Opposition to model policies for the treatment of transgender students

While I'm sure people who are writing these guidelines are concerned with the welfare of children, I am totally opposed to these "model policies" proposed by the Department of Education. The premise is wrong at its inception. First, males and females are different. No amount of policymaking will change that; no amount of brainwashing or indoctrination will remove those distinctions. Second, emphasizing sex in any way detracts from a child's ability to concentrate on his/her education. Public schools should be focusing on teaching children reading, writing, mathematics, history, geography, science, music, art, and vocational and social skills that will give them the ability to set goals for their future, get good jobs, establish homes, and become productive members of their community. I am not insensitive to the psychological aspects and problems of "transgenderism"; I am saying it is overemphasized, which causes more harm to such a student because that becomes his or her overarching motivator. Constant discussion of sexual matters causes a child to focus on his/her biological functions, hormones, emotions, etc., not on learning. Sex is not the most important topic in the real world. It is only being emphasized by a small but vocal group of people. The idea that the English language has to be changed because of a child's preferences is actually tyranny. No person deserves such special treatment--a "transgender" person is no more or less valuable than any other person, and has no right to be singled out specifically because he or she decides he or she does not want to be he or she. And no teacher or student ought to be disciplined, reprimanded, intimidated, or otherwise targeted for misusing a pronoun. If children were taught proper respect, common courtesy, politeness, manners, and civility instead of politically correct propaganda, the issues of harassment and discrimination would be moot. Gender identity is a divisive "hot topic" that wastes time, money, and emotional energy; it strains civility, and insults common sense. Ultimately, how it is dealt with can ruin a person's life. It should not be central to a classroom environment. It is a personal issue to be handled by a child and his/her parents or guardians. How parents choose to address this issue is their prerogative and responsibility, and they need to be respected. Let the school stick to educating children so they can compete with children from other nations in math and science. Let them learn to communicate their ideas intelligently, and learn to read, comprehend and think critically. Teach them to live as civilized members of a community who consider others first; not isolated, navel-gazing, narcissists who can't function without thinking about what gender they are. The majority of the students have rights too, and they have biological features that show they are male or female. They should have restrooms and locker rooms that respect their identity. If a student wants to be something other than his or her biological sex, and the school administration feels the need to accommodate that desire, that student can use the faculty's facilities. There are many other points to be made in opposition to these proposed policies. Suffice it to say that the infringement on parental rights, interference in family responsibilities and relationships, keeping information from parents, overemphasis on sexuality, spurious discipline of students and faculty, psychological and emotional damage to a student caused by constantly being singled out for special treatment, lack of accommodation and/or exceptions for religious beliefs of all students, parents, and teachers, and violation of the privacy rights of the majority of students are reasons enough for my opposition. Thank you for reading and considering my opinions.


Fully Support!

As an educator, I believe every student deserves a safe and supportive environment, and be treated with respect.


I strongly oppose

There is no room in these ideas for the rights of those who disagree with or are made uncomfortable in the presence of those who chose to dress or act like the opposite sex.  Do they have no rights?


I fully support

I fully support this policy. All students should be treated equally.


I oppose this measure

I believe that adequate provisions for the consciences of religious people need to be written into these policies.


VDOE Draft Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students

I strongly oppose the VDOE Draft Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students.  Many studies have shown that transgender people have a very difficult life compared to straight people.  Therefore, it is best not to have a policy that is and will be detrimental to the student.


100 % oppose - MALE and FEMALE created He them

In Genesis 1:27 is says, "So God created man in His own Image, in the image of God created He him, MALE and FEMALE created He them."  This violates the very created order of God.


Draft policy on sharing intimate spaces

No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms, or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex.  This policy would be a gross violation of a person's right to privacy.


Strongly oppose, our children need protection from people who have a flawed idea of gender.

This policy is a ploy by the radical left to take parental control of their progeny away and place it in the hands of people who do not have the real interest of the children in mind, rather an agenda to indoctrinate the children with a fundamentally flawed idea that there is no difference in the male and female genders.  Rather than helping the few individuals with confused ideas about gender, this policy is bent on blowing a small situation into a totally outsized problem and thrusting it into the lives of the vast majority of children who should be allowed to grow up with an innocence of these radical, flawed ideas.


Fully Support this. We need to move the country forward on bringing equity to all students.

I want to make sure that I am clear on my support for the VDOE policy that has been put forth entitled “Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.” This is something that should not have taken so long to be done and should be fully supported. There are several benefits to this document (Linked below) that held students that are dealing with many different issues. No matter the student’s course in life, this should be a fun time and one that they can reflect on positively. The time has come for society to accept that this is normal. Continuing to have bias and warped sense of right and wrong should not longer be accepted. I have read several of the comments on the document and I am appalled that people are being so negative about this issue. There are students everyday that are dealing with issues and those kids need to feel that they have protections too. Most of the comments come from people claiming to be Christian, but they are not caring nor compassionate with everyone. Instead, they are showing how little they know of Jesus who accepted anyone that wanted to be in his presence. We should strive to be more inclusive. Not less inclusive. I fully support this as policies that should be implemented and approved to improve the lives of our students. https://www.facebook.com/MPTelkamp/posts/247776963424214


Katie, teacher and mother in Chesapeake, VA

Strongly opposed to the proposed transgender equality plan


Respect Parental Rights for Their Children

Dear VA D.O.E. My purpose of this note is to ask you to please respect the rights of parents in the raising of their children.  Let them make the decision to accept or reject the state's goals of sexual education.  Some of our religious beliefs do not coincide with your secular values.  Do not compromise the modesty of children by forcing them to "accept" children who have confusion of their own gender.


Respect the Role of Parents

Education is a partnership. The role of parents should be heard and respected.


I support this policy.

I support this policy.


School "Transgender" Policies

I completely oppose these policies for many reasons, but first and foremost because they rob parents of their God-given and legitimate rights.


Oppose

While there are individuals who are biologically intersex we must not allow these exceptions to undermine the rule that human beings are binary.  This biological reality is established before birth and any attempt to deny that scientific truth is a lie.  If the purpose of school is to teach what is true, and one aspect of truth is something that can be determined scientifically then it would be wholly inconsistent--and irresponsible, to teach otherwise.  I strongly oppose this legislation.


Protecting our Youth

Good Evening, Recent changes throughout modern society has made me more and more fearful as an educational leader, and now as a parent.  In our Catholic institutions, we teach the children to love the sinner and hate the sin, and that every man and woman is a child of God and deserves to be treated with that such dignity and respect.  This in itself is all-inclusive language that does not discriminate against any person or ideal.  What is being proposed is that we deviate from that teaching and mention specifics that are not always age-appropriate, nor biologically factual.  The idea that there are more than two genders is absolute lunacy because there--in fact--not.  Having educators teach something that is contrary to both their faith, as well as against scientific study, is hazardous to their young minds.  We vehemently oppose teaching any such content to children the same way we oppose teaching them that 2 plus 2 equals 6: we can say that it is 6 and even convince millions of people to agree with us, but ultimately, 2 plus 2 is always going to equal 4. Our Catholic Schools are not releasing bigots into our society as adults.  We are releasing God-loving, and God-fearing men and women of all races and ethnicities.  This indicates that our institutions are doing well, and are not coming out ignorant, but rather well-tempered, and civil to those with whom we disagree. Our faith has been disallowed in the public school system for a reason. Please do not force your beliefs into our school system, as such an act would be an abuse of power, hypocritical, and heartbreaking on a multitude of levels. I continue to pray for our leaders at both the local and national level, that they reshift their focus back to the reparation of our country from within.  Our nation cannot be healed until our hearts are healed, and healing begins in the HOME.  Please revert back to encouraging abstinence in our schools, and WHY we teach kids that pre-marital sex is an unwise and selfish decision.  Teach young men of all races to act that way, and court young women with intent to wed, not bed.  The divorce rate in this country is skyrocketing, yet the birth rate is not subsiding.  This means that many of these youngsters are going to grow up without their mom and their dad living in the same home.  Ever statistic suggests that their is a strong correlation between the level of success one attains in life, and the type of family structure they had growing up.  Family is ahead of economic status, color, sex, orientation, etc. I appreciate you allowing myself and others to weigh in.  I would love to discuss this further in an open forum should the opportunity arise. I pray that God will bless you always.


I strongly support these policies.

Thank you for looking out for ALL students.


Emphatic support

I'm in full support of this proposal. Trans youth deserve dignified treatment by peers and even more so, by authority, and it is proven to save lives. Whether or not people understand the decision a person makes to transition has no bearing on every person's right to self-determination and basic respect. Please pass and implement this guidance.


