Trans guidance - Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose this policy. School-aged children under the age of 16 should not be able to identify for any school-related reason as anything other than their birth gender and certainly not without their parents consent. There should never be a biological boy in a girls restroom/locker room or vice versa. It is not fair to the privacy concerns of non-confused  males and females. It is also totally unfair for males to compete against females in any sport. It would make a farce of all female athletic competitions. It's not nice to try and fool Mother Nature. School authority should not trump parental authority on this subject. Ever. Thank you


SUPPORT

I support the guidance.


100% support this.

Trans and non binary kids need are support and compassion. They are some of the most at risk for suicide and continuing to ignore their needs will only continue this. We need to protect these kids and it is clear by some of these hateful and vile comments that this is needed now more than ever. So do what is right and pass this bill into law!


Strongly oppose. Distracts from real education. Leave our schools alone.

The proposed education policy is unscientific, contrary to true human biology, and unconstitutional. Leave our children alone. Stop pandering to the political agenda of transgender activists who don't care about real education.


Strongly OPPOSED!!

Strongly opposed to this measure.


Strongly oppose

This program is psychologically damaging to all children involved.  Those participating and the ones who are witnessing it.  They are all too young to see or make decisions that will alter their lives forever.


Very opposed!

I'm disturbed by many points in this document, just one of which is that school staff and students can receive disciplinary action for not speaking to a transgender child in their preferred pronoun!


WE STRONGLY OPPOSE

We agree that all children should be protected from harassment in public schools.  However, this policy will promote harassment against those who hold Judeo-Christian values on which this beautiful country was founded.  We believe the policy is in violation of the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.


NO Strongly Oppose

ABSOLUTELY NOT.


Strongly oppose government over reach

our family supports all human beings and their rights to make their own choices. These policies are not about individual choices but, rather, about government directing and regulating families and the varying value structures of families across the Commonwealth. How dare any school personnel attempt to teach, “advise,” or influence my children without my wife and I being aware of it. This type of over reach is not leadership and is not about the health and well being of transgender students. It appears, however, to be all about political gamesmanship and shameful attempt to consolidate electoral power on false premises. Our family strongly opposes this ridiculous policy, and that opposition is shared by our children.


Strongly Oppose this proposed enforcement

The schools have absolutely no right to discuss these issues with children, especially without the parents present. Pushing these viewpoints on impressionable children is heinous.  It is 100% up to the parents to have these conversations, not up to the schools to do so. Threatening parents with CPS intervention only further solidifies this as a statist agenda set out to  divide parents and children.  Quite obvious it is not about children’s welfare. If your Political affiliation is in support of reuniting families, why are you pushing an agenda to tear others apart?  No thanks.


In support of this document and in support of transgender students!

My niece is a Virginia elementary school student and she is transgender. My brother and his family have already had to move school districts because of the transphobic environment they found in their former community. This was a burden, but not every family is so privileged to have it as an option; for equity's sake, it is SO IMPORTANT that you provide statewide guidance to EVERY SCHOOL in support of evidence-based best practices for inclusion and support of trans and other queer students. To many of the other commenters who seem to be against the idea of supporting trans students, let me say from seeing it play out in my own family: if you think it is a burden on YOU to have trans people in your life... it's far harder to BE that trans person who apparently makes you so uncomfortable. Every student deserves love and acceptance for who they are! (Love all students -- I thought Virginia was for lovers?) I support this Guidance Document because I support all Virginia students!


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose this idea.


Reject the policy guidance document

Every child, including those struggling with sexual confusion, should be protected from harm and harassment. Virginia has a good anti-bullying law. But this new, proposed policy goes way beyond prevention and crosses the line into the mandatory promotion of politicized, sexualized ideology. Scientific studies and medical experts make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach puberty—it’s, at best, irresponsible to push the involuntary promotion of gender confusion in a public education setting—and, at worst, actually damaging to kids who are still developing. This policy is "anti-science", totally ignoring the reality of basic DNA science and biology. Students should be treated with respect, protected from bullying, and taught scientific truth. Instead this policy would force them to to have their privacy, and educational and athletic opportunity destroyed in misguided and destructive ideological brainwashing. Unless this policy is significantly revised, it should be rejected.


