualifies the state to be more loving/caring/responsible in handling these crucial, life-altering matters than the parents themselves? This usurping of parental authority by the state sets a dangerous precedent for the abuse of public power in other arenas as well.


Transgender bill Pending

I oppose both House and Senate bills that deny parents of public school children the right to educate their children regarding the scientific truths of human sexuality. Under these bills both parents and their children can be punished for speaking publicly about transgender issues. These bills force children to use gendered pronouns that are at odds with what they know and see and carry a potential penalty of expulsion when a child sincerely expresses confusion.  Also educating children about human sexuality should not begin in kindergarten. The public school agenda in our Commonwealth is one that seeks to propagandize and indoctrinate at a ver early age.


Strongly Oppose BOE guidelines concerning gender at school

I strongly oppose the Board of Education guidelines on gender identity in our public schools.  This is based on what I have read, all of which deny God's creation of male and female.  It also denies known science.  This is a blatant attack by the LGBTQ community, not only to have their behavior tolerated, but accepted and promoted on the most innocent of our country, our children.  Their plan is obviously to confuse children about which sex they really are, when normally, they would never question it.  They know whether they are male or female by birth!  They don't need to be confused about it by those who seek to change society to their liking. Besides this, parent's rights are being totally denied, and teachers are unable to follow their conscience while pinned to these new classroom and school guidelines.  I am truly shocked and horrified.  I was a public school teacher and I cannot imagine being forced into this mold being mandated upon me to call a boy by a girl's name or a girl by a boy's name just because the child "declared" that they felt like a sex not biologically theirs.  There is also the problem of the use of the opposite sex's bathrooms, shower rooms and changing rooms.  Although there would be no threat to a boy entering a girl's restroom, the girls would definitely feel threatened!  We must stop these atrocious guidelines from going into effect.  This is ungodly and abhorrent!


Further proof that public education is not fit for educating our next generation.

I believe parents and educators alike can agree that schools ought to be a place where all children feel safe and are encouraged to cultivate a love of learning for a lifetime of adjusting healthily in the world around them. We also agree that we teach them at developmentally appropriate paces. Before we teach children the exceptions to the rule, we first set them up with the foundational truths. If our educational establishments can't even recognize or respect the biological differences between the majority of males and females, and want to create policies that force all of to live in the margins of the fringe sexual anomalies, then I guess we are simply left to question the public education system's capabilities to educate our children properly. If tolerance and acceptance is the aim, then work in the arena of anti-bullying policies and allow the parents to work alongside you in these endeavors, not exclude us, even to the point of deception. This is not the way.


STRONGLY SUPPORT!!!! YES!!!! DO IT!!!!

This policy is so important!!!! It means the world to transgender kids! Please go through with this for the future of our students!


Support!

This is a wonderful step in a progressive and safe direction!


Support Trans Kids

As a public school educator in Virginia's school system, I have seen LGBTQ students get harassed and bullied for being themselves, for being different than the majority. These children need to be protected and kept safe. Self-expression and gaining an understanding of oneself as a person can become hindered if bullying and harassment are present. Trans students are more likely to be harassed, bullied, and even harmed physically by their peers just for being who they are. This lack of support has been proven to cause lasting emotional harm and increase the likelihood of suicide. There is scientific evidence that proves that children know what gender they are as early as three years old. For those who don't understand gender, and think in some way that this is an agenda, I say to you: WHO WOULD ASK FOR THIS? It's dangerous. It's painful, both physically and emotionally. If anyone had a choice about who they are, they would not choose to be different. This is not a choice. This not a lifestyle. This is not an agenda. Support trans children. Be kind. Be gentle. Love one another. I think you may know of a book that tells you the same. Veronica Breza, Sterling resident, Teacher at Luther Jackson Middle School


Oppose drafts on transgender policies HB145 and SB161

I am opposed to the drafts on transgender policies, HB 145 and SB 161.  These policies would infringe the First Amendment Rights of parents to raise and care for their children and they would potentially pit children against their parents on important issues regarding sex and gender identity. Also, no one, child nor adult, should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, or other intimate settings with members of the opposite biological sex.  Many children, and adults, would feel uncomfortable and even threatened, when they encounter a member of the opposite sex in gendered facilities. Schools should NOT accommodate the harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to encourage "gender transitions", especially irreversible ones.


Transgender policies are inconsistent with reality

There is a reality to human sexuality these ideas are contrary to that reality. There are two modes of being human- Male and female. Those are determined by genetic makeup and no self mutilation through surgery or toxic regimen of unnatural hormones can chang the reality. So how about the school board focus on science and deal in reality and seek to define truth rather than subjecting students to lies and bizarre ideas. Also, this distorted idea conflicts with the values that many parents hand on to their children. It is not the job of the school board to undermine those values or usurp the parents roles.