Virginia Department of Education to draft model policies for the treatment of transgender students

If the VDOE approves the draft policies, I believe they would undercut parents’ involvement in the life of tour children at school, and endanger the bodily privacy and safety of all students. The proposed policies articulate views – such as the view that “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six ” – are far different from those of many parents including my own. Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex. Many children would feel uncomfortable when they encounter a member of the opposite sex – particularly adults – in gendered facilities or when entering a shared hotel room as part of an overnight school activity. Children, particularly adolescents, can experience hypersensitive and traumatic reactions to these situations. Schools should not be accommodating the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions”. The model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children. The Department’s proposed policies would pit children against their parents when it comes to important questions about sex and gender identity.


Strongly oppose!!

Strongly oppose!!


Strongly oppose draft model policies for the treatment of transgender students

Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" (1932) became a reality in the 2021 U.S.


Read below

Oppose: Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" comes to mind. It took this country only 90 years.


Some thoughts - please read

Propose laser focused attention to classical world class education in VA schools. It shall benefit all - with no exceptions and/or discrimination - children. It must include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ancient History, World History, History of the XX Century, English, English/American/World Classical Literature and at least one foreign language. History of World Arts would not hurt young inquisitive minds also. As a minimum, all teachers must have Master degree in the subject they teach, e.g. Physics is to be taught by physicists, Chemistry - by chemists, etc. Ph. D. level is preferred. A strong academic focus in VA schools shall leave no time, energy and, as a result, any desire on part of any educational system overhead committees for discussing anything unrelated to the core function of the system educating the future of our country. We will then succeed and become competitive on the world stage. Thank you.


VA proposed adoption of transgender policies

As a concerned voter with school aged children in my VA household and one who believes in the need to protect children, I do not approve of their proposed guidelines based on eradicating all distinctions between male and female and the indoctrination our school children.  It is the job of the parents to guide the social, gender, religious and natural development of their children, not the school.  It is completely unacceptable to propose that a school knows better and should encourage development of a child's sexuality without the parents' consent.  This is a huge over reach of government upon the rights of parents to raise their children according to their believes instead of those of politicians who wish to use schools as locations to explore their social agendas.  If a parent wishes to support their child through a gender transition, that is their choice as the care givers of that child.  It is not the choice or right of a school.  And if the parent does not believe such a transition, which has been shown in study after study to be harmful at younger ages, they have the right to protect their children from that.  This is bad policy and must be rejected.


If you want mutilate the society, go for it

When my friend sent this information to me, I thought it was a hoax. The absurdity of the topic and the details that followed were almost numbing. Do you realize that the United States' school children are singled out to be tested by English schools in Scandinavian countries for meeting their respective countries standards? It means that simply showing your grades does not automatically translates into similar academic attainments of their peers in those countries and therefor does not open doors to schools in Norway and Finland. Americans are way behind and below. to be clear, on average, American children get education inferior to that of their peers in public schools in those countries. Does it bother anybody?  And we are discussing body parts, sexual orientation and sexual flavor of the day, while removing parents from even knowing what American schools drag our children into? This is not evil, this is criminal. I became braver after reading what others had to say. I strongly encourage American educators - and many of them are on the right side of the discussion here - to focus on what schools are created for - educating our children, while respectfully resolving very rare instances of deviation of the norm in private. That would serve the country well.


To all the people telling you that this hurts children, I promise it doesn't

I can't possibly imagine what something like this might have done for me as a kid. Maybe I would have had the courage that many seem to find these days. Trans kids are always going to be here, the question is only of whether you'll support them, or tell them they're wrong. At this point, there can be no doubt that trans kids in supportive environments live better lives than in unsupportive environments. Give them the support they so desperately need. This is exceptional, don't let right-wing Bible-thumpers convince you otherwise. You should support this.


I oppose and do not approve

I oppose and do not approve of their proposed guidelines based on radical theories that confuse, not clarify sexuality. Sexuality is based on genetic choices at birth and not on your environment or how you feel.


Enough already!

We should be working to help children who are experiencing confusion about their sexuality, not changing our policies on bathrooms, athletic participation, etc. in order to accommodate their confusion to the detriment of the overwhelming majority.


I do not approve!

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


Unacceptable!

This is unacceptable and NOT healthy.  WHY are we putting so much pressure on children to make these decisions can't they just be children?  It is not acceptable for any male child or female child to dress with the opposite sex and it will become a problem.  If the public schools continue down this path more and more children will be pulled from public schools and either home schooled or placed in private schools.  If this is approved it WILL BE damaging to all children.


Strongly Opposed

Mind your business! Teach these children! That is what you should be most concerned with. You are taking the rights of parents away. You are harming children and opening them up to predators and unsafe situations. You are taking away the ability of these teachers to protect our children in such situations. I hope schools never reopen. My child is only safe at home. Sad world we live in. PS this is for all children. You are opening all children up to harm. Parents of the transgender community should voice their opinions against this. Your children are equally in danger if this is passed!


transgender policies

Handcuffing our school teachers and administrators with a responsibility they should not and are not qualified to bear is a dangerous policy and threatens to undermine chains of authority. Students will learn to manipulate these guidelines for their own benefit, and we will be harming the rights and morals of the majority of students and faculty for the whims of a very small minority. If there is ANY concern over the hurt feelings of a student, we should instead institute a policy of school uniforms where everyone will dress the same with name tags on both the front and back. School administrators and educators would then be able to address any student by the name chosen at the beginning of the year WITH the parents' knowledge and consent. This addresses a perceived problem without attacking the remaining majority.


policies regarding transgender students

I strongly disapprove of proposed guidelines based on radical theories that eradicate all distinctions between male and female and indoctrinate our school children.


Please don't

The proposed policies articulate views – such as the view that “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six ” – that are far different from those of many parents. Through its blanket endorsement of views like these, the VDOE has gone far beyond the path the General Assembly prescribed. Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex. Many children would feel uncomfortable when they encounter a member of the opposite sex – particularly adults – in gendered facilities or when entering a shared hotel room as part of an overnight school activity. Schools should not be accommodating the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions”.


Not workable

Failure to use a student’s new “preferred pronouns” – which can change from day to day and even defy basic rules of grammar (“ze/hir/hirs”, “they/them/their”) – would be “harassment” and “discrimination”, for which both faculty and students would be subject to disciplinary action. “For transgender students, acts of verbal harassment may include the intentional and persistent use of names and pronouns not consistent with their identity.” (Recommended Standard, p.10) “A school administrator may need to direct school staff to abide by the wishes of a student on their asserted name and pronoun. A school employee’s intentional and persistent refusal to respect a student’s asserted name and pronoun is considered discriminatory.” (Recommended Standard, p.12) “Complaints alleging discrimination, harassment, or bullying based on a student’s actual or perceived transgender status shall be handled in the same manner as other discrimination or harassment complaints.” (Draft Policy, p.10) Schools will be permitted to help a student explore, facilitate and make decisions regarding their gender expression of sexual identity while at school, without a parent even knowing! “School divisions will need to consider the health and safety of the student in situations where students may not want their parents to know about their transgender status … There are no regulations requiring school staff to notify a parent or guardian of a student’s request to affirm their gender identity...” (Recommended Standard, p.12) The definition of “Gender identity” is completely subjective to each person claiming it, hence it cannot possibly be known by anyone except that person. Since it cannot be tested or ascertained by any objective method, nothing could prevent any student from constantly “changing” their “gender identity” to exploit many situations. “Gender Identity: A person’s internal sense of their own identity as a boy/man, girl/woman, something in between, or outside the male/female binary. Gender identity is an innate part of a person’s identity and can be the same or different from the sex assigned at birth.” (Definitions, p.6) Parents who encourage their children to embrace their God-given sex would be at risk of being reported for child abuse or neglect by the school. “School staff should be prepared to support the safety and welfare of transgender students when their families are not affirming. … Whenever school personnel suspects or becomes aware that a student is being abused, neglected, or at risk of abuse or neglect by their parent due to their transgender identity, they should report those concerns to Child Protective Services immediately.” (Recommended Standard, p.13) Students will be allowed to claim to be either a biological male or female (or both, neither, or something else entirely) for any duration of time, without providing any evidence to a teacher or administrator, making it impossible for teachers to comply with these policies. “A student is considered transgender if, at school, the student consistently asserts a gender identity different from the sex assigned at birth… it does not necessarily require any substantiating evidence nor any required minimum duration of expressed gender identity ...” (Recommended Standard, p.12) “Schools shall allow students to assert a name and gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence.” (Draft Policy, p.13) Schools would be prohibited from notifying parents if a biological male is using the same changing facility as their daughter that was designated for girls. “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.” (Draft Policy, p.12) All students will be allowed to use any bathroom or locker room they choose, without being questioned by any school administrator or faculty, eliminating privacy and safety of students in states of undress. “Access to facilities such as restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to a student’s gender identity shall be available to all students.” (Draft Policy, p.18) “School staff should not confront students about their gender identity upon entry into the restroom.” (Recommended Standard, p.18) The requirements for schools to maintain gender-neutral dress code standards will cause disruptions and distractions, permitting boys to wear skirts and girls to go topless in activities where boys can – such as swimming activities or teams. “Students have a right to dress in a manner consistent with their gender identity or gender expression. Schools shall administer and enforce dress and grooming codes consistently across the student body, regardless of actual or perceived gender identity or gender expression.  Requirements for attire for school-related programs, activities, and events shall be gender-neutral.” (Draft Policy, p.16) Parents will not be notified that their child is being interrogated by school officials for allegedly violating these policies, or have the opportunity to intervene on their child’s behalf, UNLESS the complaints are not resolved “at the school level.” “Any incident or complaint of discrimination, harassment, or bullying shall be given prompt attention, including investigating the incident and taking appropriate corrective action, by the school administrator. …The [School Division’s Designated Contact] shall be available to hear concerns from students or parents when complaints are not resolved at the school level.” (Draft Policy, p.10) The policies provide absolutely no exceptions or accommodations for a student or teacher whose religious faith, conscience, or understanding of biology and sociology prevents them from being able to go along with the “transgender” ideology and policies. These troubling policies proposed by VDOE are totally unworkable and will force all students, faculty and administrators to comply with an empirically false view of sex and gender, even if it directly conflicts with their own fundamental beliefs. This is asking people who believe in science to go along with a fantasy that changes on a whim.  Will we also be changing our biology classes to include fake genes and our English classes to include all these new pronouns that are not used in the real world?


