Christian Action Network et al (I.D.'s in comment)

Violates Va Statutes and Va and US Constitutions -Part 2

[Continued from Part 1] Violation of Va. Code §8.01-217. In Virginia, a person's legal name at birth is a matter of public record. There is only one way to change a legal name of a child. Va. Code §8.01-217 requires an application by the parents to change the name of a child. The school has no right to do so and no right to use anything other than the child's legal name. If the school wants a child's legal name changed, the parents must consent. The Guidance makes the false claim that a child's legal name is protected by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). School divisions are not agencies subject to HIPAA, although school medical personnel (school nurse, school psychologist etc.) may be. The legal name is not a medical record. The Guidance claim that the legal name is subject to HIPAA protection is laughable. Violations of First Amendment: Free Speech. The totalitarian inclinations of the VDOE to introduce a speech code including compelled speech is a particularly serious violation of students' rights to free speech under both the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, Section 12 of the Constitution of Virginia. It is likely to subject the school divisions to expensive losing lawsuits. Violations of First Amendment: Freedom of Religion. The Guidance policies as a whole violate students' and parents' religious rights under the First Amendment and under Art. 1, §16 of the Virginia Constitution which reads in part, "That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other." Christian forbearance, love, and charity is a personal duty to avoid bullying those who are different, but it is not enforceable by VDOE through unconstitutional speech codes. Students and their families have every right to believe in the Holy Bible including Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." VDOE has no right to interfere in the religious beliefs of every major religion including Christianity. This Guidance does exactly that. Violations of FERPA and Parents' Constitutional Rights re Children's Education. According to FERPA, "No funds under any applicable program shall be made available to any State educational agency …that has a policy of denying, or effectively prevents, the parents of students the right to inspect and review the education records maintained by the State educational agency on their children …." The Guidance encourages school divisions to "effectively prevent the parents of students the right to inspect and review educational records" if records may disclose a gender identity issue. Thus, the following model policy may cause a school division to lose federal funds for concealing their children's school record information in the following policy: In addition to adhering to all legal standards of confidentiality, school personnel shall treat information relating to a student’s transgender status as being particularly sensitive, shall not disclose it to other students and parents , and shall only disclose to other school personnel with a legitimate educational interest. Concealing from parents information in a child's record violates both FERPA and the constitutional right to privacy in the family's education of children. Pierce v. Society of the Sisters , 268 U.S. 510, (1925); Williams v. Williams, 24 Va.App. 778 (1997)("We hold that the parents' right to autonomy in child rearing is a fundamental right protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and that state interference with that right must be justified by a compelling state interest.") Violations of Constitutional Rights to Privacy. Without best practices evidence, the bathroom and overnight sleeping policies permits any student to enter a bathroom intended for the opposite sex or the sleeping quarters of the opposite sex and prohibits the school from questioning whether the opposite-sex person is transgender. The policy is unsafe, discriminates against non-transgender students and proceeds from several false premises. The underlying premise is that a student who self-identifies as transgender is automatically harmless to persons of the opposite biological sex in the bathroom and in sleeping quarters. No evidence to support that premise. The model policies fail to protect children from predators of the opposite sex. Even if it can be presumed that the transgender person is harmless to persons of the other biological sex, the policy assumes that it is somehow harassing for a school employee to confirm that the person entering the opposite sex facility, bathroom or sleeping quarters is in fact transgender identifying as the sex for the facility entered. A heterosexual student with evil intent is free under the VDOE policy to enter opposite-sex bathrooms and sleeping quarters without being questioned, clearly a serious safety problem created rather than solved by the model policies. The model policy puts additional burdens on heterosexual students using the correct bathroom and the correct sleeping quarters desiring privacy to specifically ask for privacy. Sexual privacy that should be presumed as a right without the need to demand it.  Requiring a demand intentionally discourages the exercise of that right. By intentionally discouraging heterosexual students from seeking privacy in their toilet facilities and in their sleeping quarters, the policy discriminates against non-transgender students. VDOE offers no evidence that violating the privacy and discrimination against heterosexual students is somehow a "best practice" supported by evidence. The policy is outrageous. Conclusion VDOE's proposed model policies for transgender students fail to consider the sensibilities, religious beliefs, or safety of the majority student population. The model policies are an attempt to transform the culture by propagandizing the students with respect to their religion and cultural modesty. It is simply wrong in every respect and they violate the various laws set forth above. The Department of Education must fix the Model Policies to comply with the law and with reason to be fair to and safe for all students, not just transgender students. Commenters: Christian Action Network by David W. T. Carroll, Chairman; Benjamin and Shannon Green individually and as next friends of their children Jane Doe1, Jane Doe2 and John Doe1. And Gregory and Amber Mosher individual and as next friends of their children, Jane Doe3 and John Doe2.  (Minor children's names withheld for privacy).


Strongly Disagree Parents weren’t notified about this policy being implemented

I have a few issues with this ‘transgender’ policy. Parents were NOT notified about this policy being implemented. It’s like it was being snuck in under our noses. This policy is opening our children up to possible sexual assault or sexual assault allegations. Teachers aren’t allowed to question anything. It also gives administration & teachers the right to call CPS if parents don’t use their proper pronouns or “hurts their feelings.” The people in charge either need to start construction on a bathroom for transgender individuals to use one at a time. or pull the policy. This policy is setting children up for some serious problems. As I said, this policy was slipped in under our noses and it’s not only disrespectful and unethical, it’s a disgrace. I will NOT send my child to school only to have the possibility of being assaulted or being accused of assault. I’m considering starting a petition in my county and I could almost guarantee more parents would be on board with pulling their children out of public school.