Absolutely Against

You better have a good lawyer. When my daughter gets raped in a school bathroom by Tyler who says he’s Taylor that day and can not be stopped from entering the girls bathroom because of YOUR rules, you will be taken to court as an accessory to the crime and we will win. And don’t say it won’t happen, because it can and it will and when it does, you better have a good lawyer because I will take that all the way to the top. Additionally, how I parent my child is my right as a parent and it is not for you to tell me how I can and cannot instruct my child.  You did not go through the effort to bring them into this world and until you figure out how to birth my child for me, you cannot supercede my parental authority in or out of the school.


Strongly oppose

These proposed changes will hurt EVERYONE and will not help anyone at all.  Please do NOT implement these changes.  Thank you for your consideration.


STRONGLY OPPOSE -absurd for the 0001%

STRONGLY OPPOSE -absurd


No to trans

Do not pass this bill. Keep boys and girls separate...follow the science! We vote.  We will remember.


Strongly Support

I support state guidance documents such as this that minimize legal ambiguity at the local level with respect to Title-IX protected students' and families' rights. These policies serve as a baseline of recommendations that affirm the diverse range students' identities and increase access to essential public education services.


I do not support this policy

Everyone should be treated with respect.  However, these policies will be confusing to young children as they’re building their sense of the world, they don’t align with actual biology and science, and they potentially can make our older students very uncomfortable in bathroom and locker room settings.  These policies put girls’ sports in jeopardy and our female athletes at risk.   Make reasonable accommodations for anyone struggling and have compassion, but you can not infringe on the rights of so many.


Strongly AGAINST!

This is ridiculous! Everyone is afraid to speak up for what is right. You are either a boy or a girl. You can’t be both, undecided or change what you were born with. This world is twisted and parents nowadays are afraid of hurting their kids feelings by not letting them do or “be” what they want. I homeschool and would NEVER let my children be exposed to this garbage! Public schools even considering this junk makes my reasoning for homeschool even stronger!


Vehemently against proposed trans guidelines

These proposed transgender guidelines, if passed, would wreak havoc on VA’s children, families, and public schools. Doesn’t this create more of a stigma for trans kids to overcome and make it harder to adjust to the social culture of school? What kind of character would a trans child in that environment develop? I imagine this would only embolden bullies to make the lives of trans kids harder when no one is looking. And how are you helping these kids by pitting them against their parents, the very people who brought them into the world and love them more than life itself (and certainly have their best interests at heart)? Frankly, it seems to me that by suggesting it would be necessary to take such extreme measures against teachers, you’re discriminating against trans kids by suggesting that they’re somehow weak and unable to stand up for themselves if needed, or more proactively to build a respectful relationship with a teacher. And by the way, aren’t teachers the heroes and the backbone of our school system? Mark my words: Should these guidelines pass, students and teachers will leave the VA public school system in droves and you will have an unprecedented crisis of your own making on your hands.


I support

I strongly support the protection of trans children and their rights.


TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! Protect and support our Trans children!!!!!

our children, trans and cis alike, deserve to be treated with respect and they deserve to be protected and supported!


Strongly Support. Absolutely. YES.

Protect Trans Youth


is wrong with all? Trans rights are human rights dumbos

Yall backwards thinking dumbos need to chill out and let trans people do theyre thing


OPPOSE The VA Dept of Education teaching children their sex is a choice

You cannot change your DNA; its determined in the womb, before birth; therefore, I strongly oppose the Va Dept of Education's intent to teach children otherwise.


Horrible proposal

Children have parents for a reason. Parents are there for their children every day to love and to guide them. Is Virginia’s government planning to take over this roll? Childhood is a formative time, a time of learning. The Virginia government is not with a child every day helping, listening, giving advice, nor should it be. You can’t tell me that a five year, ten year, or older child does not need love and guidance, because they do. Do not take away a parent’s right to be a parent.


Strongly support transgenders rights, at school and beyond.

I have a transgender niece who is almost 7. She knew her persona was a girl starting very early, around age 3. However, she was not able to understand and verbalize it until a few years later. During that time she was not the happiest kid and just did not seem comfortable in her own skin. However, once she made the transition from being a boy a being a girl, she seemed to have found herself. She was so happy, cheerful and creative, everything that was already in her was able to come out and it was delightful to see. We all admire and love her so much just the way she is. And we care so proud of her: she was very brave and was able to recognize and pursue who she really is, something not all of us are able to do really. We are, at the same time, very concerned about possible difficulties, biases and prejudices that she might face throughout her life. All kids need our support in this life, but this is even more true for transgender kids. We as a society have the responsibility to try our best to fulfill the dreams of all kids. I support all guidance that recognize and implement transgender students’ rights and those that are written to create a healthy environment  for them at school. There is nothing weird/unnatural about being transgender and it’s about time everybody understands this. New generations should grow up knowing they’ll be accepted whatever gender form they choose to be and kids who do not change genders should know that they can have happy friendships with their transgender friends. Transgender kids are our kids and transgender rights are human rights.