Strongly support

I strongly support the model policies for transgender students.  This is vital for the health and well being of transgender and non-conforming students.  Transgender people have higher rates of suicide and are more likely to contemplate suicide than the general population.  They are also often targets of bullying.  We must do all we can to help these students so they can grow up feeling safe and accepted.  We also must foster acceptance of transgender and non-conforming students in schools and society as a whole.  It makes me very sad to read the comments of some people.  I hope you will not listen to the comments of ignorant and bigoted people when deciding on policy.  We need to put children first, and the model policy does just that.


Disagree

I totally disagree with this and do not wish my children to be indoctrinated with said ideologies.


End transgenderism

It makes God's plan for sex a mockery


VDOE transgender policy

Strongly oppose!


I oppose new VDOE guidance's assault on children and parents

The period for public consultation on the Virginia Dept. of Education's new guidance on gender confused students ends on February 3rd. As your constituent, I'm asking you to protest against this policy, to do everything in your power to oppose to this which seeks to force the state's public school students to positively affirm those suffering from the disorder of gender dysphoria. Equally as appalling, this draft guidance also seeks to undermine parents' authority to educate their children in the area of sexual mores. If imposed, this guidance will force students and parents who object to this offensive intrusion into this sensitive area, to either protest loudly and constantly, and, or pull their children out of Virginia's public schools. Accommodation may be able to be made for students suffering from the gender dysphoria disorder, but brainwashing all students and staff, and proposing to spy on and turn-in parent to CPS, is not only wrong-headed, it is an assault on the freedoms of conscience, expression, privacy, and religion. This is a dangerous draft policy. Thank you for taking action to do everything in your power to protest against this appalling draft guidance.


VDOE transgender policy

Just one more thing attempting to be shoved down the throats of those who oppose it.  Strongly oppose!!


New policy regarding LGBT

Why subject all the children to this policy when only a very few will be "confused" by their gender.  It is not the school's place to address this issue.  It is the parents'. We have enough problems relating to education why create new ones?


Mental Illness

In a sexual species there are TWO sexes, MALE and FEMALE. 99.3% of humans have XX or XY chromosomes (the rest are mutations). Being one sex but thinking you're the other is a PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER. Mandating a widespread enabling of a psychological disorder is SOCIOPATHY.


I oppose

I oppose the proposed measure for transgenderism to be taught in schools. I believe that this is a very sensitive matter that should be left to the parents and kids to figure out. By teaching this in schools it will encourage confusion even for children who are currently not dealing with questions. For those who may be confused or will be an attempt to push them into a decision they are not ready for at their age. It is much better to allow parents to help their children through this. Please reject this proposal.


this usurps parental rights

this purports to be about keeping transgender students safe - but it tramples on the parental rights of all students' parents.


Vehemently Opposed

This proposal is not EDUCATION but is instead INDOCTRINATION.


Teaching children objective truth

I object to the proposal to promote the LGBTQ agenda in our public schools. "Transgender" is an objective lie. Parents trust that when their child is sent to public school the child will be treated with compassion and respect. They also expect that their child will learn objective truth that is in accordance with reality and scientific principles. If a child is confused, it is expected that the educator reorients the child to truth and does not allow the child to persist in his/her misconception. It would be inappropriate for a teacher to allow a child to insist that 2+2=5 even if the child sincerely believes it, or that the moon is made of cheese, even it the child insists that they have seen it in a movie or read it in a book. A responsible teacher will gently and compassionately point out the facts and teach the child what is known to be true. All scientific data points to the objective truth that there are only 2 sexes, male and female and that our sex is determined by our DNA from the moment of conception. It is not uncommon for a child to experience same sex attraction at some points in his/her development. It is MOST appropriate that if a child is struggling with this, the PARENT work with the child through this confusing phase of development and the teacher move into a position of supporting the parent's efforts to orient the child to objective truth. The school system should be in the business of intellectual formation as that is what it is trained to do. Getting involved in social engineering is an abuse of power and an over reach by the teacher and the DOE. Encouraging a child to believe a lie to be true has nothing to do with compassion.


Stop Inflicting Mental/Sexual Abuse on The Children

Right now we are seeing a cultural wave of sexually confused adults who are pushing their internal conflicts onto the next generation of children. Stop it!! This is abuse of children. Sexuality should not be discussed at all in the classroom. This is the job of the parents. There are only two sexes, male and female. Everything else is hogwash!


OPPOSE!