Violates Va Statutes and Va and US Constitutions -Part 1

Overview VDOEs Guidance on Model Policies on transgender students is seriously flawed, endangers children, and violates Virginia statutes and both the United States and Virginia Constitutions. No one wants schools to sanction or allow discrimination, bullying, or harassment of students based upon sex, biological or gender identification. Bullying is wrong. Discrimination against students based upon transgender status is wrong. Harassment of transgender students is wrong. Schools should neither approve, encourage, or discourage transgenderism. Schools should not pit children against their parents based upon different philosophies or ideologies related to sexual function or dysfunction. Schools should not impose major changes on American culture beyond nondiscrimination. The model policies in this misguided Guidance put school divisions in improper roles.  The model policies exceed the authority mandated by the enabling legislation, Virginia Code §22.1-23.3. §22.1-23.3 seeks transgender protection, but protection must conform to §22.1-23.3. Evidence-based "best practices" must protect all students. Under §22.1-23.3, VDOE model policies must be “best practice” based upon evidence . The Guidance ignores this requirement. A “best practice” cannot be best if it favors some students to the detriment of others or endangers student safety. A best practice must protect all students. Each best practice must be supported by evidence. The evidence must not only support the need for some practice but must show that the policy is a “best practice.” The Guidance falls far short. The Guidance cites controversial studies as evidence of the need for protections but identifies no evidence that resulting policies are “best practices.” The model polices also exceed the statutory mandate by addressing sexual dysfunction other than “transgender,” e.g. “nonbinary.” “LGBTQ+” and other alleged sexual variations. The Guidance is left-wing indoctrination propaganda masquerading as public policy. The Guidance advances a radical leftist, science-denying, ideology that hurts majority students; is destructive of families and parental rights; and is insensitive to the adherents of most of the planet’s religions.  The Guidance violates Virginia and United States Constitutional rights. The radical agenda becomes obvious early in the Guidance.  It includes the First Amendment as relevant law protecting speech but ignores the relevance of its protection of religion. The radical agenda is thereby exposed as indoctrination propaganda, including the Marxist goal to destroy the nuclear family. VDOE goes far beyond nondiscrimination by trying to normalize the abnormal.  To prohibit discrimination and harassment, it is not necessary to normalize the abnormal. By analogy, to prevent discrimination against wheelchair bound people, it is not necessary to pretend that wheelchairs are normal. The proposed guidelines violate Virginia laws regarding name changes and contain false statements of law to support policies that violate the rights of most students. We address specific model policies below, but the Guidance begins with definitions that reflect radical science-denying views to impose a framework both wrong and damaging. The definitions section's purpose appears to be to impose on school divisions a radical leftist worldview and to expand VDOE’s authority beyond §22.1-23.3. Definitions Several definitions include the science-denying radical leftist myth that the sex of a child is “assigned at birth.” Biological sex is established (not “assigned”) well before birth. Sex is determined by the baby's DNA at conception. The Guidance conflates sex and gender.  Sex is biological. Gender apparently is not. If gender were the same as biological sex, then the term “transgender”--meaning one who identifies as, or is in transition to, a different sex--would make perfect sense. It only makes sense if gender is synonymous with sex. If gender means something more fluid than biological sex as the Guidance implies, then the term “transgender” loses all meaning. Can a transgender person be a nonbinary person who identifies as or is in transition to a Q person? The very first Guidance definition is an insulting demeaning term. “Cisgender” is the radical leftist fringe description of a normal heterosexual person.  The term disparages heterosexuals.  The cisgender insult is propaganda and unnecessary. Inherent in the cisgender insult is the science-denying myth that sex is somehow "assigned" at birth rather than being biologically determined by DNA at conception. “Sex assignment” is a propaganda indoctrination statement which embodies the mythological anti-science of the radical left. The definition ridiculously claims that “sex assignment” is a “label” (as opposed to being biological) “typically assigned as birth on the basis of a cluster of physical and anatomical features.” That is laughable. The chromosome determining sex almost always produces the internal and external sex organs of that sex. The "Sex assignment" definition unscientifically inverts cause with effect. Biological genetic sex causes of the cluster of organs, which the definition calls “features.” Biological sex is hard-wired in the DNA at conception.  The term "sex assignment" is found nowhere else in the Guidance and is therefore unnecessary anti-science propaganda. Medically, the "intersex" definition is wrong. According to the medical encyclopedias, intersex is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals, originally known as hermaphroditism. There is no need for this definition of intersex.  It is used nowhere in the Guidance.  “Intersex” is absent from §22.1–23.3.  Its presence is part of the radical leftist propaganda indoctrination. The Guidance offers a seriously flawed definition of transgender. The definition begins by saying transgender is a “self-identifying term.” If that were true, there would be no need for any definition. Logic is hard for radical leftists. The definition repeats the science-denying claim that sex is assigned at birth rather than being biologically determined. A more accurate definition would say that transgender refers to a person who identifies as, or is transitioning medically to, the opposite sex. VDOE's broader definition is unauthorized by the enabling statute. The definitions of “transgender boy and “transgender girl” are similarly flawed propaganda. Strangely the Guidance abandons the terms immediately after defining them.  Instead, the Guidance then refers to "transgender male" and "transgender female." Not boy and girl. Sloppy. VDOE defines unused terms to promote a radical left wing indoctrination propaganda. Violations of enabling statue Virginia Code §22.1–23.3 The enabling statute requires model policies for transgender students. The Guidance exceeds that authority. There is no authority in the enabling statute for LGBTQ+ students or so-called non-binary students, which are not necessarily the same as transgender students. The model policies proceed to exceed statutory authority by including the other categories as if there were the same as transgender. The enabling statue requires that the policies be "best practices" supported by evidence. “Best practices” must protect all students, balancing protections for very small minority of transgender students with the psychological and physical needs and safety protections for the other students. The enabling statute requires that the policies, not merely the problems being addressed, be "evidence-based best practices." The DOE presents no evidence for example that totalitarian speech codes are best practices. Evidence may support the problems, but evidence must support the solutions as best practices. The Guidance document offers nothing "evidence-based" for the following disputable, controversial conclusion, much less anything "evidence based" supporting the resulting proposed totalitarian speech code policy as a "best practice": For transgender students, acts of verbal harassment may include the intentional and persistent use of names and pronouns not consistent with their identity. Gender-based harassment may also include the disclosure of the student's transgender status without their consent as this presents safety concerns for the student. This opinion, without basis in actual evidence, is particularly unhelpful in the bullying section. VDOE issued model policies on bullying in 2013 which are perfectly adequate to include transgender students.  It would have been sufficient merely to incorporate by reference the 2013 model bullying policies. The Guidance requires school divisions to force absurd anti-English language pronouns on the non-transgender students. One such proposed pronoun group is "ze/hir/hirs" which has no commonly accepted meaning or English language pronunciation.  Mandating the use of unnatural (in the English language sense) pronouns constitutes unconstitutional compelled speech. We suggest that the mandate constitutes bullying of non-transgender students by VDOE or by school division adopting it. The Guidance seeks to change important aspects of American culture that are family-affirming and helpful to children. For example, to promote its radical leftist anti-family agenda, the Guidance seeks to prohibit father-daughter dances. The Guidance demands that schools prohibit gender specific clothing. What about cheerleader outfits? Must male and female cheerleader outfits all the same? Must male cheerleaders wear short skirts? Must female cheerleaders wear trousers? Heterosexual girls enjoy cheerleader outfits with short skirts because the outfits make them look good. Except for a very small minority, students recognize each other as male and female. Girls dress to attract boys. Boys dress to attract girls. Transgenders dress to attract whatever sex they want to attract. Micromanaging the dress of students damages American culture and destroys rights of most students. The Guidance offers no evidence that the proposed prohibition is a "best practice." [Continued in Part 2] Commenters: Christian Action Network by David W. T. Carroll, Chairman; Benjamin and Shannon Green individually and as next friends of their children Jane Doe1, Jane Doe2 and John Doe1. And Gregory and Amber Mosher individual and as next friends of their children, Jane Doe3 and John Doe2.  (Minor children's names withheld for privacy).


Redefining gender harms young people

One's sex (male or female) is a biological reality that is determined before birth, and cannot be changed, no matter how many surgeries an individual has, or how many chemicals they imbibe.  Helping young people to "redefine" their gender is not helpful -- it is cooperating in a lie, persisting in a delusion, and ultimately is harmful in emotional and psychological terms.  Depression and suicide rates among transgendered individuals bears this out.  Virginia schools and teachers should have no business in defining gender or in guiding students in these areas.


Strongly support

An earlier comment suggested that policies like this would somehow contribute to the high suicide rate amongst transgender individuals. The very obvious rebuttal to this is that our society still largely denies transgender existence. THAT is what leads to depression. This policy, by contrast, is taking important steps towards inclusion and visibility for transgender youth. This is vital school policy for the 21st century.


STAY OUT OF IT

To quote from Virginia's Dept. of Education draft: Students and staff each have their own unique religious and personal experiences, views and opinions. This should be left up to parents to teach their own opinions when they feel it is the appropriate time based on the individual child.  It is not the Dept. of Education's right to decide what is acceptable/not acceptable on this subject.  STAY OUT OF IT!


Strongly oppose!!!

Strongly oppose!


Stop this nonsense!

Parents do not want this for their children!


school gender isus

Government officials do not have a public mandate to enforce gender promotion in all tax funded schools and jeopardize the bodily privacy and safety of our children. I could not even imagine having to do worry about this when I was I public school. It’s disgraceful and immoral.


Strongly oppose  VDOE Policy for Treatment of Transgender Students

Yet another way for the Marxist/Socialist left to erode and eventually destroy Democracy. The Family is the most important unit of democratic and civilized life and this destroys that. Strongly Oppose!!!!!!!!!!


The Importance of Inclusivity

It is amazing to hear of our state legislators taking the necessary steps to ensure that all students, not just those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender, are treated fairly. This is not a novel concept as the "Separate but Equal" tactics have been used for quite some time and aimed at different disenfranchised sects of communities. I only hope that those who are not understanding of the significance of this policy and why it is needed can learn in time to become less discriminatory and more accepting and welcoming of all people and children alike.


Strongly opposed to policy in current form

Virginia already has good anti-bullying laws in place. Of course all students of different backgrounds should be treated with love and respect. There is a much better way to go about it than this current policy requires.


STONGLY REJECT THIS

Once this legislation is passed, parents have no control over their child's gender status. If the school or other state agency declares him or her to be transgender, all rights are removed from the parent. If the parents object, they must attend re-education classes. If they further object, the child can be removed from the care by a court order. This is now happening in all Democrat-controlled areas in the country: New York, California, Washington, parts of Texas, Oregon, Colorado, etc. Just google "trans children removed from parents" to see proof of what I am posting.


Transgender

Ridiculous, fiercely opposed. Stepping all over Christians.


Trans rights are human rights.

As society finally begins to learn that Trans people have existed as long as people have existed and deserve every right we claim for ourselves. That they are no threat and belong in all spaces equally. To the point where in our highest levels of government trans people are right now openly working and existing. We must now extend this knowledge and acceptance to the trans children in our public schools. We must use these examples to welcome, protect and provide for all trans people in all public spaces.