Support Trans Youth! They need us. Help them be themselves. Support happiness. Trans youth need our support in this. Denying and ridiculing how they feel doesn’t help, and divides us. Support them through their discovery. This is how our youth stay alive and connected to us vs. feeling rejected, ousted and alone. Love everyone, stop the hatred.


Stop Transgender Indoctrination in VA Schools

Our family opposes this policy. This is another example of how the family unit is being undermined with the intent of destroying it. Why do we need the government telling us how to raise our children? Why do they think they know better than we do? This policy is being presented under the guise that it is in the best interest of our children and they will be protected from bullying and harassment. This is much deeper, and we all better wake up.


Transgender Students

I once worked with a male to female transgender person. This person had ALL of the surgery, psychiatric counseling and was taking hormones.  I disagree with the concept of someone being able to change their birth gender, however, if this fiction is to continue to be allowed then it seems to me that before someone is legally declared to be a member of the gender opposite their birth gender then they should have had all of the counseling, all of the surgery and be taking the appropriate hormones to at least achieve the appearance of a person of their desired gender.  It seems to me that anyone who has not had all of the surgery, counseling, taking hormones, etc. should NOT be regarded as a person of their desired gender and should NOT use facilities for persons of their birth gender.  If this fiction of being able to change one's gender is to continue then separate facilities for those who object to using the same facilities as transgender persons should be provided. I also think that our state and nation is getting into something very dangerous when our young people are taught that the truth is something which can be manipulated.


Strongly opposed

These radical policies are absolutely unacceptable and will force children (and teachers) to comply with a false view of sex and gender. These troubling policies endanger the children's emotional and physical safety and deceives the parents by cutting them out of the loop.  It is irresponsible for our public schools to promote this ideology and more importantly, it's very damaging to our children that are still developing.  Do NOT adopt any of these policies in our schools.


Strongly oppose these policies! Children need to be taught to accept who they were born to be!

Your foundation for these policies is wrong. Your terminology is different than my understanding of those same words. Children must not be encouraged to "try on" a different anatomy!! "Gender" and "anatomical features at birth" are one and the same! Socially accepted views of female and male "activities" is a completely different thing from "gender". As a parent, i want to encourage my child to learn to do things in life that they enjoy while accepting who they are, not try to change who they are! Don't push the opposite into the schools! How can my child accept who he is of you're out telling everyone that if he doesn't like his p3nis, he should get surgery and get a lab1a?!


SUPPORT & PROTECT TRANS/GNC KIDS!! STRONGLY SUPPORT!

The protection of and rights for trans people are extremely important especially for trans kids. The education system has to step up to educate all children and to make the place they learn safe for all of the children not just cisgender kids. This forum just proves that not enough people have been educated in why policies like this are necessary. Trans/GNC rights are human rights. Our right to feel safe shouldn't be up for debate.


Strongly support protecting the rights of trans kids

Trans kids are kids. They deserve to feel safe and supported at school. Policies like these are literally saving lives.


No

No I don’t think this is good


Strongly Opposed

Schools cannot even give over the counter medication without parental permission, yet with this policy parents have no rights to know what's going on with their own child/children and have a say in that. We are talking about children and adolescents whose prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls reason and logic and common sense, is scientifically proven to not be fully developed until age 25 and we are going to allow them to make these types of profound, life-altering decisions without the people who know and love them the most.


Concerned parent of children not yet of school age!

Absolutely Oppose!

This endangers the safety of our girls! This absolutely can not be allowed into our schools. I will not sit silently by while these laws are put in place. Absolutely Not! Who will be there to protect the children while they are in the trust of the school system when the state and system itself has failed to put basic protection in place by ensuring that children of the same sex are using separate bathrooms? Boys use the boys bathrooms, and girls use the girls bathrooms. Then girls don’t get raped by boys in unsupervised “girls” bathrooms when they were permitted to use the bathroom of their “choice”.