strongly oppose

I strongly disagree. Children who identify as transgender deserve appropriate counseling  to explore and identify underlying psychosocial issues contributing to their identify crisis....not affirmation leading to irreversible medical and surgical interventions. Focus on teaching academic subjects and do not infringe upon the rights of parents by supporting this self-diagnosed rapidly growing phenomenon.


I urge you to implement this guidance document.

Please implement these measures to help support the dignity and well-being of young people in our schools. This will go a long way to help protect them from harm and to encourage employees in school systems to treat each person with respect. There is a substantial body of research that shows how bulling and mistreatment in schools (by students as well as school employees) leads sexual and gender minority youth to skip school and drop out of school, and puts them at much greater risk for ending up in the juvenile justice system. Thank you for the work you have done to craft this important document.


strongly opposed to transgender education in the school system

Transgender education is not the responsibility of the school and the school system should not be involved.  The thought that a child's parents are not involved is extreme and reminds me of how Communism takes over the education of the youth.  I am opposed to Transgender education being a part of educational standards.


Debbie Bourne -Grandparent of 5th grader

Absolute OPPOSITION! Transgender policy

This policy is totally deceptive and degrading to our majority of children.  I feel these issues are a private matter that should be handled discreetly by parents and professionals.  Why are private issues being broadcast all over the world and being used to change society.  Having worked in schools for 24 years, I know there were issues the Nurse and Parents worked out for certain problems of students ( as in a need for a restroom). what about privacy of the average student.  By making such an issue of transgender, you are confusing other children.  Parents advocating these issues are not helping their child.  As for one day I want to be a girl and the next a boy, that sounds ridiculous and confusing for a child.  I feel common sense has been taken out of all education processes and the hype of making the majority accept their unacceptable policies is in.  This sounds like a mental issue  for parents believing in this treatment and certainly for a child who goes thru many feelings. The idea of taking away parental input on their own child and not seeking a physciatrist is baffling to me..  This problem is why we have such professions.  I don't want my grandchildren exposed to such non-sense.  This is once again lowering standards and taking away rights of a parent and child.  If there are physical problems with a child, this is understandable, but a mindset of chaos and forcing others to agree is totally against our Constitutional right.  People are more accepting of issues when less attention is brought to the issues and you will NEVER change all minds as to acceptance of everyone.  Toleration is one thing, but absolute force thru policy is another.  I am disgusted with the Education process as a whole, these personal issues carry more weight than our children being taught to sign their name...in cursive writing.  Why not get back to education's real purpose, READING, WRITING and MATH( which is more simple to learn!). Go back to the classroom with real issues, the children learning from a competent teacher rather than a SCREEN!


Protect our LGBTQ students!

When I was in high school in Virginia in the early 2000’s, there was nothing in terms of LGBTQ protections. Some brave students attempted to form a gay-straight alliance and were turned down. In a school of over two-thousand students, there was only one out gay student that I knew of. The constant bullying of anyone who didn’t fit typical gender norms was detrimental to my development and mental health, and I’m sure I am one of thousands who could say the same across the Commonwealth.  Do not make mistakes that will harm further generations of LGBTQ youth by shying away from these protections. Provide equal protection in our schools!


Transgender Policies

These policies would pit children against their parents when it comes to important questions about sex and gender identity.


Definitions in the guidance are already outdated, inaccurate, incomplete and unsatisfactory.