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

I am strongly opposed the the proposed Model Policies for the treatment of transgender students in Virginia Public Schools. These Model Policies propose a view of gender different from Catholic-Christian, Jewish and Islamic world views. God created the human person and "to be created means to accept ourselves as having a certain nature and design - those defining features that make us human." The Model Policies present a view of gender based on popular opinion, psychology and emotion; not biological science.  Science shows there are only two sets of sex chromosomes XX or XY which exists in every cell. "We are male and female right down to our cells." Furthermore, these Model Policies dare to intrude into the parent/child relationship which is sacrosanct.  Parents are the first teachers of our children and are responsible for the care, nurturing and raising of their children.  If children are experiencing gender dysphoria, or any other special needs, it is above all the parents' right and duty to be involved; to label parental involvement as abusive and that it poses "imminent safety risks" is an outrage.


PROTECTED.

I STRONGLY OPPOSE - t his is a parental rights issue. These children have parents and guardians to conduct their way of life, not a government entity. The role of the school is not to counsel or advocate, particularly without parental consent , these issues for children. The majority of the student body (non-transgender) that these policies would adversely effect deserves to be PROTECTED.


Strongly Oppose

This approach can only sow confusion about a psychological condition that resolves independently in the vast majority of cases.


Model Policies for the Transgender...

Strongly oppose this!


I strongly oppose

I strongly oppose the Statewide Transgender School Policy! I, as a school teacher, see much confusion in our students these days. This will only create more. While our government says they want to protect our children and families, they continue to make policies that do the exact opposite. This is not for the betterment of anyone. While they say it is to protect those who claim 'transgender', it sets our schools up for more bullying and violence. Schools should be working with parents on the education of their students, not against them. Our Social Services system already has more on their hands than they can handle, as well as our teachers and school administration. This will only bring on more division and hatred. We are who we were created to be and until we can accept that, no policy will help. Please, please do not do this to our educational system.


OPPOSE!! OH GOD TURN THE HEARTS OF THE SAULS INTO PAULS IN JESUS" NAME!!!AMEN! !!SO BE IT!!!

Registered Public THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO DO NOT OPPOSE THIS ACT OF PERVERSENESS....... REVERENT FEAR IS DUE THE LORD... LET GOD BE GOD.... LET'S LET THE WORD DO THE WORK.... ISAIAH 55:11 SO SHALL MY WORD BE WHICH GOES OUT OF MY MOUTH; IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID (USELESS, WITHOUT RESULT). WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING WHAT I DESIRE..... ISAIAH 9:6 FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER. AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEAC ISAIAH 1:2-4 HEAR ME, YOU HEAVENS! LISTEN, EARTH! FOR THE LORD HAS SPOKEN. "I REARED CHILDREN AND BROUGHT THEM UP, BUT THEY HAVE REBELLED AGINST ME. THE OX KNOWS ITS MASTER, THE DONKEY ITS OWNER'S MANGER, BUT ISRAEL (THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) DOES NOT KNOW, MY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WOE TO THE SINFUL NATION, A PEOPLE WHOSE GUILT IS GREAT, A BROOD OF EVILDOERS, CHILDREN GIVEN TO CORRUPTION! THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE LORD; THEY HAVE SPURNED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL ( THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) AND TURNED THEIR BACKS ON HIM! ISAIAH 30:1 WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN, SAITH THE LORD, THAT TAKE COUNSEL, BUT NOT OF ME; AND THAT COVER WITH A COVERING, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY ADD SIN TO SIN. DEUTERONOMY 6:16 DO NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST AS YOU DID AT MASSAH. MATTHEW 4:7 JESUS ANSWERED HIM "IT IS ALSO WRITTEN: "DO NOT PUT THE LORD THY GOD TO THE TEST." ROMANS 14:12 SO THEN EACH ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD


Transgender School Policy

Government officials do not have the right nor do they have a public mandate to enforce gender promotion in all taxpayer funded schools. This type of mandate would jeopardize the bodily privacy and the safety of all our children.  My family and I completely oppose any and all legislation that would enforce such things.  As an educator, counselor, friend, neighbor and informed citizen,  I know this policy would be detrimental to our children, our educators and our families, as well as how unwanted it is by the great majority of the population.  Please oppose this policy and any like it once and for all so that teachers can get back to teaching our children math, science, history and language arts.  Thank you for your time.


Oppose!  Let boys be boys and girls be girls

The issue is the filth that has been festered on society for the past 15 or so years.  Once the Supreme Court abdicated their responsibility on the issue it was only a matter of time before this evil started invading every area of life.  We will not win this battle due to the days we are living in, but I fully believe all who are a part in promoting this will face G-d's judgment.  The Word states 'it would be better that a mill stone be hanged around their necks and they be drowned in the sea, than to face a holy/righteous G-d.  Tells me they will not like where they end up in eternity so they are wrong path/road.  It might be time to go back to home schooling and/or Christian schools for those who can.  We have some great teachers, but they are slowly being shut down...


Adamant opposition to the proposed transgender guidelines

These comments refer to the proposed guidelines to normalize LGBTQ behavior in our public schools. It is my belief that parental control over their minor children must be preserved. Further, the right of other children in the public schools not to be victims of one small group's preferences and prejudices must be preserved. Please do not adopt these or any similar guidelines.


Transgender issues

Kids nowadays have to navigate social situations more difficult than at any other time. While I feel compassion for gender confused individuals, our kids are dealing with so many issues including peer pressure, bullying, COVID fears, latch key, parental break ups, ADHD and so much more. Our kids need support, love, grace and understanding. I think we can do that for all kids without imposing opposite sex kids into their bathrooms and locker rooms. It is unfair and inappropriate that a fraction of a fraction gets to dictate and changes privacy policies for the majority of kids. This makes kids who are already uncomfortable and self conscious even more so. Please accommodate the privacy and needs for gender confused kids in other ways, besides imposing a violation of safety, well being and privacy in bathrooms or locker rooms.


Strongly Support

I strongly support all efforts to support transgender and non-binary youth.


Abomination

wicked, disgusting, and morally wrong.  That is what you promote when you support transgender rights. Let kids be kids and in the end they will be happy with their god given gender.


Strongly OPPOSE proposed Model Policies for Treatment of Transgender Students

I strongly oppose the proposed model policies.  I agree that EVERY SINGLE child should be protected from harm and harassment, but Virginia has very good anti-bullying laws already in place.  But this new proposed law goes beyond prevention and crosses the line into promotion of politicized and sexualized ideology. It encourages schools to implement across the board promotion of the concept that gender is "viewed as a gender spectrum" and can be something "in between or outside of the male/female binary".  It declares that sex is arbitrarily "assigned" at birth. "Assigning" gender at birth is a SCIENTIFICALLY FALSE statement- like affixing a label in a store- it completely divorces itself from basic DNA science and biology. Furthermore, this policy opens the door for Christian parents, or parents of other faiths who because of their core beliefs do not embrace transgender politics, to be labeled as "abusers", as it states "when families are not affirming" that the school should step in and protect, and further encourages them to report concerns to CPS.  Exactly how is "affirming" and "abuse" to be defined in these situations and who will define them? Finally, speaking as a Christian parent, we want the freedom and respect to pass along our deeply held religious belief that humans were created by God in His image-male and female, and that these 2 genders are a gift to be celebrated and nurtured. However, this policy promotes a one sided agenda that creates a hostile environment for families, students and faculty with deeply held faith based convictions.  What are the protections for students with biblical beliefs who find this ideology mandated in their curriculum with a grade at stake? The bottom line is that while this policy uses terms like "safety" and "respect", it obviously disrespects religious and socially conservative families, educators and students who simply want physical privacy. As originally stated, I am STRONGLY OPPOSED to this policy and encourage all state representatives to OPPOSE adoption of them.