Support

Schools are supposed to be a safe, accepting, and loving environment. I support this guidance.


To all homophobes.

homophobic people trans rights is where it's at!!!!!! But on serious terms would you really not accept your son, daughter etc. because of a religion? why would you have a child in the first place when you know there would be a small chance of that happening? If you've raised a child you should already know that children wont listen to opinions, so please just dont. go shove maggots up your ass and pull them out of your ears homophobes -marshal


I oppose.

I oppose.  This completely removes parents and legal guardians in any part of the conversation.  Why would you seek to do this?


Strongly oppose, this is wrong

This is NOT okay! The government is definitely overreaching here.


STRONGLY OPPOSE!!!

I think this is sickening to even be considered. I am a 20 year old college student and I cannot behind to even think of the many issues this would cause. This is an ungodly act and not what America is built on. I strongly disagree with this and hope many others see through the devilish spirit behind it.


Support Trans Youth

I support trans youth!


Oppose

Childhood is a time of learning and exploring. Children need to have counsel, not only from teachers, but also from parents and religious leaders. This bill oversteps the bounds of education and prohibits community, particularly a child's own parents from being involved in helping a child as they form their own identity and observe classmates forming theirs. I oppose this bill.


STRONGLY OPPOSE TRANS IN SCHOOLS POLICY

We were created male or female by a loving God as backed by science.  Parents have the God-given responsibility of lovingly and wisely educating and guiding their children through life, also a legal right.  This policy defies both science and parental rights and is therefore fundamentally detrimental to the mental and physical well-being of the children it claims to support.


Strongly Support

Transgender children deserve a safe, accommodating school environment!


Support!Support!support!!!!

support it. do it now. this is a very real threat. on a serious note trans rights are human rights! please support this!


Strongly oppose!!

Strongly oppose!!


Dangerous

This is dangerous on so many levels!!!


Very Strongly Oppose

It's strongly against the Bible and we as citizens and taxpayers have rights to believe the Bible and determine what our children will be taught and not accept this modern foolishness.


Propose to change or oppose full policy

Education under a safe and inclusive environment is much needed at school, however, there are boundaries that must be set. 1. How can the school tout as promoting a safe environment when you want to allow children to use any types of restroom facility regardless of their biological gender?  Have we forgotten the #metoo movement?  I stand against putting my children at risk. Unless the schools are willing to build single unisex restrooms then I oppose this. 2. Our ideology and faith should not be intervened by the schools.  We will raise our children and be accepting of them without the schools adding on to the confusion of a young child’s mind. 3. Sports shall remain separate for the biological gender students to avoid unfair disadvantages. Women have worked so hard to pave way for women’s sports let’s not take that away.  If we want to have a unisex team then create one and provide informed consent for those participating. 4. Schools shall allow ALL students to request for accommodations at the expense of the parents. Accommodations requires more of the taxpayers dollars and would only be fair if the parents of the requested child pays for it since not every children gets to benefit from this special policy.


Strongly Oppose

I strongly and without any reservation oppose the model for treatment of transgender student guidelines.  They cater to less than 1 percent of the population while imposing privately-held beliefs of an out-of-touch administration onto unsuspecting innocent children.  Authority to give instruction/encouragement on sexuality should NEVER be put into the hands of the public school system.  Who do you really think you are?  When did educating end and brainwashing begin?  If this passes you will have way overstepped the boundary and I will make it my personal mission to see to it that as many children are yanked out of the public schools as is humanly possible.


Strongly support protecting kids!

I strongly support these model policies and appreciate the thoroughness in which they were written to protect our children in Virginia public schools.


Wholeheartedly, Strongly OPPOSE

I cannot express how opposed I am to this proposition!!  I am greatly disturbed by our ruling bodies in the USA and Virginia at the moment.


Strongly Support

Strongly support


Protect trans youth!!

Protect trans youth!


Support for non-discrimination policy

Transgender youth are disproportionately discriminated against in schools (I would know, I was one of them back in the day). This legislation would do worlds to support and protect them, and is a massive step towards equality for all students, regardless of who they are. Listen to the kids, even if you don't understand them! They are our future!


Support ALL Students

Support ALL students, including trans and nonbinary youth. They are an underrepresented and marginalized group, and are entitled to respect and dignity. I support this well-researched and evidence-based proposal.