I invite contact for any clarification, further discussion, or other inputs.  Thank you. First: Contrary to some opinions evidence supports that the effort to examine and model treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools is a worthwhile endeavor. Second: The draft’s design fails scientifically, ethically, and operationally by failing to address the reality that effective guidance to protect and support a vulnerable group in the school system must also address how the other groups (of all other students and their parents/guardians, of teachers and other employees, etc.) will be protected and supported and how the particular different individuals will be protected.   These failures threaten the rationality, morality, and stability of the draft guidance. Third: Among other places these failures are found immediately in the glossary and definitions of the draft terminology. For example: the definition of ‘gender’ necessarily requires distinction – definitionally – against a genetic description of ‘sex’, for example as the World Health Organization does: https://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/#:~:text=(1)%20'Gender'%20describes,%2C%20health%20policy%2C%20and%20legislation .  A definition of ‘sex’ must also be included  since the term is used in many of the other definitions but is not here defined.  We find no where in the document discussion of the important scientific, biological terms regarding gender. Not including this important scientific information suggests that the model guidance is an ideological document intended to appease or indoctrinate rather than to support all members of schools’ communities. For example: there are no definitions of ‘detransitioning’ or ‘retransitioning’ which are being used by the most advanced SGM health agencies in the United States, including The National LGBT Health Education Center of the Fenway Institute a private world class agency in Boston and the San Francisco Health Network of the San Francisco Department of Public Health a world class public health agency: https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Transgender_Health_Care_Detransitioning_and_Retransitioning.pdf Therefore, the model’s definition of ‘transgender’ is scientifically, ethically and operationally inaccurate and unsound and threatens the dignity, safety, and well being of each and every student and their parents/guardians. Not including this important clinical and health related information suggests that the model guidance is an ideological document intended to appease or to indoctrinate rather than to support all members of schools’ communities.   In fact at various points in the document indoctrination appears to step forward that bespoils the model guidance. Fourth: The document avoids, or poorly discusses, manifold ethical issues and concerns that are of paramount importance. For example: Of paramount importance in every ‘breath’ of the model guidance – on paper and in implementation – must be ethically sound judgement.  Ethically sound judgement requires consideration of all levels of experience of the guidance: how administrators, how teachers, how other workers, how students, and students in their manifold diversity, how parents/guardians, and others will experience the guidance.  There is no evidence in the document of these considerations. Another paramount issue for ethical inquiry is how the model guidance protects  - or does not protect - each and every student from coercion(s).  Coercion(s) to believe things about themselves or others that are harmful to themselves or others, and coercion(s) to behave in ways that are harmful to themselves or others.  Discriminatory practices are a form of coercion.  Bullying and other violence or threatened violence are a form of coercion.  There are many other forms of coercion, including repression of inquiry, oppression of speech, failure to protect divergent points of view, and failure to ascertain and to protect valid informed consent and processes for achieving valid informed consent.  Issues of coercion and consent at vexed and complicated at all times in health care systems, and should be, for the protection of human dignity and human rights.   Recently in the United Kingdom issues of legal and ethical consent processing resulted in a high court  ruling, discussed briefly in the British Medical Journal - https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4699.full : Children under 16 cannot consent to the use of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria unless they can understand the immediate and long term consequences of the treatment, which is unlikely, the High Court in London has ruled. 1 Victoria Sharp, president of the Queen’s Bench Division, sitting with Lord Justice Lewis and Mrs Justice Lieven, said it was “highly unlikely” that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers. She said that the judges were “very doubtful” that a child aged 14 or 15 could understand and weigh the long term risks and consequences of the administration of puberty blockers. In the light of paramount ethical principles regarding ensuring non-coercion and ensuring valid consent the document’s many occasions of de-valuing, de-limiting, and at times dis-crediting/dis-enfranchising parents/guardians is ethically unsound, and may be legally unsound, not to mention objective harmful to some students.  In one prominent instance the guidance explicitly advises that schools may – or should -  lie to parents/guardians.  Establishing lying as a moral guide in the school system is unethical and presents the school system as a threat to community morality.  In another prominent instance the guidance invites the school system to act ‘in loco parentis’ regarding the student’s health and well being without consulting with the parents/guardians, and without social systems in place and ready to meet every need of the youth instead of the parents/guardians.  This is morally and ethically ir-responsible.  Furthermore even when the school system is acting ‘in loco parentis’ it is still ethically obliged to do nothing with the valid continuing consent of the youth. The guidance, as stated, show no interest in these paramount ethical concerns for consent. For example: there are no definitions of the protected human rights of all students, including the manifold particular individuals who are transitioning, who are detransitioning, who are retransitioning, who are nonconforming to sex assigned at birth, who are nonconforming to social norms of transitioning, who are nonconforming to social norms of SGM or other advocacy groups, who are nonconforming to social norms of a particular faith or moral community,  who are conforming to the social norms of a particular faith or moral community, who are nonconforming to social norms of a particular school system or school community (including by conforming to the social norms of their family, faith or moral community). In fact the definitions and various items in the model appear to reify inhumane and harmful social constructs at the same time as resisting as inhumane and harmful a culturally inherited ‘binary system’.  In this way the model already appears profoundly outdated, as well as un-scientific, un-ethical, un-healthy and un-workable (as it is)  - if the document intends to protect human dignity and rights.   Despite the language in the document – “The key guiding principle of the model policies is that all children have a right to learn, free from discrimination and harassment” – there is no full discussion or operationalization of how the human dignity of each and every student who is cisgender affirming, non-transitioning, transitioning, detransitioning, retransitioning, nonconforming to social norms of transitioning, nonconforming to social norms of SGM or other advocacy groups, nonconforming to social norms of a faith or moral community, nonconforming to social norms of a particular school system or school community, conforming to the social norms of the family, faith or moral community, and other students will be protected – and moreover – be protected equally. This raises serious Constitutional concerns as well as concerns for justice as well as calling into question the meaning of the document’s assertion of its purpose, that no student, anywhere, at any time will feel un-free to learn. Fifth: The guidance is especially muddy in matters that we know to be of primary importance to health and safety. For example: We know that biological systems – including at a genetic level – respond differently to environmental conditions.  The field of research  - epigenetics – is providing further clarification of the complexity of the biological/social/psychological human being including regarding gender.  See for example: https://www.newsweek.com/transgender-people-gender-dysphoria-gene-variants-study-1486270 This inherent complexity - at the biological and genetic level - requires the utmost vigilance when school systems become involved in the supervision of medications. How does the guidance ensure proper medical proper administration and use of any and all medications and treatments  for transitioning, destransitioning, retransitioning and other students take while at school, in school functions, while under the supervision of the school system?  How does the guidance ensure that no student provides their medications to other students? How does the guidance ensure that no student advocates that other students start of use their medication plan, their treatment plan, their transitioning/detransitioning/retransitioning plan? What is the school system’s responsibility to ensure valid continuing consent? What is the school system’s liability? The guidance – which as stated above – may appear intended to appease or to indoctrinate rather than to support all members of schools’ communities – may also appear to do that at the risk of individuals’ health, safety and well being. As stated above definitions in the guidance are already outdated, inaccurate, incomplete and unsatisfactory to protect the human dignity, human rights, non-coerced valid consent of each and every youth in the school system. And parts of the guidance appear infected by outdated, inaccurate, incomplete and unsatisfactory thinking in other harmful, not helpful, ways. I do have other input but will stop here for now. Respectfully, Edward Strickler MA MA MPH CHES I will provide a more complete commentary for other format.


No, No, No, NO!!!

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


Chromosomes don't lie

You are born with either a Y-chromosome or an X-chromosome This is the only thing that determines what pronoun you are. Preferences do not change science.


Sexual Preferences are personal and optional.  Biology is not.

I have no problems with any individual's sexual behavior or preference, within the law.  Clothing, mannerisms and other such displays are all fine with me. However, as a free thinking rational person, I should not be forced to pretend that a boy is a girl.  One's actual gender is determined before birth, at the moment of conception.  And it remains this way until our very last breath on earth.  Some children near puberty switch back and forth with great sexual confusion.  However, no amount of surgery or behavior modification can ever change our gender because it is locked into every cell of our body, with a pair of exactly the same DNA chromosomes that we were born with. So let people express themselves however they wish, but do not force my daughter to share restrooms/showers with your son.  There must be a recognition that there are immutable biological differences that drive some policies, and privacy, and medical care, which cannot be trumped by a teenager's sexual preference.


Strongly Opposed

I strongly oppose on countless levels. What psychological science is being used to base these changes? The psychology behind gender is still being explored and a cursory search can find many different conclusions not only in the science, but in behavioral approach. Focus on teaching English, Math, Science and the other topics, and stop forcing this conversation on children as young as 4-5 years old. This is clearly an ideological move and does not actually care for the young who experience gender dysphoria. Use your time and our tax dollars to explore other teaching methods like those of Charlotte Mason who respect the individual as a mystery in their approach to education, not reduce their identity to merely their sexual and gender preferences.


Forcing teachers to accept and teach empirical falsefhoods

I do not approve of proposed guidelines that eradicate all distinctions between male and female in our schools. These proposals force all students, faculty and administrators to comply with an empirically false view of sex and gender, even if it directly conflicts with their own fundamental beliefs. Parents are stripped of their rights and our fundamental right as individuals to not have the state dictate what we believe is at risk. Stop these policies in their tracks!


Transgender Policies

Strongly Oppose


Transgender Policies: Strongly Opposed

Strongly Oppose


biology is not optional

Sensitivity to this subject should not be ignored but SHOULD NOT be the norm and should not cause conformity and confusion for the majority. Biology is male and female. This matter has nothing to do with pushing religious practices; it has everything to do with sound science and order. Instituting these radical measures will only further confuse and divide our precious children's developing minds and social-self. When issues do arise within this area...they should be handled as special cases and on a case by case basis...NOT mandated legalities.


Transgender breakup of the family

This latest attempt by so called liberals is an affront to the American family and the laws of nature. I, as a grandfather, I do not want my grandson to be exposed to such idiotic ideas. The parents need to be the final arbiter in the discipline of our children. This entire proposal will be a crack in the door to total takeover by the state of our family. It will lead to all sorts of suits and instability of our society. It accomplishes nothing other than that. It contributes to pushing socialist philosophy which is anathema to Americans.


Protect LGBTQ Students

All students - regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, socioeconomic status, etc. - should feel safe and supported at school, free from discrimination and harassment. I fully support the initiative to protect our transgender students.