I APOLOGIZE....I COMMENTED ALREADY BUT I DIDN'T PUT MY NAME ON THE FIRST COMMENT. FORGIVE ME. THAT'S WHY I AM DOING IT AGAIN. I AM NOT ASHAMED TO OPPOSE AND WANT IT TO BE PUBLICLY KNOWN. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO DO NOT OPPOSE THIS ACT OF PERVERSENESS....... REVERENT FEAR IS DUE THE LORD... LET GOD BE GOD.... LET'S LET THE WORD DO THE WORK.... ISAIAH 55:11 SO SHALL MY WORD BE WHICH GOES OUT OF MY MOUTH; IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID (USELESS, WITHOUT RESULT). WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING WHAT I DESIRE..... ISAIAH 9:6 FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER. AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEAC ISAIAH 1:2-4 HEAR ME, YOU HEAVENS! LISTEN, EARTH! FOR THE LORD HAS SPOKEN. "I REARED CHILDREN AND BROUGHT THEM UP, BUT THEY HAVE REBELLED AGINST ME. THE OX KNOWS ITS MASTER, THE DONKEY ITS OWNER'S MANGER, BUT ISRAEL (THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) DOES NOT KNOW, MY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WOE TO THE SINFUL NATION, A PEOPLE WHOSE GUILT IS GREAT, A BROOD OF EVILDOERS, CHILDREN GIVEN TO CORRUPTION! THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE LORD; THEY HAVE SPURNED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL ( THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) AND TURNED THEIR BACKS ON HIM! ISAIAH 30:1 WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN, SAITH THE LORD, THAT TAKE COUNSEL, BUT NOT OF ME; AND THAT COVER WITH A COVERING, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY ADD SIN TO SIN. DEUTERONOMY 6:16 DO NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST AS YOU DID AT MASSAH. MATTHEW 4:7 JESUS ANSWERED HIM "IT IS ALSO WRITTEN: "DO NOT PUT THE LORD THY GOD TO THE TEST." ROMANS 14:12 SO THEN EACH ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD


Support

I am a teacher in a public high school.  The majority of staff and students in my school are very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.  Unfortunately I realize that this is not always the case. I strongly support the guidance so all students can receive an education in a safe and inclusive environment.


OPPOSE Transgender Policy!!

This is insanity to promote gender confusion!!  This is NOT the answer!!  It will harm ALL our precious children...


strongly oppose transgender legislation for schools

Virginia needs legislation to protect public school students  from transgender agenda


Strongly oppose

I am a public school teacher and have been for over 25 years and I strongly oppose these new mandates.  I teach at the high school level and see so many things wrong with these suggestions.  Also teachers are not trained to help student investigate their gender nor do they have time for that with all that we do.  I am also a parent and I do not want to be pushed out of the parenting role as I help both my son and daughter navigate their young adult years.   I strongly oppose!


transgender legislation for schools

Virginia needs legislation to protect public school students  from transgender agenda I strongly oppose transgender legislation for schools


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose. where is this going?


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

I am opposed to this proposal. I believe the proposed changes will cause confusion in students who have never before questioned their gender identity. It will be a distraction when students dress in opposition to their natural gender assignment, I fear for the safety of my child and other students if restrooms are made accessible to students based on their identified gender when it is in opposition to their natural gender assignment. I fear this proposal will be disastrous to our school system and the health and welfare of my child and all impacted VA school students. Thank you for valuing the opinion of parents such as myself.


Oppose Transgender Policy

Government officials do not have a public mandate to enforce gender promotion in all taxpayer funded schools and jeopardize the bodily privacy and safety of our children. I strongly oppose transgender legislation for schools.


strongly oppose

No transgender legislation unless straight students are protected


Oppose. VDOE proposal does not balance well-being of All Students

The mandate from parents & citizens of Virginia for the Virginia Department of Education is the safety of all children in public schools, and providing a suitable learning environment free from the pressure of special interest groups. To accomplish this, when mean-spirited prejudice attacks any student, then teachers & administrators are to use discernment for each individual case guided by straightforward school policy, and include ALL stakeholders in the proposed disciplinary process. The current VDOE proposal does not focus on the well-being of all children. In fact if adopted, it will inject confusing policy, and perhaps animosity, into the daily functioning of our public schools by seeking to implement policy which disenfranchises parents, and does not focus on the greatest good of all students.


Strongly Oppose: Policies Violate God's Created Order, Defy Science, and Endanger Religious Liberty

Before I explain my opposition to the Model Policies , I want to be clear that I do not advocate for the poor treatment or the demeaning of transgender students. Transgender students should receive the same strong education as cisgender students do. Teachers should love them and work as hard for them as they would any other student. Bullying of transgender students is wrong and should not be tolerated. With that in mind, I appreciate the spirit of the Model Policies and the goal to prevent discrimination. In practice, however, I believe these policies are misguided and should undergo major amendments. The text below explains the reasons for my opposition to the Model Policies . The Model Policies contain concerning elements that negatively affect both students and employees in Virginia public schools. Among the most concerning guidelines in the Model Policies is the statement that “ school staff should abide by the student’s wishes as to how to address the student” “when a student asserts that they have a name and/or pronoun affirming their gender identity” (p. 17). This gender identity “can be the same or different from the” student’s biological sex identified at birth (p. 6). If a school employee persistently and intentionally refuses to refer to the student by their preferred name and pronouns, the employee is regarded to be engaging in discrimination (p. 12). For situations in which an employee “fails to comply with the student’s request or an administrator’s directive to use the asserted name and pronoun,” (p. 13) the Model Policies state that a local school board’s policies “may need to be adjusted or clarified” as it relates to corrective action against the employee (p. 13). This component of the Model Policies is the one that I believe is the most threatening to Virginia public-school employees. The provision most detrimental to students relates to bathroom usage. Under the belief that a student’s gender can be determined by the student, employees are instructed to allow students to use the bathroom coinciding with their “consistently asserted gender identity” without confrontation (p. 17). One problem with this policy is that it will inevitably result in the discomfort of other students who would rather use a bathroom alongside people of their own biological sex. An additional problem with this policy is that it is open to be abused by students who do not truthfully consider themselves to be transgender. A biological male who holds to a male identity would be able to lie and consistently assert that he is a female in order to enter the women’s restroom. The consequences of this abuse could range from embarrassment on the part of young women in the restroom to sexual assault. These consequences must be considered before policies like these are implemented. I oppose these policies because they violate God’s created order, defy science, and endanger religious liberty. While all three are of high importance, God’s commands are of chief importance. Genesis 1:25 tells us that God created humanity in His image, creating humans as male and female. Later, in Jeremiah 1:5, God told the prophet Jeremiah that He knew him before He even formed him in his mother’s womb. Because God is the Creator that knows His created beings before they are even conceived, He alone determines if someone is male or female. He has given us instructions in the Bible about how to live our lives as men and women in a manner that pleases Him and coincides with the reality He has created. A biological male determining that he is actually a female does not please Him and does not coincide with reality. Though many will disagree with these assertions, they are no less accountable to God than those that do agree. The Model Policies are also in contradiction with biological science. The vast majority of human beings (other than some people who are biologically intersexual or have other related medical issues) have biological features that identify them as male or female. Physical features such as sex organs, muscle mass, hormones, body hair, and voice pitch clarify whether an individual is male or female. Although a man may have some features outside of the norm for most males (e.g. – a high-pitched voice and lower levels of testosterone), he will always have male sex organs. The same goes for women and female sex organs. It should be self-evident that these features – especially the sex organs - define a person’s status as a male or female. I believe that to assert the maleness of a person born with female sex organs and naturally high levels of estrogen is to deny a reality that biology makes evident. Schools should educate students about scientific realities rather than assist them in the denial of scientific realities. A third issue with the Model Policies is that they endanger religious liberty. Those Christians who are convinced that the Bible teaches that God, not man, defines gender and believe that using a transgender student’s preferred pronouns would be participation in a lie would have no acceptable recourse but to refuse to use those pronouns lest they violate what they believe to be God’s commands and their own consciences. This choice is protected under Section 16 of the Virginia Bill of Rights that states that “religion…and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience…” [1] Requiring a school employee to use a student’s preferred pronouns when it violates that employee’s conscience would be to direct the manner in which that employee must discharge his religion. It would restrict that employee’s “free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience.” For this reason, I believe central components of the Model Policies are discriminatory and unconstitutional. I understand that the argument that transgenderism defies God's created order is a religious argument that probably will not sway VDOE officials to change the policies. While disagreement with God's Word does not absolve anyone of the responsibility of obeying God, such disagreement does hinder the application of biblical principles to public policy. With this in mind, other concerns such as student comfortability and safety and the religious liberty of Virginia's teachers should be sufficient reasons to make major alterations to the Model Policies . Transgender students can be treated with dignity and receive a good education without endangering students or violating religious liberty. Thank you for your consideration of my concerns! Sincerely, Zach G. [1] https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article1/section16/


Transgender promotion in K_12 public schools

Strongly opposed for the health and safety of our children.


Morna Comeau, Graduate of APS, and parent of 3 graduates.