Strongly disagree to this!

i can’t help but fear for our children’s lives especially my two girls who at the moment attend Virginia’s public schools. If this falls into motion I will take my children out of public schools. It’s not fair for my girls to have to be worried about what they will face or come across in a GIRLS bathroom. I will not stand for my family being in a place to have something uncalled for happen in our schools. A chance for some to take advantage of this horrible idea and to think my children will be in the same restroom as some. Please take into consideration of our high concern and lives of our children.


trans youth

support trans youth


TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS


Adamantly Oppose

I am adamantly opposed to the model policies. VA Law Section 1-240.1. Rights of Parents is ignored--"A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent's child."  The model policies undermine the role of parents in raising their children by leaving parents out of the loop on every level, including allowing children to "transgender" without parents' knowledge. Diversity (pgs 3-4) is lacking in the group that developed the model policies as evidenced by no representation from parental rights groups, family advocacy groups, faith-based higher education, the faith community and people no longer identifying as transgender. Only one parent representative was included. "Our true identity, as male and female persons, is given by God. It is not only foolish, but hopeless, to try to make ourselves what God did not create us to be" (Nashville Statement, cbmw.org).


Strongly Support!

Setting these standards to promote safe and healthy learning conditions is vital for development. I think the positive consequences outweigh the negative


Strongly Support

This is so important. We need to protect our trans students and affirm their identities in order to promote their mental health and academic performance and to save lives.


Strongly Opposed

May we clearly remind the men and women who have been sworn, paid, and presumed to know the law that Article I. Of the Virginia Bill of Rights in Section 2.  States that People are the source of power. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people, that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them. May we also remind oath takers that Section 3. states that government is instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people. We, the People, did not give authority to government run schools to overstep and to assume authority over our children. Government was instituted for one purpose and one purpose alone, to safe guard the unalienable rights of the PEOPLE. Public Servants are elected to represent the PEOPLE. To pass legislation of this kind is a clear usurpation of power. It is not the job of government to parent the children of the PEOPLE. And ignorance of the LAW is no excuse. We, the People, are putting you on notice. Any PUBLIC SERVANT who votes in support of this bill will be in clear violation of their oath and will be held accountable. Teaching same-sex marriage and transgenderism at any stage is a bridge of parental right especially to those of faith that do not support these issues. This is a clear violation of the Virginia Constitution Article I. Bill of Rights Section 16. Free exercise of religion; no establishment of religion That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. And the General Assembly shall not prescribe any religious test whatever, or confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination, or pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people of any district within this Commonwealth, to levy on themselves or others, any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contract as he shall please. It is also a violation of the Republic’s Constitutional First Amendment. It is also a clear violation of one of Virginia’s most fundamental legal documents, The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This sort of teaching violates not only parental authority, but the right of children who are endowed by their Creator with the right to not be mentally molested or depraved with topics that would serve to destroy their innocence and which serves no real purpose. This is a guise. If schools truly wish to teach children kindness and equality, they can do so without having to give specifics about how some people feel that their genitalia doesn’t match what they feel. Transgenderism is a tricky topic for most adults to fully understand. Even among clinicians, there’s not universal concurrence that female brains sometimes actually develop in male bodies and vice versa. If adults, even medical professional have a difficult time grasping such topics, naturally, children will have an even harder time. However, that is a side note, that’s beside the point. The bottom line is that schools do not have the authority to parent the children of We, the People. To do so would be a violation of real laws and a complete usurping of power. Sincerely, The over 10,000 men, women and children represented by Virginians for Liberty and Justice


No

absolutely not


NEVER ENDING SUPPORT TO PROTECT TRANS CHILDREN

It’s 2021, what the hell is going on that we have to speak up to ensure children are protected for being themselves!!! Trans children deserve to live happily and freely, stop treating people as if they are less than other people and stop debating if children deserve protection, THEY DO!! STRONG, NEVER ENDING SUPPORT FOR TRANS LIVES!


PROTECT TRANS YOUTH

I strongly support this measure! Trans youth in Virginia and nationwide face horrific levels of oppression and violence. In order to make this Commonwealth open and inclusive to everybody, we must protect trans students and grant them full protections under the law from vile transphobia. YOUR HATE SPEECH IS NOT YOUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY!