Re: Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Scho

I have reviewed the proposal. I am competent to do so for several reasons: • I have graduate degrees in religious ethics (MA, UVA,1983), clinical ethics (MA, UVA,1994) and Public Health (MPH, UVA,2007 ) • I am professionally credentialed in health education (CHES, #16864) • I have more than four decades’ advocacy leadership, and organizational leadership, in issues of sexual and gender minority (SGM) health, including • served on advisory committee with Virginia Department of Health in issues of HIV/AIDS, SGM communities, 1994-2014, including participation in planning and research phases, assessment and implementation of findings of primary community based research with SGM communities • participated in planning and research phases, assessment and implementation of findings, for groundbreaking transgender health research in Virginia (2005 – 2011) • leadership roles with establishing education and advocacy committees, task forces and projects for SGM communities regarding human rights protections, anti-violence services, access to cultural competent services (with law enforcement agencies, with health care providers, with faith communities, with social services agencies, with schools, etc) • leadership roles with establishing SGM youth programs in the Charlottesville/surrounding counties area • leadership roles regarding SGM concerns with the University of Virginia • leadership roles with the Ethics Section of the American Public Health Association • attended and presented at many local regional, national and international meetings, conferences and sessions on issues of SGM values, issues, and concerns, and particularly in non-discrimination and violence prevention, human equitable access to services, and human rights protections And have had the privilege of receiving awards for this leadership • Serpentine Society (University of Virginia alumni organization), Outstanding Service Award, 2012 • Equality Virginia, Outstanding Virginian, 2012 (cited for work in health and human rights with LGBT and other Virginians) • University of Virginia Equal Opportunity Programs Champion, 2009 (cited for work with increasing attention to organizational diversity) My comments will be brief. I invite contact for any clarification, further discussion, or other inputs. Thank you. First: Contrary to some opinions evidence supports that the effort to examine and model treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools is a worthwhile endeavor. Second: The draft’s design fails scientifically, ethically, and operationally by failing to address the reality that effective guidance to protect and support a vulnerable group in the school system must also address how the other groups (of all other students and their parents/guardians, of teachers and other employees, etc.) will be protected and supported. These failures threaten the rationality, morality, and stability of the draft guidance. Third: Among other places these failures are found immediately in the glossary and definitions of the draft terminology. For example: the definition of ‘gender’ necessarily requires distinction – definitionally – against a genetic description of ‘sex’, for example as the World Health Organization does: https://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/#:~:text=(1)%20'Gender'%20describes,%2C%20health%20policy%2C%20and%20legislation. A definition of ‘sex’ must also be included since the term is used in many of the other definitions but is not here defined. We find no where in the document discussion of the important scientific, biological terms regarding gender. Not including this important scientific information suggests that the model guidance is an ideological document intended to appease or indoctrinate rather than to support all members of schools’ communities. For example: there are no definitions of ‘detransitioning’ or ‘retransitioning’ which are being used by the most advanced SGM health agencies in the United States, including The National LGBT Health Education Center of the Fenway Institute a private world class agency in Boston and the San Francisco Health Network of the San Francisco Department of Public Health a world class public health agency: https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Transgender_Health_Care_Detransitioning_and_Retransitioning.pdf Therefore, the model’s definition of ‘transgender’ is scientifically, ethically and operationally inaccurate and unsound and threatens the dignity, safety, and well being of each and every student and their parents/guardians. Not including this important clinical and health related information suggests that the model guidance is an ideological document intended to appease or to indoctrinate rather than to support all members of schools’ communities. In fact at various points in the document indoctrination appears to step forward that bespoils the model guidance. Fourth: The document avoids, or poorly discusses, manifold ethical issues and concerns that are of paramount importance. For example: Of paramount importance in every ‘breath’ of the model guidance – on paper and in implementation – must be ethically sound judgement. Ethically sound judgement requires consideration of all levels of experience of the guidance: how administrators, how teachers, how other workers, how students, and students in their manifold diversity, how parents/guardians, and others will experience the guidance. There is no evidence in the document of these considerations. Another paramount issue for ethical inquiry is how the model guidance protects - or does not protect - each and every student from coercion(s). Coercion(s) to believe things about themselves or others that are harmful to themselves or others, and coercion(s) to behave in ways that are harmful to themselves or others. Discriminatory practices are a form of coercion. Bullying and other violence or threatened violence are a form of coercion. There are many other forms of coercion, including repression of inquiry, oppression of speech, failure to protect divergent points of view, and failure to ascertain and to protect valid informed consent and processes for achieving valid informed consent. Issues of coercion and consent at vexed and complicated at all times in health care systems, and should be, for the protection of human dignity and human rights. Recently in the United Kingdom issues of legal and ethical consent processing resulted in a high court ruling, discussed briefly in the British Medical Journal - https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4699.full : Children under 16 cannot consent to the use of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria unless they can understand the immediate and long term consequences of the treatment, which is unlikely, the High Court in London has ruled.1 Victoria Sharp, president of the Queen’s Bench Division, sitting with Lord Justice Lewis and Mrs Justice Lieven, said it was “highly unlikely” that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers. She said that the judges were “very doubtful” that a child aged 14 or 15 could understand and weigh the long term risks and consequences of the administration of puberty blockers. In the light of paramount ethical principles regarding ensuring non-coercion and ensuring valid consent the document’s many occasions of de-valuing, de-limiting, and at times dis-crediting/dis-enfranchising parents/guardians is ethically unsound, and may be legally unsound, not to mention objective harmful to some students. In one prominent instance the guidance explicitly advises that schools may – or should - lie to parents/guardians. Establishing lying as a moral guide in the school system is unethical and presents the school system as a threat to community morality. In another prominent instance the guidance invites the school system to act ‘in loco parentis’ regarding the student’s health and well being without consulting with the parents/guardians, and without social systems in place and ready to meet every need of the youth instead of the parents/guardians. This is morally and ethically ir-responsible. Furthermore even when the school system is acting ‘in loco parentis’ it is still ethically obliged to do nothing with the valid continuing consent of the youth. The guidance, as stated, show no interest in these paramount ethical concerns for consent. For example: there are no definitions of the protected human rights of all students, including the manifold particular individuals who are transitioning, who are detransitioning, who are retransitioning, who are nonconforming to sex assigned at birth, who are nonconforming to social norms of transitioning, who are nonconforming to social norms of SGM or other advocacy groups, who are nonconforming to social norms of a particular faith or moral community, who are conforming to the social norms of a particular faith or moral community, who are nonconforming to social norms of a particular school system or school community (including by conforming to the social norms of their family, faith or moral community). In fact the definitions and various items in the model appear to reify inhumane and harmful social constructs at the same time as resisting as inhumane and harmful a culturally inherited ‘binary system’. In this way the model already appears profoundly outdated, as well as un-scientific, un-ethical, un-healthy and un-workable (as it is) - if the document intends to protect human dignity and rights. Despite the language in the document – “The key guiding principle of the model policies is that all children have a right to learn, free from discrimination and harassment” – there is no full discussion or operationalization of how the human dignity of each and every student who is cisgender affirming, non-transitioning, transitioning, detransitioning, retransitioning, nonconforming to social norms of transitioning, nonconforming to social norms of SGM or other advocacy groups, nonconforming to social norms of a faith or moral community, nonconforming to social norms of a particular school system or school community, conforming to the social norms of the family, faith or moral community, and other students will be protected – and moreover – be protected equally. This raises serious Constitutional concerns as well as concerns for justice as well as calling into question the meaning of the document’s assertion of its purpose, that no student, anywhere, at any time will feel un-free to learn. Fifth: The guidance is especially muddy in matters that we know to be of primary importance to health and safety. For example: We know that biological systems – including at a genetic level – respond differently to environmental conditions. The field of research - epigenetics – is providing further clarification of the complexity of the biological/social/psychological human being including regarding gender. See for example: https://www.newsweek.com/transgender-people-gender-dysphoria-gene-variants-study-1486270 This inherent complexity - at the biological and genetic level - requires the utmost vigilance when school systems become involved in the supervision of medications. How does the guidance ensure proper medical proper administration and use of any and all medications and treatments for transitioning, destransitioning, retransitioning and other students take while at school, in school functions, while under the supervision of the school system? How does the guidance ensure that no student provides their medications to other students? How does the guidance ensure that no student advocates that other students start of use their medication plan, their treatment plan, their transitioning/detransitioning/retransitioning plan? What is the school system’s responsibility to ensure valid continuing consent? What is the school system’s liability? The guidance – which as stated above – may appear intended to appease or to indoctrinate rather than to support all members of schools’ communities – may also appear to do that at the risk of individuals’ health, safety and well being. As stated above definitions in the guidance are already outdated, inaccurate, incomplete and unsatisfactory to protect the human dignity, human rights, non-coerced valid consent of each and every youth in the school system. And parts of the guidance appear infected by outdated, inaccurate, incomplete and unsatisfactory thinking in other harmful, not helpful, ways. I do have other input but will stop here for now. Respectfully, Edward Strickler MA MA MPH CHES 104 Russell’s Way, Farmville VA edwardnvirginia@hotmail.com


Bridget Lamb, Chesterfield County Public Schools

Strongly Support This Proposal

Hello, Thank you for this proposal. As a school counselor, I have witnessed the difference in outcomes for transgender students when they are supported and affirmed at school compared to when they are not. Equitable access to education is a right for all students, and these proposed changes will help ensure that students feel supported at school and thus motivated to attend and engage in learning. I particularly appreciate the proposal for school boards to develop a way for students' true gender (not necessarily the one assigned at birth) and chosen name to be displayed prominently in their records. When educators look up a student in the system, chosen name and true gender must be featured so as to avoid unintentionally misgendering and alienating the student. Educators who are resistant to calling students by their chosen name should be encouraged to view it similarly to students who use nicknames instead of their legal name: if nicknames are acceptable, then so are transgender students' chosen names. Refusal to comply with the student's request to be called by a name other than their legal name should be viewed as a malicious attempt to prohibit the student from obtaining an equitable education. I also appreciated the ideas around how to compromise with parents who do not want their student's gender identity to be affirmed. The example given in which educators compromise with parents by using the student's legal name and pronouns in communication with parents and using the student's chosen name and pronouns in the classroom and school milieu may be one way to support students while also working respectfully with parents who are not initially accepting of their student's identity. All in all, a lot needs to change on a policy level in order for Virginia schools to be equitable for all students. This proposal is one step in the right direction towards making that happen.