These ridiculous agendas only open the door for an exponential continuance of problems to solve. The more it gets catered to, the bigger and more complicated it grows. Has anyone seen the pattern?  If someone has gender identity issues, that is their cross to carry, just as every individual has difficult issues in their own lives.  If someone has an illness, should we all contract that illness?  If someone is in a wheel chair, should we all get in wheel chairs?  Adversity is a challenge and needs to be dealt with by the individual.  Often times adversity creates strength and fortitude.  These are good characteristics.  Life is not meant to be easy.  In the long run, many more children will become confused about their identity with all of this jargon being put in place. Who is supposed to know what gender someone "feels like" on any given day or moment to address them the way they won't find "harassing".  Just because someone says something was received as harassing does not mean it was delivered as harassment.  Now we have to judge the intent of everyone's comments and how they got translated?  Who will be that judge and jury?  Before instilling more rules, think about the trickle down effect of more problems it will create. Let's stop the nonsense before it goes any further and get back to common sense.  Vehemently oppose!


Why are almost hours worth of negative comments apparently disappearing?

I know I submitted a comment early which previously appeared and is no longer visible. Is the Town Hall being censored?


Stop Sodomite Propaganda

Stop Sodomite Propaganda


Fire VDOE Employees behind the proposals

These sick and twisted people should not remain employed by the state.


Evil Transgender Policies Create Environment of Predatory Grooming and Sex Abuse


No, this is awful!

Simply put, NO! This is absolutely awful. Help students decide without talking to parents? Don't question anyone going into the restrooms? Reporting individuals? Are you kidding me? Students will abuse this for the wrong reasons. My daughter only heard a little piece of this and is already concerned about going back to school and a boy being allowed in the girls bathroom because he "identifies" as a girl. No. This undermines parents and scares our children, and is a way the government is trying to get us to conform to their idea of us having to tolerate everything without any sense of morals. I don't believe in that. Also have we considered the possibility of rape in older age groups, a rise in unwanted teen pregnancies, and this is some way nurturing some weird perversion in some individuals? Leave things the way they are! Stop trying to run every aspect of our children's lives and let the parents handle this stuff at home.


VDOE Regulators have lost their minds

This insanity cannot stand. This is evil. Those behind it should be ashamed of themselves.


The Gaystapo are at it again

VDOE be like, "Mien Fuhrer, we force the gay on the kids."


Absolutely absurd

School systems are promoting transgenderism causing confusion in children who have limited understanding of their sexuality - this is child abuse. Then you violate parental rights to oversee the development of their children which is a God given right. Then you violate the  privacy rights of children by forcing biological males into biological girl's bathroom's and shower rooms and vice versa. I am/was very modest and this would traumatize me and I have heard from parent's dealing with this situation and it has traumatized their children as well. And it is also an unsafe policy. Then you are violating the conscience of teachers/staff, etc. where this goes against their beliefs. And then you are ruining female sports as females are trying to compete with biological boys in the name of transgenderism. I feel sorry for people who are confused and choose to be transgender. I have read how they end up having health issues from the chemicals and end up being unhappy because the radical changes done to their body did not solve the problem they were trying to address. Many die early from health issues or suicide.  Very sad. I would gladly respect transgenders in my presence and show them love. But these policies hurt the overall school body. Quit trying to indoctrinate children to explore their gender. In my school days, we didn't have indoctrination and we didn't have this issue. It is wrong.


VDOE seeks to allow pedosadism to be institutionalized in the school with policies that create spaces for the grooming of children.


Virginia Regulars all about violating rights and violating children

Not only do these policies act in opposition to every right held sacred by the American people, they also promote the sexual abuse of children through the propagation of sexual deviancy.


Say No to Transgender - Child Sex Abuse policies


Policies for Transgender Students

Your Immoral & dangerous policy. Girls will be spied upon by boys, sexually harassed, molested, & girls toilet seats will be covered with boys urine. Employees & students will be entrapped, falsely accused, & removed from schools.


Proceed with caution

The vagueness of this makes me wary. Of course children shouldn’t be bullied by other children or, worse, their peers parents who seem to have overtaken this forum. However, there are legitimate concerns (that even the Olympic Committee has not been able to resolve) on transgender athletes. As more research is done, it is being realized that those born of the male sex, even after taking testosterone blockers, still maintain a significant athletic advantage based on their bone size and density, hearts ability to pump more blood, larger capillaries, etc. that testosterone blockers don’t change. This not only opens the door to unsafe sports for cis females playing in what should be clearly stated as sex protected divisions (not gender identity divisions) it also takes away from the chances of someone of the female sex from getting fair scholarships. However, when a female takes testosterone (ie steroids) those are performance enhancing drugs. Since this is such a big issue to make it to this level of interest- I recommend creating new divisions of sports specific to transgender athletes. Otherwise, good for VA for looking out for these children for bullying aspects. Though I would never encourage my child to pursue transgender curiosity, I am not the parent of other children and at the end of the day the schools can’t force children or their parents to block transitions but it can also take an equal stance in protecting children who do not identify as transgender as it does the children who do.