I OPPOSE - this violates religious freedoms & parental rights

I oppose this law. This is unconstitutional. It's criminal that you would willfully seek to violate the 1st, 9th, and 10th amendments and then wait for ill-informed and impoverished parents to sue the courts to overturn this law AFTER the damage has been inflicted. You know it's wrong to discriminate against a Christian, Muslim, or those of other religions who will sin before their deities if they accept or recognize all sexual behaviors/orientations. Be wise, because the tables could get turned REAL QUICK -- you don't want the right getting control and then forcing women to marry whoever impregnates them or forcing them to donate to churches against their conscience. It's wrong to knowingly allow a child to make SERIOUS life decisions and "explorations" without the knowledge or consent of his/her parents. All rights and authority belong to parents UNLESS the parents can be proven in court to be in criminal or incompetent. I'm not sure if your intentions are to willfully separate children from their parents and make them dependent on the state or if you're trying "to do the right thing," but I implore you to look at what countries have done in similar situations and what the results were -- it was not good.


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose the state inserting itself between a child and the parent/family. Surely no child or person should be maligned, however, this document seeks to destroy the family by inserting the state into matters it has no business being involved in. Parents routinely make choices for their children—what they eat, how much screen time they use, where they go, what they do. As developing human beings whose minds and bodies are still growing, children lack wisdom and need guidance. The problem here is that the state is assuming it and/or the child knows what’s best for each child—especially in a matter of profound importance—identity. Additionally, rules and guidelines are being proposed that would profoundly impact the entire student population. These principles ignore basic biological facts and place the emotions and feelings of a small minority over all other concerns. The door is open wide for abuse. The transgender movement as a whole requires one to divorce feelings from physical reality. Unfortunately, science has yet to make the fastest woman as fast as the fastest man, and no male transitioning to female has yet to menstruate and bear the possibility of pregnancy. Yet these guidelines and others like it are asking society to see the biological female as the same as the transgender one. These proposed principles are telling girls and boys that their only difference is one of psychological choice. If you’re the parent and you want to teach your child such—that’s one thing. To have the state insert itself and force such a philosophy is another matter. Where will the intrusion of the state into family matters stop? Hopefully here and now.


A concerned uncle of a niece in 9th grade

It's not bathrooms; it's locker rooms & showers

No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex.


I am totally against this being put in our public school systems

This is not right to allow the opposite sex no matter what they identify as, to enter a locker room where others change and shower or to use the restroom, you tell me how that’s fair to ALL STUDENTS??? If they want the right to choose then the school systems need to make separate locker rooms and restrooms for them to have that option if they are uncomfortable, I’m sorry but if they choose to live a different lifestyle, then why should everyone else who doesn’t choose to live that lifestyle have to be subjected to that embarrassment of having to change or shower in front of someone if the opposite sex regardless of what they identify as....also parents right should not be allowed to be taken from them, if that child lives under their parents roof then it is every bit of their business what is going on in or out of school


TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

Hey guess what your religion doesnt matter to me and also your kids are seeing you and your behaviour and trusting you less and less every day!


Protect our children

Adults can make all the bad decisions they want to make, but should innocent children be subjected to terrible policies such as this?  Provide a unisex bathroom, but do not allow males in female bathrooms or females in male bathrooms.  This is not safe for children in our public schools.  Children will not go to the bathroom at school and will be dehydrated, stressed, or have UTIs as a result of this.  Who is being OFFENDED here?  Who is being protected?  Adults in office voting on this need to use some common sense and quit being part of the progressive, liberal agenda at the expense of our children’s safety and well being.  Is this OK for YOUR child or grandchild?


Pray this doesn’t happened

Prayers for our schools


Stop The Social Experiment

Gender is determined in the womb. It is not a choice.  Follow the science! Stop burdening children with your social experiments.  Stop making children victims of your abuse by putting these false perceptions in their minds.  Stop trying to force these non-scientic ideas, these falsehoods, on parents and children who know this experiment is not truth.  To lead your children down a path to alter their bodies is horrific. The psychological affect this is having on children is a crime, one they will never overcome.


Transgender students deserve respect and dignity

I have personally witnessed the effects of harassment from teachers and classmates on transgender youth. This treatment has made my peers fear for their safety and exacerbated depression and hopelessness among many. One particularly egregious incident involved one of my Virginia public high school teachers not only refusing to respect my classmate’s identity but making unprofessional and disparaging comments about them in front of the class, as well as refusing to provide instruction to them solely on the basis of their transgender status. No person should be subjected to this vile and traumatizing behavior from others, especially an adult in the public school system. There is no excuse for this type of behavior and these guidelines make that clear. Every student deserves respect, dignity, privacy, and freedom from discrimination. Transgender youth deserve this and more, to be not only tolerated but included and listened to.