Memo Date 12/18 from Dr. Lane

I am a little confused by the memo sent out.  If school divisions have a policy on bullying and harassment why do we need a separate policy on "The treatment of Transgender Students"  The policies of bullying and harassment cover every student within a school setting. .  Also, VDOE is isolating non-transgender students with this new policy.. Non -transgender/LGBTQ  could be bullied  and harassed by transgender or any LGBTQ group. Where is the policy to protect this group.  Please explain what a sex-based dress code is(this term is not used in any school handbook to my knowledge). What is the difference between a school activity and a sport ? What stops transgender students from participating in VHSL sports.  By the VDOE's definition once a student declares to be a certain gender they have all the rights and privileges of that gender. If a boy claims to be a girl and dresses as a girl during the day and this girl wants to try out for basketball do they try out as a girl or as a boy or can they play for either team. VDOE is opening a door that they will have to defend on many points.  VDOE is setting up school divisions for potential lawsuits.   VDOE is designed by nature to first educate children.  Why does VDOE spend time on things that are universally covered under two words: bullying and harassment.


Transgender policy: do not pass this!!

This is a horrible policy! Do not let this pass! This will add to the demise of our children! They deserve better than this!


All have the right to learn free from discrimination and harassment

Can't summarize my support more clearly than repeating "...all children have a right to learn, free from discrimination and harassment". Thank you!


Strongly Support

Everyone should feel safe in school. Discrimination is wrong. We need to provide nurturing environments where all can grow and be true to who they are.


not science

This neglects basic biology.  "Gender" is a term used in language studies to make adjectives, verbs, adverbs, nouns and pronouns agree.  It is NOT a term to describe the sex of an individual, which is determined by the DNA in the nucleus of every cell in the human body.  No amount of chemical or surgical mutilation of the body can alter that.  It is superfluous to assume that anyone can choose their sex, male or female.  It is also damaging to lie to a human of any age that they can "choose" their sex. In addition, the two-pronged goal of Marxism is 1. Destroy the family unit. 2. Abolish private property.  This document falls under #1. Therefore, it should be dismissed and rejected. A person who is really confused(not faking it) by some feelings about their sex should be offered truthful, compassionate counseling about their situation.  "Fakers", so they can compete in athletic games against members of the opposite sex, should be told to compete against members of their own sex, period. Furthermore, this document displays an astounding lack of knowledge and understanding of human nature, of the sciences of biology, genetics, sociology, and psychology.  There is nothing good in any of these recommendations.  That it is even being considered is embarrassing to everyone with the slightest bit of humanity, intelligence, and rational thought. Reject it, reject it, reject it.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

The need to protect our youth regardless of race, sex, or gender is our ultimate priority when considering the educational spaces they are meant to occupy. It is crucial that we encourage the protection of students in policies in order to protect them from peers who may not yet understand them AS WELL AS adults and faculty who need formal requirements in order to hold them accountable. Bullying, harassment, and discrimination regarding one's identity are inexcusable and to deny these youth of protection of their personal privacy regarding confidentiality of information, school records, and dress code are all facets of empowering and encouraging youth to stay within the educational system. The lack of these BASIC rights is what leads to long-term, irreparable inequity in adulthood and should be avoided at all costs through the utmost protection of youth via protective and inclusive policy. ALSO, TO THOSE IN OPPOSITION: It is evident you did NOT read nor comprehend that these policies were REQUESTED via HOUSE and SENATE BILLS by the VA GA and that the guidelines address EVIDENCE-based practices and information. Your personal concerns regarding the "influence" of your own children are thus issues regarding the level of education in your own household. Perhaps consider taking a Gender Studies course at any University in which policies regarding Transgender/Non-Binary students are certainly more forthright than the BASIC rights proposed here for the youth.


Support

I am a parent of three Albemarle County public school students and strongly support the adoption of this guidance for the treatment of transgender students. All youth need a safe and supportive educational space and I believe this document is a meaningful step towards that goal for Virginia.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

Trans children deserve support and if we can find a way to prevent just one of them from experiencing abuse that can lead to suicide then such action needs to be studied and taken. Let's not forget that in the face of progress there has always been dissenters that will deny their dissent years later. White people did not want Black people in their schools, but the children of those white people would never admit their parents held those beliefs. Cisgender, heterosexual people did not want queer people to be happy but now queer people enjoy overwhelming support in national polls. The same will be said of trans students. People will wrongly oppose to their happiness and limiting the unequal and unnecessary treatment they face, but in 10 years will deny they were ever of that mindset. Please set an example, today, that you stand with marginalized people and not their oppressors.


Support

I believe we can provide support for all. These policies and procedures will provide a safe and inclusive educational experience for all students, especially our LGBT youth.


Strongly support!

There is no reason not to support our states children. I strongly support providing support to all LGBT+ children in our state!


Strongly support!

All students are entitled to a free and appropriate education. PWC and all districts have a responsibility to ensure students feel comfortable and safe, and these policies are a good starting point to that end. Transgender students are one of the most vulnerable populations, and it is absolutely essential to ensure they feel accepted and understood and to instill that acceptance and understanding beginning at a young age.


Strongly Support

As a parent with children in Fairfax County public schools and as a Registered Nurse, I strongly support this guidance.  It is critical that all our students be given the support they need to succeed in school and that evidence based guidelines be put in place to guide educators to help make this possible.  We know that transgender and non-binary students who receive support at school and at home can be healthy and thrive and those who face discrimination struggle with their education and their physical and mental health.  No one should need to worry about being called the wrong name or pronouns or not being able to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identitiy at school.  Additionally, educators need guidelines to help them do their best for their students.  All Virginians deserve the opportunity to thrive.


Comments show the need for this policy!

Many of the comments in opposition to this proposed guidance are ostensibly from parents and community members who express hateful, transphobic opinions. Their trans or gender-nonconforming children may be unable to be open about who they are at home. This only makes it more clear that students need school to be a refuge where they can express themselves safely and receive support.


strongly support!

strongly support!


Strongly Support

We need to support LGBTQ+ students in the school systems. And those who are intolerant need to learn why their views are wrong and how they hurt people.  Strongly support!


Absolutely support

There is no reason not to want to make our students, and everyone, feel safe, supported and loved regardless of their differences.  I cannot imagine why anyone would be opposed.  We need to embrace differences in the world, isn't that why the US is in such turmoil today - maybe not because of LGBTQ, however, because we are not trying to accept that it is ok to believe something other than what our personal beliefs or values are.  It saddens me that people can't care more for each other than to even have to ask permission or have to ask what others think to do the right thing.


Strongly support

Strongly support


Pass This!

I 100% support this!!!!


Scientist in support of this policy

As a professional biologist who also has training in human gender and sexuality studies, I strongly support this evidence-based policy. We are in a period of rapidly learning more about the incredible diversity of human beings, at all levels of both biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. This policy applies that new knowledge to making schools safer for our children. Opposition to this policy which claims to be based in biology or "common sense" ignores decades of work in biology, psychology, and the social sciences. I strongly encourage the VDOE to listen to the research, and to the many transgender people who would have benefited from similar policies. We have an obligation to make things better for the next generation.


Strongly Support

Stop playing around.


Strongly Oppose

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools At a time when all efforts should be focused on returning students to in-person instruction, amidst a student population struggling academically, it is illogical and maddening to see the Virginia Department of Education continue to prioritize social engineering indoctrination over providing quality academic instruction. As a resident of Loudoun County, from the diverse classroom libraries debacle to the scandal of promotion of Critical Race Theory to this most recent transgender fiasco, this school system seems hell-bent on implementing progressive policies, which undermine parental rights and the family, and promise to produce an ill-equipped generation, characterized by division, confusion and frustration. Additionally, requiring untruthful pronoun usage by teachers is a compelled speech violation, and demanding that students participate in such a lie violates their right to free speech as well. President Reagan warned of those forces that would weaken or destroy the family, whether from external totalitarian societies that see in the family a natural enemy, or domestic forces within America that erode the stability of the family.  This is what we are witnessing. This policy would be in keeping with and a furtherance of LCPS’s societal assault, as it fails to realize that “progress” does not always progress toward the good (sadly, quite often the contrary), particularly when it latches on to the latest cultural whim or dictate. Continuation down this path of social engineering at the expense of core mission will lead to end of the public school system as we know it, as more families will be forced to opt for homeschooling, private or charter schools, recognizing that through laws and coercion the education of America's youth is being taken out of parent's hands and placed in the hands of secular educators. Virginia should lead the way in abandoning these "fool's errands" and return to building a school system whose academics are the highest priority. These efforts go far beyond existing rules already in place to ensure all students are educated in an atmosphere of tolerance to mandated advocacy, where majority students are required to keep up with the ever-changing expectations of the cultural progressives, and memorize what is appropriate or inappropriate—depending on the latest determinations of groups that perceive themselves as beleaguered. Please return to the basics... Respectfully, Kent Husted


Strongly Support

I strongly support this guidance document. We need better education and policies to support transgender students and their families. Transgender students deserve equal, respectful, and non-discriminatory treatment. If our schools are to be a place for children to learn and grow, they must be a safe environment for ALL children, and this guidance document will help promote such an environment.