Oppose these Model Policies

I strongly oppose the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools, even as I affirm that ALL students should be taught and treated with respect by teachers and peers alike.   The following comments support this value, but not in the way you've advocated in the model policies. I am a graduate of Arlington Public Schools, as is my husband and our three young adult children. Parents are first and foremost responsible for the care and development of their children, and they are legally and financially responsible for their children. Parents have heretofore known the privilege of partnering with teachers and administrators to help educate their students. These proposed policies set up an adversarial relationship, violating parental rights by leaving parents out of this relationship which is foundational to the health of each family. This is extremely detrimental to ALL parent/child relationships, to the healthy development of children, to families, and to ultimately to public schools. Yet by law, parents remain responsible. Bullying of ANY student is abhorrent. We don’t need a separate policy for students of specific groups (just imagine how many policies we’d need.) School administrators & teachers, in partnership with parents and students are responsible for ensuring a safe learning environment for ALL students. The best way to do this is to foster a community of mutual respect and accountability. Current procedures to help ANY child requiring special accommodation,  bring together parents and health professionals with school counselors to determine an Independent Education Plan. The young person with gender dysphoria deserves no less than anyone else requiring special accommodations in order to promote flourishing.  There need not be specific procedures for each group of student. And, the procedure should ALWAYS include parents, with whom ultimate responsibility rests. I don’t see any proposed guidelines that protect students who object to sharing bathrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms at our county swimming pools, and hotel rooms while on field trips with members of the biologically opposite sex.  Will they be afforded protection? How will this play out? Does this set up an unintended adversarial situation between students who would otherwise be friends? SPORTS:  The adoption of these proposed policies would effectively wipe out women’s sports.  (Natural stature, muscle mass, & strength matters.) I’m in favor of retaining the integrity of intramural and competitive sports for males and for females. In the appendices of the proposed model policies, I see no supporting studies in the areas of child development, (psychological/physical/emotional/social.)  I see no advocacy groups or support groups for parents/students who want to explore ideas other than full affirmation, nor to I see any admission to the fact that this is a developing area of study, with renowned experts contesting your conclusions. Please slow down. These are our children. If these policies are ratified, ALL of our children/students will be guinea pigs at the least, victims at the most.


Jessica Hawkins, Virginia Association of School Social Workers

I support!

I support this guidance. As a School Social Worker in Virginia public schools I often see the discrimination that our LGBTQ students are facing daily in their schools. Many that I work with don't want to come to school and end up getting into trouble for truancy because they don't feel safe or welcomed in their learning community. These students need to be protected and supports and policies need to be put in place to make our school communities inclusive to all!


Oppose!

Strongly oppose these actions.


Transgender school policy

The government officials do not have a public mandate to enforce gender promotion in all taxpayer funded schools and jeopardize the bodily privacy and safety of our children.


i am AGAINST this!

This is a terrible idea. We should celebrate and respect our Godly designed differences, the most sacred being our gender. Our children should be protected from having their privacy and modesty invaded. If this passes, we will witness a mass exodus from public schools, and rightfully so. Do not allow this to go forward.


proposed transgender policy

I am strongly opposed to this policy. It will victimize and irreparably harm many children. Who comes up with this stuff? It is one more crazy, whacky, giant step that public schools are taking to the far left and away from what the vast majority want. Private schooling is now a must for my family.


I strongly oppose the model policy proposal for "transgender" students!!!


VA Department of Education policies on the Treatment of Transgender Students

It is a fundamental American ideal that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, safety and consideration.  This dignity, respect, safety and consideration should be extended to those who are transgender, of course.  What seems to be missing in the conversation about transgender rights is the dignity, respect, safety and consideration of those who are not transgender. In any group, organization or society individuals are called upon to cooperate and adjust themselves to one another.  This includes groups and organizations in which there are transgender individuals.  This does not seem to be the case in the realm of public education. Individuals who in some instances like to assert what is scientific choose to disregard science in the instance of the transgender person.  Gender is identified by the X and Y chromosomes.  The individual with two XX chromosomes in every cell in her body is a female and the individual who has an X and a Y chromosome in every cell of his body is a male.  This is NOT "Assigned" at Birth.  It occurs at the union of ovum and spermatozoa.  An educator who teaches something else to students entrusted to them is abusing the privilege of their respected position. How is it unsafe to a transgender individual to ask them to use a single person bathroom?  It is not unsafe or an affront to their dignity, though they may not be pleased that their sexuality is not affirmed.  Requiring women and girls to accept a biological male who is transgender into a bathroom or areas in which clothes are changed IS an affront to their dignity, is disrespectful and may actually be unsafe, for example. Another example- requiring a male physical education instructor to supervise a transgender male while showering is inconsiderate of him and is disrespectful of the young men in the class who may not want to shower with a member of the other biological sex. The admission of transgender females into female sports is in effect eliminating women from sport and from all the advances in sport Title IX has permitted.  Is this respectful of all women or does this favor the transgender over the vast majority of women? This issue is also threatening the freedom of thought, speech and religion of many Virginians.  Rather than formulate policies that allow for the divergence of convictions while respecting the dignity and safety of all, the Virginia Department of Education, in the draft documents, seems to favor the elimination of the scientific reality of biological sex to the detriment of the majority of students. In a heterogeneous society like America, there are many members who are different than the majority.  This has always been a strength.  The public education system has been instrumental in assisting children from different backgrounds learning to better understand and respect those differences, to treat those who are different with consideration while affirming the right of each family represented to their convictions, religious and otherwise. These draft policies, rather than affirming the differences and advocating respect for the diverse sociological, cultural and religious convictions of all in our society, seems instead more like the repressive policies of a totalitarian government.  Virginia is the birthplace of the First Amendment.  I sincerely hope Virginia will continue to advocate not only for freedom of expression, but also for freedom of speech and conviction and freedom of religion.  The suppression of anyone's freedom is a danger to the freedom of all.


Strongly oppose Transgender promotion in publicly funded schools

While I believe all students should be protected from bullying, forcefully promoting a certain lifestyle on all students is unacceptable in a public school setting.  Teachers should not be required to promote transgenderism if theirs is not something they agree with.  Should they support students unbiasedly— absolutely.  But they should not be forced them selves to promote it. Furthermore I adamantly oppose the use of bathrooms and locker rooms by the opposite gender.  Who will protect our children from those that will misuse this?   My daughters will feel uncomfortable and violated if they have to use a restroom or locker room in front of a boy, even if that boy is claiming to be a girl.  Rather than forcing those students and parents uncomfortable with this abomination of idea, why not create a third bathroom and locker changing area that is gender neutral.  Then those that choose to live this lifestyle can use that restroom, and those that choose not to aren’t forced to.


So Scary!

This is so scary to think that our children are going to be exposed in the bathroom and that they will be at risk of who knows what! This will also make the children feel unsecure and unsafe to use the bathrooms at school. The children and parents have enough to worry about without adding one more thing to the list. Please do not do this to our children!!!!!!


So GOD created man in HIS own image; in the image of GOD HE created him; male and female HE created them.Genesis 1:27 Do we not have a conscious anymore?   How can a mom or dad even think these thoughts to change what GOD has created for GOOD. May GOD HIMSELF have mercy on all that we the people think we have the rights to redesign.   A price will be paid  through all of these despicable issues.  So I say that only GOD HIMSELF can change the hearts of men,  I Pray GOD do what you do BEST.   Today we look at good being evil and evil being good.  I also pray GOD make all things right in your eyes. Its time to STAND for TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS.   You know that when we are all in trouble we call on GOD first..........well PEOPLE we are in TROUBLE right NOW.


Supporting HB 145 and SB 161 re VDOE guidance on LGBTQ

As grandparent to a transgender person and close friend to several other LGBTQ people, I fully support these bills to strengthen VDOE guidance.


Against Transgender bill have anti-bullying -enough

I agree with you that every single child—including and especially those struggling with sexual confusion—should be protected from harm and harassment. There is no question of that. And Virginia has a good anti-bullying law. But this new, proposed policy goes way beyond prevention and crosses the line into mandatory promotion of politicized, sexualized ideology. Considering that scientific studies and medical experts make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach puberty—it’s, at best, irresponsible to push involuntary promotion of gender confusion in a public education setting—and, at worst, actually damaging to kids who are still developing. Please do not pass this! Chris Bures


School transgender policy

stronly oppose , no matter what you think, every chromosome is a person’s body states loud and clear his or her gender. No amount of hormones or surgeries can change the facts. Transgender policy can not solve their problems. Please don’t miss lead children . It will do them more harm than good. government officials do not have a public mandate to enforce gender promotion in all taxpayer funded schools and jeopardize the bodily privacy and safety of our children


Strongly Support

I strongly support this policy because it is incredibly important for all children to feel welcome, heard, and supported in school. Not only that, but each student should be protected from bullying and violence and trans youth are at a higher risk for both. Simply using a person’s correct pronouns and chosen name can make all the difference in their life. This policy would afford all students more protection while they learn and grow.