Strongly Support

Trans lives matter. We must protect trans kids in our education system. The Trevor Project's National Survey shows Transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by all or most people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected as well as more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth having seriously considered suicide. We can prevent this.


Stop sexualizing children/ they’re going to do things in locker rooms stop demonizing trans children

You’re literally talking about children assaulting other children you people should be ashamed TRANS LIVES MATTER


Strongly Opposed

I am strongly opposed to gender promotion within the public schools. This is a significant violation of parental rights and has no place within the educational system.  Having my child exposed to this topic is unacceptable. . Promotion of this within the school system, without the insight and guidance of parents and caregivers, is deplorable.


Department of education

By trying to enact a law slowing trans genders into schools you are going to ruin schools. First off this takes away individual freedoms when it is scientifically proven there is only male and females. By allowing boy's to "claim" themselves as girls you are going to corrupt young minds from thinking it's ok to follow the opposite sex into the changing rooms or restroom. Let me ask how high are the rape rates? Be ready for those numbers to sky rocket if this "law" goes through. The only reason these young minds think this is at all ok/normal is because adult are lieing to them saying that it is ok, the only reason we even are having to fight idiotic laws such as this is because we have gotten away from our country's core values which was all based off of Christianity. By taking the Bible and God out of schools we continue to ruin out country and our young minds


Support LGBT Youth

I support the proposed bill and think it's important to protect LGBT Youth.


strongly opposed to transgender indoctrination

The guidance document I have reviewed is Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. My concerns are addressed not only to my home county of Loudoun, but to the whole Commonwealth of Virginia. The basis of the transgender policies that are the subject of this public-education institutional guidance document is that individual gender preference should take precedence over binary biological sex.  It should not, and ought not.  The policy is one of comprehensive repudiation of binary gender.  It attempts to contradict a fact of nature -- that the chromosomes, and all resulting gender characteristics of a person's body, determine the sex of a person. I am not accepting the redefinitions of what gender means or ought to mean that are promulgated by the ideology of transgenderism.  But the subject document does that and far more.  It presses for full-throttle indoctrination of children, on numerous levels, toward gender deconstruction.  Not just for young people who may question their sexual tendencies, but for all students walking into the classrooms of public schools.  And no doubt authors of this policy template would have such proposals go beyond public classrooms in the not-too-distant future. I call upon the government of the Commonwealth of Virginia to reject this and any similar program of transgender propaganda tools.  It represents "progress" in a dark, slick, downhill direction. I hope that affirmation of nature's gender identity will take its place, to the better mental and spiritual health and welfare of children.


Strongly oppose

This is wrong in so many ways.


Disgusting

I completely disagree with the transgender agenda being pushed in Virginia and in America in general. This is extremely immoral and, frankly, unscientific. It is against the laws we have known and against God’s laws. If we let this happen, where will our country be? It’s just perverted to allow this to pass.


Support Kids- Believe Kids

Nobody else should get to determine another human being's body, identity, or basic dignity. Our kids deserve love and support.


Strongly oppose

This shouldn’t even be considered, this is wrong in so many ways.


Trans children deserve to be protected

please take a look inward and know that you are pure slime for demonizing trans children and your transphobia is know and will be reported to your jobs! Have fun :)


Supopoart Trans Students, who are STUDENTS just like other students

Please support trans students.  They are STUDENTS just like other students and their needs should be addressed.  Support of people who look, sound, or act differently should start immediately and be ingrained in our educational system and society at the youngest ages.  We should be a community of INCLUSION not EXCLUSION.


Totally opposed!!

This is putting our children at great risk!! Boys allowed in girls bathrooms and locker rooms??!! The state has no business instructing our children in regards to gender. Removing parents from this equation is WRONG!


Oppose

I do support trying to make sure kids have a safe & healthy school life but this is not the way to gain it. The rights & opinions of MANY groups of people have been taken away or not even considered with this. If you have to push legislation quietly then you're not doing the right thing. Parents should have rights & the rights that are taken away with this is absolutely wrong, public schools do not have time or resources to parent AND teach EVERY student, this is a problem already. It would be much more productive to teach respect. I respect you are trans but I don't have to agree with it as long as I respect you as a human being & treat you accordingly. You don't have to accept my opinion on the subject but if you have learned respect then you'll respect I have a different opinion. This level of respect will carry kids much farther in life than making them resent each other for some being treated differently.