Strongly Support

Transgender youth are deserving of the same support and respect that cis youth receive. PWC schools have an opportunity to exist as a supportive atmosphere for these students.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

All youth MUST be protected. The absolute ignorance and hatred evident in many other comments is proof we need this more than ever. I strongly support these policies.


FULL SUPPORT

Do not let hate win. Let the kids be who they are.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

Students need a space to feel safe to be themselves in school. These are BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.


Strongly Support

I support this.


LGBTQ+

STRONGLY SUPPORT


Concerns of a Potential Teacher

As a Catholic, college student, and potential future educator, I cannot condone the policies that the Virginia Department of Education desires to put in place regarding transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals. It appears that the Department believes that these policies are in the best interest of our children. However, I must respectfully disagree. As an educator under the proposed policies, I would fear for the safety and well-being of my students, and for my own safety and well-being. I do not want to enforce policies that go against my belief that God created us "very good", male and female (Genesis 1:26-31). To teach anything other than that would keep children from embracing who they are and growing into who they are meant to be. Allowing the proposed changes would only confuse them during a time when they should be reaching further clarity of self. We must not take away a child's right to express their beliefs and grow into responsible citizens. We must also not take away the right that parents and teachers have to pass on their beliefs to their children. While the Department is trying to limit abuses through the proposed policies, I believe that they would allow for more safety violations. I am afraid that my students and I would be victims of harassment and discomfort if forced to use co-ed facilities. Please avoid enacting the proposed policies in order to preserve the physical and mental well-being of our community and our nation. I say this all out of love of our children, and with respect for our policymakers.


Full Support

This is the future of educating our children - please protect our trans youth. It does not hurt anyone to include ways to educate and protect people’s identities. Thank you, and please see the comments from those who offer their continued support for the advancement of inclusion and ethical pedagogy.


Education for ALL

I vow to be a teacher that teaches all. It’s 2021. Why are we still discriminating others?


I fully support

Basic human rights and protections are not a debate


Fully Support

This should not even be up for debate, change is needed.


Strongly Oppose

As a former VA school teacher, I strongly believe in protecting children and advocating for their safety and well-being.  Bullying is never acceptable anywhere, in any form.  However, as a VA resident and mother of school-aged children, I am very concerned about the guidelines proposed in this document.  "There are no regulations requiring school staff to notify a parent or guardian of a student’s request to affirm their gender identity...” It is completely unacceptable that the school/government would propose to allow the exclusion of parents from something so important as the sexual development/gender identity of their child.  While I believe it is important to create safe spaces for children who struggle with gender dysphoria, the parents must be informed/included in the process.  There are many other parts of this policy that are highly concerning and it must be rejected.


Fully Support

This is a good and right thing for our schools to do.  Thank you for protecting our students.


About time! Strongly support

Inclusion and safety for all


FULLY SUPPORT

All youth must be protected and feel safe in schools regardless of how they identify!


Strongly Support!

I strongly support this!


STRONGLY OPPOSE

I STRONGLY OPPOSE the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools The proposed policies exclude parents from their proper role in the lives of their minor children, deliberately disrupting the nuclear family dynamic; and take virtually no notice of the increasing amount of evidence that gender dysphoria is a disorder that can be treated, not a choice. Further, this policy imposes behavior on teachers with which they must comply or face dismissal. It imposes behavior on children they are not equipped to understand and which may very well be strenuously opposed by their families and religious communities. It's hardly necessary to go to this extreme to teach children to treat their peers with kindness, particularly those suffering from disorders or disabilities.


Fully endorse

There is a ton of great content in here. Thank you for putting this together. Some sentences struck me as particularly great: "Regardless of the circumstances, the school should support the student’s need for privacy and not disclose a student’s gender identity to other students or parents." "When a student undergoes a public gender transition, schools should work proactively to set clear boundaries about being gender inclusive and respond to negative reactions from the school community should they arise." "School divisions should accept a student’s assertion of their gender identity without requiring any particular substantiating evidence, including diagnosis, treatment, or legal documents." "A school employee’s intentional and persistent refusal to respect a student’s asserted name and pronoun is considered discriminatory." "The protection of the student’s legal name and gender as sensitive information would prevent a student’s transgender status from being disclosed, such as by a substitute teacher." "Dress codes, including hairstyles, should encompass broad guidelines that are not gender-specific and free of gender stereotypes." "Students should be allowed to use the facility that corresponds to their consistently asserted gender identity." Great job putting this together. The only deficiency I see is that the guidelines seem to avoid extending protections to transgender children who participate in athletic activities. I urge you to rectify that gap. Otherwise, this is stellar. Thank you!


Strongly opposed

I do not agree with this, and strongly oppose and do not want the government or school systems involved with this at all! I do not want your radical view on male and female indoctrinated into our school systems to sway our children and confuse them further.


Strongly Support

Every student, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves a safe and welcoming learning environment. Transgender students, like any student, must be respected and protected by the school. As a recent VA public school student, I am certain that the student body will only benefit from the passage of this policy, which is vital in protecting the most vulnerable student populations.


Strongly oppose

Leave our children alone to learn. This social engineering is harming them.


Strongly oppose transgender policies

The proposed VDOE transgender policies are an egregious attack on the Constitutional rights of sexually normal students and of parents and teachers who oppose the prejudiced agenda of the Virginia Department of Education.  The policies cater to the wishes of a few students, while violating the legitimate concerns of the majority of students, parents and teachers. It is an undeniable fact that sex of a child is determined at the moment of conception when the child either receives XX (female) or XY (male) chromosomes.  Even very young children know the difference between girls and boys.  It is sad that some teens and older children develop sexual confusion, possibly due to molestation, peer pressure, and media influences.  My wife once worked with some teenage girls who said that in their high school it was considered “cool” to identify as “gay.”  In that instance, peer pressure and status in the high school environment outweighed reality and common sense. Parents of minor children, not the VDOE, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and welfare of their children. The proposed policy would violate the rights of parents and prevent them from properly fulfilling their God-given responsibilities.  Moreover, the policies allow minor children to be the undisputed authority in the schools rather than teachers. The wishes of the students become paramount and the teachers relinquish their adult authority to become servants of the students.  Historically, education in the US inculcated moral values along with the three R’s.  The result was a cohesive society which allowed the US to flourish.  Without a moral foundation, societies disintegrate into selfish unsustainable cultures. Minor children are not able to comprehend the future implications of their decisions to “change” their sex.  Many adults who surgically changed their sex later regretted the decision.  Because they could not change their DNA, they are living a lie and become a second-class member of the opposite sex, rather than a first-class member of their God-given sex. We are glad we didn’t have to worry about the opposite sex being in our locker rooms when we took physical education. Going through puberty is difficult enough without creating an additional, unnecessary, source of stress. We urge the Virginia Department of Education to use good judgement and common sense and drop the proposed transgender policies.


Supporting Trans Rights!

I absolutely support this! with everything in me. As a trans person myself, it means a LOT to me to see other kids like me get the support that they need when i didnt have it.


I support!

I fully support the transgender community. The world is changing and so should we. We shouldn't hate or shame these people for being themselves.


Strongly support

As a parent, educator, friend, and human, I support this guidance.  This document helps provide direction for how transgender issues can be addressed in a way that is safe and supportive for all.


support

As a parent, educator, friend, and human, I support the guidance. This document helps provide direction for how transgender issues can be addressed in a way that is safe and supportive for all.


Transgender Policies

Please recognize and respect the role of parents in the policies that affect their children in the school environments.


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

I strongly oppose this type of dangerous legislation which is intended to legislate immoral cultural movements onto the men and women and boys and girls of Virginia.


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose the draft model policies for the treatment of transgender students in the state of Virginia. All children should be respected, and this document does not sufficiently respect or protect the privacy rights of children who do identify as their sis gender.