Please Do Not Implement this Policy

Pease Do Not Implement This Policy My husband and I are schoolteachers. My husband has taught junior high and high school, and I am a K-12 teacher focusing mostly on preschool through 6th grade at the moment. We would like to weigh in on the transgender policy discussion. We have a combined teaching experience of over 50 years. We have seen a lot of phases come and go in the teaching processes over the years and this new transgender policy is one that has us very concerned. We certainly agree that every child should be protected from any harassment or harm. School should be a safe and nurturing environment. Virginia has done a good job of addressing this with their anti-bulling law. We have seen through the years that many children struggle with finding out who they are, what their strengths are, and how to deal with their sexual struggles and confusion. We have noticed, and seen it documented, that over time kids tend to outgrow and overcome these issues naturally. The problem with this new transgender policy is that it goes beyond prevention of mistreatment to forging a mandatory agenda of sexualized and politicized ideologies. To make this a predominant issue is confusing and actually damaging to children who are still working through the natural processes of learning about themselves and life in general. It makes sexual confusion an unnecessary focal point in what would otherwise be a natural learning process in a natural order of the things they are figuring out about themselves and their world. Another confusing issue this policy will bring up for kids is the thought process that says gender is something you arbitrarily received at birth and is not tied to your body type. This does not carry an emotionally well-being thought that I am made special, designed by God for a special purpose. It also defies the science of DNA and biology concerning the human body. Our job is to teach truth and this policy’s philosophy hinders us from being able to do that. We also see that this policy is going to open the door to other problems for families who are more conservative in their thinking. Their goal is to protect their children and see that they get an education and upbringing that is healthy and good for them and that does not break down their philosophy of wise and safe family living. They want their children to have the safety and assurance of not having to share a bathroom or dressing room with a person of a physically different body type. They want physical privacy for their children. They don’t want their girls competing with those who physically look like boys and have unfair advantages over their girls in sports. They don’t want their children coming home confused about who they are sexually because of something some teacher taught that day. These families are usually very kind and thoughtful of others and would not be abusive to other persuasions, but they will not embrace the philosophy being taught as correct to their children.  They would not want what they feel is unhealthy pushed on them and their children because of their convictions. Sooooo, who is going to determine which parents or teachers are being “abusive” or in need of “correction”? This policy is pushing an agenda without thinking about the long-term consequences and problems that are going to arise with its implementation. It is going to end up being divisive and exclusive. Please do not put this policy into action. Sincerely, Thomas & Rebecca McKennett


transgender mandates for public schools

strongly oppose


Support

As a rabbi and an educator, I'm proud to support this guidance. My faith teaches that every human is created in God's image, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression. Ancient rabbinic literature supports the long-time existence of gender diversity in educational settings and the need to have appropriate measures in place to make sure every person across the gender spectrum has a place to learn safely as their full selves. I’ve worked with many well-meaning fellow educators, counselors, and administrators who simply do not have the experience with trans or non-binary students to understand what is truly needed to support them. We want to do everything right for them, but it can be quite a learning process. I know it is tough for the students to have to be patient as they deal with fumbling adults unsure of how to best show them the respect that every student deserves. This guidance would allow all schools to be equipped with the policies and procedures they need to confidently provide a safe and inclusive educational experience for all students, especially our LGBT youth.


Guidelines for Transgender Students

As a grandmother of children in Virginia's schools, I am very concerned about the guidelines being considered for transgender students. To allow biological boys to use rest rooms, shower facilities, spend the night with girls on overnight field trips, and to play on teams according to their feelings about their sex puts girls in danger and discriminates against them. There are numerous cases of girls being assaulted in shared facilities. Biological males are also devastating women's sports destroying opportunities for many girls to win college sports scholarships. Even with hormone replacement, biological males have a physical advantage because of their body and muscle mass. For girls to compete against biological males in sports like boxing and wrestling it is just plain dangerous. It is also unfair. To allow this in the schools not only endangers girls, but puts the school at risk of lawsuits. The Department of Education should abandon these guidelines immediately.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

Supporting trans students is important, not only for those students, but for all students, regardless of their sex, gender, or orientation, and for our future as a society. Hate crimes are born out of fear of the different and unknown, and the only real ways to foster tolerance is through exposure that mitigates that fear, and the persistent demonstration that our leaders stand ready to protect and support minorities of all types.


Strongly Oppose

I am strongly opposed to implementing this dangerous policy in the public schools that my tax dollars fund. Considering that scientific studies and medical experts make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach puberty—it’s, at best, irresponsible to push involuntary promotion of gender confusion in a public education setting—and, at worst, actually damaging to kids who are still developing. Please do not endanger our children by implementing this policy.


Enforced transgender  promotion in schools

Begin typing to enter your comments. You are limited to approximately 3000 w STRONGLY OPPOSE:  you have no right to enforce gender promotion by telling our children that if you don't like being a boy you can become a girl or if you are a girl and you want to be a boy, you can do it.  This confuses a child and drives them into depression. STOP!


Strongly oppose this!

The government is pushing a new religion by pushing anti-scientific transgender ideology in schools, which violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Gender ideology is itself nonscientific and a religion that the government is forbidden from mandating under the Establishment Clause. This is a First Amendment argument against compulsory participation in and compulsory belief in an anti-scientific theory—in essence, compulsory religion. There is no biological basis for transgenderism.  Someone cannot be "trapped in the wrong body."  We're all in the bodies we were meant to be in. People who identify as transgender need psychological counseling to escape their delusion. I encourage trans-identifying persons to accept their natural bodies and want them to avoid a lifetime of medical interventions (cross-sex hormones, surgeries, cosmetic procedures, counseling), infertility, stress-inducing efforts to "pass" as the opposite sex, and suicidal thinking and attempts. There is no such thing as a transgender child.  There are children who are confused, emotionally neglected, even abused.  Parents who affirm trans identities in children are themselves confused or needy, vulnerable to social pressures, or willfully misguided by health care professionals. Trans ideology is utterly false and destructive. Government and institutions are forcing people to deny reality and accept a destructive, nonsensical ideology – accustoming us to obey the most idiotic directives.


Gender Promotion

Begin typing to enter your comments. You are limited to approximately 3000 words STRONGLY OPPOSE!!!


Full support

Strongly Support. This is good for all children, regardless of their gender or sexuality.


Support

Trans rights are human rights and everyone, regardless of age or gender, deserves to be protected, supported, and respected.


Strongly oppose transgender legislation

I will pull both of my sons out of Virginia Beach public schools. Children should not have to feel more uncomfortable going to a restroom at school. Kids do not understand transgender, only that there is a "girl" in the boys room or vice versa. Stop the insanity.


Strongly oppose new guidelines

Our government officials do NOT have a mandate to enforce gender promotion in taxpayer funded schools.  It will jeopardize the bodily privacy and safety of our children.


Oppose Furthering Gender Confusion

Gender confusion is a mental health illness.  Do NOT support any policy that will further illness.


I Don’t Support This At All

Let’s see...  We are going to make this radical change to our public schools in support of less than 3% of the school population. Guess nobody has though that teenagers would claim to be female so they could see other females naked. What you would be doing is endangering 97% of the students while pandering for votes of the remaining 3%.


All people should be treated with dignity, compassion and respect

My family is in favor of adopting the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender students in Virginia public schools.  Everyone, no matter their race, religion, socioeconomic status, age or gender should be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.  All schools should ensure that ALL students are treated equitably.  Policies and activities that are gender based are antiquated and are inherently inequitable are reinforce bias and prejudice attitudes and behaviors.  The adults should lead by example. In reading the comments there is a common theme among people objecting to the model policies and that is fear.  Fear that their daughter won't be safe in a restroom with another mother's daughter if that daughter has male genitalia.  Fear that transgendered girls will be better at sports than CIS girls because of a biological advantage.  When you look at the research, and talk to transgendered children, you will learn that transgendered kids are much more likely to be the victim of attacks (not the other way around), and that there have been transgendered persons participating in sports for some time and transgendered persons are not consistently beating out all the CIS females.  When we support transgendered youth, and they are able to get the healthcare they need, they can and do take hormone therapy to help block unwanted hormones and align their physical and chemical bodies with their personal identity. There are numerous fears and in this day and age, when we are doing our best to protect our children in this politically charged environment in a pandemic no less, emotions are understandably running high.  But we have to put our fear aside, educate ourselves, talk to each other (including talking to transgendered children and their parents) and work together to work through our fears.  Protecting transgendered students in our schools so they feel safe, and opening up our hearts and minds to talk to those "we" fear, is what we must do to ensure an equitable future for all of our children.


Strongly oppose this legislation.  Please do not pass this legislation.