Please respect a parents' right to walk with their children during emotional distress

Please do not take away parent's rights in walking with their children in difficult situations.  DO NOT PASS THE POLICY ON TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDERED STUDENTS as it takes away parents ability to talk with their children and puts staff in bad positions being ordered not to tell parents that their child is thinking of transitioning.


Clear violation of parental authority

There is no justification for this proposal under positive law, natural law, or divine law. Proceed with this and make no mistake, no good will come of it. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.


STRONGLY OPPOSE!

I personally think it's ridiculous that we spend tax dollars on silly stuff like this... Treat everyone like man and woman! I don't care if you want to be something else or don't want to be anything at all. I couldn't care less! But why do we spend so much time and money to accommodate like less than 2% of the population? Because someone brings it up in passing and someone wants votes? It's a joke the way the US is going! I don't care if my children go to school with transgender or the alphabet people... They're human! Lets start treating humans regardless of what faction, side, gender, sexual orientation they are! Absolutely ridiculous! STOP THIS NONSENSE!


Strongly Oppose Transgender Policy

I strongly oppose this model of proposed guidelines for transgender students. This will only cause more confusion and problems for all students, parents, and school staff.  Teachers have a hard enough job already, and with these changes. They would have to walk on egg shells to deal with this issue, with potential to lose their jobs if they say the wrong pronoun.  Parents have the right to know what is going on with their children at school.  These highly sensitive issues should be discussed at home, not at school, or be kept secret in any manner! Implementing these new policies will only lead to more parents choosing to take their children out of public school.  Kids do not need to be brainwashed thinking this is cool or normal at school. It also poses a dangerous threat to children when sharing bathrooms with someone of the opposite biological sex, who could be using this as a ploy to cause harm to others (and wouldn't even be questioned for it!). Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts, and please take all sides of this in consideration.


Strongly oppose

Please don't disregard the rights of parents. These sometimes irreversible transitions are not in the best interest of children.


Do not pass this!! This will destroy the family

This is against the family, Christian Doctrine and will further undermine the structure of the family. As a legal registered voter in the state of Virginia I oppose this.


Opposed

Strongly Opposed


I support

Supporting students (educationally, developmentally, and socially) is a central purpose of schools. Supporting trans students is one piece of that.


No!

This is absurd and has no place in our school system. How about you get back to actually teaching our children HISTORY, math, English, and science instead of pushing a leftist agenda!


All transgender education is contrary to Christian belief and child welfare interests

All transgender education is contrary to Christian belief and detrimental to the development of healthy children and healthy family relationships.  The parents are the best ones to guide their children in these matter.


I support

I support this policy. I feel sad to hear in some cases a student may not feel safe in letting their parent or guardian know about their gender preference, but I believe the policy is also correct in following the students wishes in that matter too.


No - He created them man and women!!

Wrong


Unnecessary Policy Change

There is no legitimate reason to implement this policy change in Virginia schools. The vast majority of parents do not support it, and you are listening to a vocal minority that is seeking to undermine what little normalcy is left in student-teacher relations and behavior management. I have no doubt these comments will be ignored, but remember you will always be on the wrong side of history.


STRONGLY OPPOSE TRANSGENDER POLICY

This is against my beliefs and interferes with my child’s education. Fairfax county has no right to teach my children what goes against my beliefs.  And to force this on parents is coercion.


Stop this insanity!

You know it . . . I know it . . . a small child even knows it. There are two sexes. Isn’t that what science . . . REAL TRUE SCIENCE demonstrably shows? Please pause and rethink your experiences and motives, then stop any proposals to teach or, in any way, encourage radical transgender ideology. Do this for the good of our children, science and the right of parents to be the sole teachers in this most delicate of areas. And please, spare us the “hate” label just because we recognize an obviously insane, unscientific curriculum on its face!


Against

This is first of all not a government place to intervene in the private life of a child or his or her family this is for the parents to address. Second you will install wrong values when you are asking the kids to keep secrets an be dishonest with the parents this is double standard and will create bigger problems as they become adults Third kids are impressionable so for acceptance  or peer pressure they will identify as  someone they are not they don't have this in mine unless the message is view or heard over and over again and that is what liberals are doing with their agenda, now you see this everywhere kids tv shows, books , movies everywhere so STOP IT.


Priorities

Our schools are falling behind and I it's because we don't focus on learning. We focus on million other things but not what kids need to succeed. L focus on reading, writing, mathematics, history and science.