Strongly support

Strongly support, any and all should have equality, no exceptions.


I am "for" equal treatment and non-discrimination pretty much across the board.  At the same time, I am opposed to chaos in the classroom and in schools that may be caused by students "playing games" with gender identity. I have heard numerous stories from well-meaning teachers being subjected to disciplinary discussions after failing to use the proper names and pronouns when calling on students in the classroom who have decided to switch identities back and forth. I agree that guidelines are needed.  Make sure the final product is in the best interest of both the students AND the teachers who are trying to keep order in a classroom.  Gender confusion for adolescents is a concern in relatively small percentage, but keep in mind it is a concern for the adults we hold accountable to teach our adolescents. Also concerning is that information can be withheld from parents.  Parents must accept responsibility for their childrens' learning and their actions while in school.  To keep them in the dark is problematic.


Strongly Against Transgender Teaching

Addressing transgender identities is ludicrous. No “child” has any TRUE notion if they should change their sex. In the 1970’s, I worked at Hopkins as an RN; patients needed to be 21 years of age & have a minimum of 1 year psychotherapy before any sex change. The program was a failure due to severe psychological trauma to the individual. Now we are at it again with no age designation or psychotherapy. You can ask anyone if they want to be called male or female, but they are a boy or girl at birth. Why would the schools decrease the amount of American history taught in school, but force this insanity to be addressed. Those that say, Good Idea, have No Idea! But the schools will follow demented NANCY PELOSI’s lead & prohibit correct & rational pronouns. Go right ahead, the school board will proclaim to all how insane they are. WOKE?  I think not. INSANE? Yes. I am too disgusted with anything in the government, including the public schools, to respect what they think, believe or ram down our throats. P.S. I am a female.


Support all people

Why would you not support this? Evidence based and in a framework of love and acceptance of others.


Do NOT approve this inhumane, destructive and counterproductive policy!

I am outraged and strongly object to the Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools being considered. It is destructive and divisive. It creates an aura of secrecy and mistrust among our teachers, students, and their families. It violates the rights of parents and undermines the authority of teachers and school officials. It encourages adolescents and even younger children to "make a decision" about something that is already decided by their DNA, thus causing more harm and confusion for students that are already struggling in the uncertainty of our current times. I cannot imagine what could possibly cause our government to consider imposing such harmful policies on our citizens.  PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THESE UNFAIR POLICIES!


transgender proposal

This is so insane that I thought it was a joke.  Thank God for private schools. This would result in uncontrolled voyeurism and direct violation of an expected right to privacy.


I STRONGLY OPPOSE

I strongly OPPOSE this measure. This is harmful to society and DISCRIMINATORY against students whose own world view, identity, and/or religion prohibits them from acknowledging transgenderism.


Oppose

I strongly oppose this as a parent and an educator. My job as a parent is to guide and teach my child. It is not the responsibility of the school. Their job is to education my child in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc.. As an educator, my job is to educate students in the subjects that I teach and to not worry about being charged with discrimination or harassment. I need to be able to educate without having to worry about this. My focus is on the whole child and one that can read and write and perform in order to better society in the future. My middle schooler should be able to go to the locker room or bathroom with the same sex and not have his education thwarted by worrying about who he will find there.


Strongly Oppose VDOE's Transgender Guidelines

As a local pastor, I can without hesitation state that the overwhelming majority of my membership stand strongly AGAINST the VDOE transgender policies.  This is an extremely dangerous policy that will without question bring emotional, and potentially, physical harm to many students in the future.  We need courageous leaders who will stand for the safety of girls especially, but boys as well.  Please do not let this move forward!


Opposed

I am opposed to the Treatment of Transgender policies. This would only open up a Pandora’s Box of issues, and it would be more hurtful than helpful to our students. Please don’t pass these policies!


Strongly Oppose this policy

I strongly oppose this policy.  It is detrimental to parental rights, destructive in its aim to corrupt our children and ignores basic science.  Our schools should be facilities of education and not indoctrination.  When our schools are graduating students that are illiterate, have low math scores and no grasp of history or life skills, there are much higher priorities than gender "choices".  Our current political climate shows our schools are failing our students.  They are graduating college with high debt and no skills.  We have college graduates that cannot make a budget or balance their checkbook. There is little personal responsibility and no real understanding of the debt the students chose to take on. Parental rights should be given top priority.  Our students should not have to be re-educated when they get home to learn family values and gain emotional stability.  Parents should not have to fight the school system to prevent schools from teaching unbiblical and unrealistic new norms.  As this reaches into personal and religious beliefs, it is the parents choice as to whether this should be taught to their children.  Any attempt to bypass the parents decision should be immediately dismissed as a course of action. How would you determine at what age this is acceptable to be taught?  The truth is you can't determine it.  Children drive at 16, vote at 18 (and are considered legal adults) and yet we restrict them from drinking until they reach 21 because they do not have the maturity to make that decision.  If they are not mature enough to have an adult beverage, they are certainly not mature enough to "choose" their gender.    No child under the age of 18 should have this propaganda taught to them.  They lack the maturity to have stable relationships and adolescence is difficult enough with out having this nonsense pushed on them. Finally, there is a lot of discussion about science and science deniers.  We cannot have it both ways.  We cannot say follow the science on climate change at the same time saying ignore the science that there are two genders.  We cannot claim that we are teaching facts that the earth is round and then turn around and say gender is fluid.  Facts and data matter.  The greatest generation had the advantage of going through tough times and realize that there are facts in the world we may not like.  That made them stronger, not weaker.  We are weakening our youth by letting them choose the facts they want to believe.  Science is the study of facts and learning based on data.  We cannot teach our children that facts and data do not matter and expect to excel as a society. Thank you


Fully support!

I fully support any and all efforts to improve transgender student rights, services and support. Please continue to work to make Virginia a safer and welcoming place for transgender youth.


I Strongly Oppose!!

I strongly Oppose! This is not good for our students, staff or community. Please think about the negative outcomes this will bring forth; instead of just pleasing one small group.


Completely Against

This is an outrage! Completely against this policy!


I strongly oppose this public school policy initiative regarding self-declared transgender students

I strongly oppose any and all Virginia Department of Education policy initiatives outlined herein regarding the recognition and special treatment of self identified transgender students. This is one of the most misguided, destructive policy initiatives to ever come from the state legislature. Transgender students need special attention and help, but that help MUST be in the form of mental health services, not pandering to another special interest group that you think you can turn into a voting block. This initiative hits a new low, even for a democrat. You should be jailed for treason to even suggest such an absurdity. The good news here is if you go through with this, you WILL pay the price at the ballot box.


IN FULL SUPPORT

I whole hardly support this initiative because my child deserves to be in a supportive and caring environment that allows them to succeed in school. I fail to understand how my child’s identified gender affects anyone else’s liberties or freedoms.


This policy endangers trans and non-trans students!

I read the VDOE suggested policies regarding trans students and have a number of concerns I'd like to share. First and foremost, literally decades of research have shown that the vast majority of children and teens that identify as trans, actually transition to their biologic gender by adulthood with watchful waiting, and are happy with that decision! I find it concerning that schools would interfere with parental guidance about sexuality, especially if deemed non-affirming. Non-affirming is not automatically, or the equivalent of, abusive. Pushing a trans agenda because a student "feels" that way for a time can lead to irreversible consequences of hormone treatments and/or surgery. We don't have solid evidence-based medicine to endorse these policies; we are likely causing future harm for the majority of trans students that will switch (or wish they could switch) back in future years. Particularly concerning is the utter disregard for the vast majority of non-trans student rights! Without some form of verification of trans status, what will prevent curious/devious/predatory persons from taking advantage of these policies for their own pleasure. I doubt it will take long for a number of teen boys to realize they can enter a girls locker room to watch girls change, and they can't even be questioned. Even if questioned, they could claim they "felt" like a girl that moment, day, etc. This will cause psychological harm to many children. A similar concern involves the discrimination policy. If students can change their preferred gender, name, and pronoun at will, it'll be nearly impossible to keep up for peers and faculty. It won't take long for a clever student to change as needed to claim he or she or ? is being discriminated against by someone they don't like. How would you ever be able to sort this out the way the polices are written. We're asking for more problems than providing solutions. Lastly, while students are wrestling with these important issues, I agree they should not be harassed or abused. However, I don't see how current policies fail to protect them from bullying the same as anyone else.


I support the vdoe guidance

I do support the guidance as I believe all people should be treated with respect, dignity and kindness


draft model policies for the treatment of transgender students

Strongly oppose this guidance...its morally wrong and will lead to unintended consequences   further eroding the fabric of our society and the value of our family structure.