As a parent of four children, I am strongly opposed to this legislation. I can't even believe we are considering putting our young girls' safely in jeopardy.   My children will not feel safe if a person of the opposite gender is allowed to come into the restrooms and changing area.   Girls will not be able to compete with biological boys in all sports.  You will completely wipe out all girls sports over time.  This is insanity.  I  urge you with all my heart to reconsider the irreparable damage you will do to our youth.


Please do not implement this policy.  Gender is a biological fact, not an opinion.

Mandating the use of transgender pronouns violates the 1st Amendment with respect to both freedom of religion and freedom of speech.


WAKE UP!!

I absolutely do not support this!! This opens the door for so many bad things, including sexual assault. You are either born with a penis or a vagina, use the bathroom according to what you are equipped with. For crying out loud people WAKE UP!!!


ABSOLUTELY NOT, DO NOT IMPLEMENT THIS

This is a terrible idea. I agree with supporting those who want to protect transgender students, but to take away the knowledge of what's happening in school from the parents is wrong. To expose children whose female breasts are exposed is not right. What happens when they decide the next day they identify as a female again? Everyone has seen their breasts and it will be sexualized. This is not ok. There are enough sexual assaults at schools and making bathrooms co-ed is just an open door for more of these situations to occur. Children's prefrontal lobes are still developing and will be until their 20s. Deciding you want to be transgender is their personal choice, but to change the whole school policy to accommodate their preferences is stepping on others toes. Simply not ok. I believe in female and male. So now I'm at risk of being charged with criminal offenses if I dont use the right pronoun or dont agree with this? Its Ludacris. Create a safe space for trans people as they do the LGBTQ community  and any other group people create. No need to change the whole damn thing. -Angry parent


Strongly oppose!

Strongly oppose!


STRONGLY Disagree

I strongly disagree with this. This is the complete opposite direction of where we should be going in relation to our kids & their future. This is awful. This is not how I want my kids to be raised & I'll be damned if the school system is going to teach my kids that any of this is ok. This is for parents to deal with, not the educational system.


Insane!! Oppose this 100%

This is absolutely insane! The fact that this is even being considered is ridiculous! Open your eyes to what you are considering doing! The school board is always talking about safety for our children but would allow for a child to be in the bathroom with the opposite sex! How hypocritcal! This is also going to open the door for not only bad things to go on where teachers/staff cannot see but also allow for even more bullying harassment.


Oppose!!!!!!! Please do not pass this!

If this passes, our kids, for safely reasons, will be homeschooled permanently. It truly scares me!


OPPOSED

This is not protecting students but furthering a political agenda and adding even more stress and confusion to growing up.


I will always support not discriminating against a child, always!

A child transitioning should have full support from adults that are supposed to be educating them. A child should never have to deal with any kind of harassment, ever. This is an identity issue that should be handled gently. It is no other adults decision than the parent and healthcare professionals. Schools should be a positive and supportive environment for everyone, period.


Strongly disagree

Strongly disagree.


Oppose strongly

Schools should treat all students with respect but these policies go past respect. They seek to steer students toward transgender ideology and interfere with the parent’s right to steer their children according to their values and beliefs. Parents rightfully play the predominant role in their children’s  lives to shape them and the state has no right to interfere. In addition each child has the right to expect privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms and not have to share space with the opposite gender. Reality and science identify male and female gender not feelings. Gender confused students need compassion but not indulgence to the point of sacrificing the rights of other children who have every right to feel safe in their environment.


This is a Travesty against children and parents!

This Bill should be defeated and never brought up again!  This will harm so many children and these issues should be completely left up to parents.  Schools and government have no right or duty to get involved in this issue and it should be illegal intentionally deceive parents or children.  Put this bill in the trash bin.


I Strongly Oppose this plan

I write to oppose doing this and adding to the confusion of our children.  This is an insane policy.  There are policies in place on bullying and everyone deserves a safe place to learn.


Strongly Disagree!!!!

This is wrong!  This will confuse kids.  Pronouns that can change daily??? Shirtless girls?? Skirts on boys.  My God what has happened to my home state!? People, you can't be seriously considering this. I vote NO!


Oppose strongly!!

Do not pass this!


Gender

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!


Transgender issue

What has happened to our country?! Might there be some sort of written guidance on this subject?....oh yeah, there is....it’s called THE BIBLE. our creator’s mandates to all of His children on how to live their lives. We have become obsessed with our rights” , but no one wants to be held responsible for the evil that exists by agreeing to these “insane” ideas. We all need to wake up and put a stop to the craziness that is taking over!


Transgender policies

Please do not pass any part of these policies. You are in no way able to teach a child their gender preference than their parents. You are taking parents rights away as well as other students rights away!  I want to know what is going on with my children's discipline in school. You should not put transgender over other students. Teach respect and kindness!  What I see here is bullying parents,students,and teachers who do not agree with your views. We


Strongly Oppose

Strongly oppose


Strongly Disagree

Strongly disagree.


Transgender policy

Strongly oppose to this policy. Follow the science. Gender is decided at birth, gender confusion is life choice. Support good choices, counsel those that need help, not everyone else. What a waste of resources.  Do not bully the rest of us that oppose a non natural, non biological, non physical view.  Concerned about student safety? Can you tell the difference between a confused trans and a pervert ?  Who can ?


Strongly OPPOSE

This is completely outrageous. There Is no way this should ever even be thought about in our school systems! This is only going to open the world to more sexual assault in cases of children. And we as parents are to protect our children when they cant protect themselves! God have mercy on anyone who thinks this is ok!!!


Opposed

Leave stuff alone


STRONGLY OPPOSED!!

The public school system is not the place to indoctrinate our children.  Let’s just teach our children facts (real facts that is) and leave all political and ideological movements out of the picture all together.  Our children face way too many challenges in school already, imposed by politically slanted agendas. It is SOLELY the responsibility of the PARENTS to guide their children with respect to this topic. I respect that there may be a very, very small number of students who are confused with their gender, but science must rule here.  And no matter whether you like it or not, science determines your gender.  I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS PROPOSAL.  In fact, it violates the rights of the overwhelming majority of students who aren’t transgender.


STRONLY OPPOSED

This will cause more issues than help. I do not want someone who is pretending to be transgender follow my daughter in the bathroom and then sexually abuse her...that would turn out bad on multiple levels. Plus parents are going to go above and beyond to protect their children here at all costs. You will be helping more by keeping the bathrooms seprate, or at least add an additional bathroom for those individuals so they don't have to go in the same bathrooms as parents who are opposed.  An extra bathroom really is the middle ground.


Strongly oppose

This is an outrage. It demeans women and their uniqueness. It makes competititive sports for women unfair.


Strongly Oppose!!

I strongly oppose this motion. We are raising our children in a Christian - based home. If I want my children to learn about LGBT I will be the one to teach them. I do not want my daughter to share a bathroom with a boy who identifies as a girl. I do not want my son to share a bathroom with a girl who identifies as a boy. They would be extremely uncomfortable in that situation. We are raising our children to be respectful of all people, but this is a step too far!!! Nope! I will pull my children out of Public school if this passes, along with many others. My children have just as much of a right to feeling comfortable in school as anyone else.


Please Do NOT do this. Strongly Oppose

Please do NOT do this. I strongly oppose it.


Gender is a seperate phenomenon from sex,  anyone who says otherwise doesn't understand science.

Just the title, ya'll are doing a great service for trans individuals. Thank you for your efforts.


This is a travesty and an offense to God

This is an outrage. It demeans women and their uniqueness. It makes competititive sports for women unfair. This is an offense to God and the natural order of life.


Transgender School policy

I support this.


Treatment of Transgender Students

Seems to me that the VDOE should worry about getting Teachers back to school and not social policy. Let Transgender athletes compete, dress & then shower/use the bathroom as one group, boys as one group, and girls as one group. Anyone disagreeing with this is merely trying to make policy. And, unless there's a Social Policy Class requirement needed for High School graduation, respectfully, butt the hell out. Worry about your family and let the parents sending kids to school worry about theirs.


Transgender support

I strongly support transgender kids. Everyone has right to be loved and respected no matter who they are.


Transgender policy

Strongly oppose.


Guidance Document (Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Sch

Strongly oppose this. As a former public school teacher, this would be a disaster.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

All students deserve respect, which is why there are anti bullying policies and protections.  This is way beyond that.  Parents are the parents....not the schools....this is an assault on parental rights. Schools are also for teaching...not infiltrating political ideologies.  This is dangerous for children, especially when studies show most children/ teens grow out of gender confusion.  Why encourage it when it leads to greater challenges and difficult decisions for youth....decisions that may change the course of their lives forever.  We should all be kind, loving and encouraging to ALL people but this radical proposal isn’t about any of that.  Don’t do this to parents.  Don’t do this to children.


Oppose, reset your moral compass

What in the world has happened to common sense and decency?  In what direction is your moral compass pointed?  Our children have been preyed upon enough.  The simplicity of ones gender is obvious.  This is just another policy designed to confuse and cause separation.


Oppose

Please allow parents to help their children work through these incredibly complex issues and allow teachers to focus on teaching subject matter.


Support

I support transgender youth and these model policies. Let's bring humanity back to our schools.


Will not support this dangerous policy

I am writing in concern over upcoming policy changes on how schools handle transgender. the policy changes not only promote transgender lifestyle but they are intended to force others to promote it against their constitutional right of religion. This policy will endanger the safety of our children by those who WILL use this to evade their privacy in restrooms and locker rooms. It will do nothing but cause problems and not solve any. There are ways to to respect and accommodate EVERYONE. Without punishing innocent people.


kindness

We are all human beings.  Transgender students are human beings just like everyone else, and they deserve the same respect and regard that everyone else deserves from the school system.  We need to protect them from abuse and discrimination so that they can live and learn like the other kids in school.


All children and youth have rights to be themselves

As a retired teacher, I know how important it is for all students to feel safe, accepted for exactly who they are, and appreciated for what they can bring to the cultural mix of a school / community. We owe children an effective education and they will only have this if they are safe and accepted.


Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District Supervisor

Support

I am writing to support this vital set of guidelines and model policies. It is important for our schools to have the tools in place to accommodate our transgender students, ensuring that they are protected from discrimination and disparate treatment. This student population is particularly vulnerable to being targeted or singled out, and we must be in the business of ensuring all students have the safety to thrive.


NO to Transgender ideology

Reject the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools as they are harmful to children and undermine the rights of parents and families.


NO to Mandatory Transgender indoctrination

No to mandatory policies supporting gender confusion.   Support parental rights.  The State is not our parent, spouse or God. FREEDOM!


Strongly Oppose

Every child should be protected from harm and harassment.  Virginia has a good anti-bullying law.  This new proposed policy goes way beyond prevention and crosses the line into mandated promotion of political, sexualized ideology.  Most children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach puberty.  It is irresponsible to promote gender confusion in a public school setting.  I strongly oppose this policy.


Strongly Support

I strongly support this. Trans children deserve to be treated with respect and protected in our schools.


Model policies for transgender youth

Support these model policies for transgender youth.


Support

Support this. Easy enough with fair changes to support LGBTQIA* community in public schools.


Strongly oppose

As a mom to two girls I strongly oppose the transgender policy being presented.  Accepting this policy will be extremely detrimental to girls and their privacy.  Subjecting them to sharing locker rooms, bathrooms, and rooms for overnight stays is an invasion is their rights as females.  I am trying to raise strong, independent women and by allowing boys to participate in girls sports, you are putting girl’s at a disadvantage.  I am the parent and therefore I should be the one to make the decisions. The school and teachers do not have the right to help my child make life changing decisions without my knowledge.  Did you carry my child for nine months? Did you give birth to my child? Have you been supporting and taking care of my child 24/7?  No, so what gives you the right to think that you can make these decisions for me?  This is not a question of abuse, it is a question of wanting to push me as the parent out. I strongly advise you against any transgender policy in our public schools.


Schools need to support all kids

I support the new guidance. All research on the subject shows that kids are healthier and happier if their gender identities and decisions are respected by their communities. It’s time to make sure Virginia’s schools are an affirming part of kids’ community life.


PLEASE protect our girls by OPPOSING this legislation

Please please please oppose this harmful legislation. Here are the top reasons why: There will be no safeguard against regular straight males entering the female bathrooms and locker rooms. They could simply "claim" to be/feel like a "female" and enter on their own whims. Sexual exploitation and abuse allowed for by law is sure to occur because of possible abuses as listed in #1. Additionally, who would be stopping a janitor or any other male in the building from claiming to be "female" and entering the same bathroom as a young girl? Again, an open door for sexual abuse and exploitation. Public schools will further become (because it already is well on its way) a harmful exploitative location run by the radical Left which will cause further emotional and psychological harm to our young. WE MUST OPPOSE THIS OR GET OUT OF VA SCHOOLS.


Strongly Support

As a retired Albemarle County teacher with 43 years experience, I strongly support these policies because I have seen firsthand what bullying and exclusion have done to these middle and high school students. As the adults in this equation, it is our responsibility to learn the science of gender identification. Ignorance should not be used as a cudgel against our children. Since when has exclusion been considered a moral virtue? Don't the scriptures say "suffer the children to come to me." I don't remember the caveat of except you or you or you. We must protect our students, and help them benefit fully from a public school education in a respectful and safe environment.


I support transgender youth and these model policies.

We need policies in our public schools to protect transgender youth. I support these policies.


Strongly Support Trans Guidance

Our kids deserve the dignity of being free from discrimination in their public schools. Our kids deserve to be treated with respect and compassion, no matter their gender, orientation, religion, race or ability. Can't believe this has to be said in 2021.


SUPPORT for ALL youth including Transgender Youth

All our Virginia youth will benefit from policies that empower ALL our youth. Transgender and non-binary youth in particular need us to enact the proposed guidelines but all of us will benefit from a kinder more accepting community.  The “bathroom issue” is easily resolved and must not get in the way of full equality for all of God’s children.


Model Policies

To whom it may concern: I am writing to request that you REJECT the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools as they are harmful to children and undermine the rights of parents and families. Cutting the parents out of the loop of caring and supporting their child is unacceptable.  It is the parents’ right and job to guide their child in all matters and preventing them from being able to do this is wrong. Thank you!


I oppose this policy...my grandchildren who are not trans etc. need to be protected also

I do not support this policy.  All children should be loved.  My grandchildren do not need to learn/be exposed to this information at school.  I see no protection for non trans children


Support ALL Virginia students

all students needed to be treated equally and with respect, including trans students.


Fully support

I fully support this policy. All students deserved to be recognized for the person they are and treated with respect and dignity. They deserve to be safe and comfortable at school.


I SUPPORT our trans children and policies that support them!

I strongly support RCPS and their proposed policies to support trans children. I support children using rest rooms in which they feel safe and comfortable. I support requiring teachers and staff to use the pronouns that each individual recognizes as their own. It is our responsibility to create a safe and supportive environment for ALL children. I also support students dressing in ways that they feel comfortable and I encourage our community to understand that sexual violence is NEVER the fault of the victim. The way that an individual dresses is NEVER an invitation to touch them in any way. Thank you, RCPS for moving forward in a way that acknowledges that it is our responsibility to be a safe and welcoming community for ALL.


Oppose VDOE Model

Please stop this model. Government should not be involved in the child’s private business. This is the family’s responsibility, not government. I want all children to grow up safely. What really matters is the child’s heart and soul and that they are loved. This model could do terrible harm to an unprotected child,What if the child thinks they’re protected and VDOE becomes fallible, which it already is. Let parents be parents , please don’t hurt families and break children’s hearts


FULL SUPPORT

Anyone who experienced bullying or disrespect in school will remember what it’s like to be that child and feel unsafe in a place you must go to every single day. I cannot imagine the issues that children today face with the advent of technology and the Internet. It is important that we teach our children all of the knowledge we have available to us. There is no place in this world for people who are afraid of things they don’t understand when understanding is as simple as learning. That is why I fully support these measures and encourage Virginia to continue being a strong force in the advancement of equality for all.


Support

I support this plan, it seems very thoughtful and reasonable. Thank you.


Strongly support!!

We strongly support the guidance for protection for trans kids in VA schools. Every single child deserves to feel safe and accepted; this includes everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender labels.


Strongly oppose. Give them separate bathroom

i strongly oppose Biden’s new policy. If that comes to having a bathroom- give them a gender neutral bathroom. This way, every student has a choice . Girls go to girls room, boys go to boys rooms , and gender neutral students go to gender neutral bathrooms. I dint want my daughter to be walked in on by a boy who thinks it would be fun to pretend to be a girl


Strongly Support

as a parent of two children who will attend VA public schools, I support this policy.


Transgender policy

I am totally opposed to the proposed transgender policy.  The policy should be based on the BIOLOGICAL GENDER, not what someone thinks they are.


I strongly support transgender youth and these policies!

I strongly support transgender youth. I love these model policies and they should be implemented.


Transgender youth

I strongly support transgender youth and the guidance regulations for schools.


I support transgender youth and these model policies.