Strongly support!

I'm a parent of a transgender child currently in the Arlington, VA school system. It's vital to protect these kids' right and need to be themselves, free from harassment and discrimination. I strongly support this effort.


Truth not transgender!

Stop corrupting our children! The majority of the country says no to immorality but the 1 or 2% always get their way! Now please tell me why?


I am in support of Trans and non binary children attending public schools in VA

I am in support of guidelines proposed by the VA department of education allowing Trans and non binary children to be included in public schools.


Timothy Cotman, Arlington Public Schools

all

Good evening, I am writing to support protections for transgender and non-binary students in Virginia's public schools. All students have the right to learn in a safe place and these protections will help facilitate a positive learning environment for everyone. I have been an educator for over 25 years and I understand the responsibility we have to ensure that all of our students feel valued and affirmed.  When I worked at the middle school level, I was one of several educators who created and co-sponsored a Gay-Straight Alliance at our school.  I have vivid memories of students who came to the first meeting.  They entered the room with such enthusiasm and expressions of joy that there was a safe space for them to be their authentic selves. Students should have that feeling all of the time.  These protections are crucial to this effort.  If we truly believe that all students have the right to learn in a safe place then we must do everything we can to make this a reality.   Otherwise they are just empty words. All means all ! Timothy Cotman, Jr. Equity and Excellence Coordinator Wakefield High School Arlington, Virginia


Decided

Our children deserve the right to be children! To not be pushed into grown folk business!!! Let them decide when they are age for other adult decisions such as joining the military or smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol !  Once their minds are fully developed to make a life decision!!!


Strongly Oppose Guidance Policy on Treatment of Transgender

This guidance is couched in being all about transgender students.  In reality, it is more  directed at addressing the transgender issue in a vacuum, exclusive of consideration of moral values, religious vales, and most importantly family values.  THE MOST CRITICAL component of moral value development is within the family unit and particularly within the role of parents.  Parental prerogative and authority are being dangerously trampled upon by this Guidance Policy.  Regardless of where an individual stands on the transgender in general, to "deputize" classroom teachers and/or other school staff to decide when OR if a parent is informed of THEIR child's transgender.  It also places teachers in a compromising position relative to their own respective religious consciences.  This is not a matter of children (student's) rights or protection or transgender.  This is about the public school system "kidnapping" children form their parents to allow free range decision making among children at ages and stages of maturity not appropriate to make responsible life changing decisions.  To the extent the child is receiving influence, it would be from the school in the absence of the parent.  To even use words like abuse or neglect is an affront to me as a parent.  Parental teaching of deeply seeded religious beliefs to their children in their home is the dominant "right" at risk of infringement from this policy guidance.    This public comment period is essentially a joke and insult to parents, as it was not distributed to local school boards, local schools or parents and communities at large.  Public awareness would be non-existent, if not promoted through action alerts of various family oriented organizations.  Such government agency operation in darkness is un-American and cultivates an atmosphere of distrust.  It is a despicable abuse of power and exaggerated government over-reach.  I vehemently and passionately oppose this Guidance Policy and consider it offensive and unconstitutional in violation of religious freedom.


No. Take your children out of indoctrination camps aka schools.

This isn’t something children need to learn in school. This is a sick agenda to confuse and sexualize innocent children. Anyone in support of this are 1) sick 2) misguided and victims of indoctrination. Parents take your children out of indoctrination camps called schools.


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose transgender guidelines. Respectfully, Eileen


All “concerned” parents are bigoted trash support trans lives

Refer to comment title :3


Strongly Oppose this new Legislation

Absolutely do not agree with this new legislation. It's putting innocent children at risk by allowing these kids to use the bathrooms of their choice! If these laws go into effect in our area, we will probably be home schooling our children!


Strongly support!

Strongly support this policy. I'm not sure how this policy infringes on one's religious rights/freedoms as I have seen many comments regarding. Some Christians you are. What happen to "love thy neighbor "?


Strongly support the rights of transgender youth

Please enact the guidelines to protect the rights of transgender youth.  The costs of failing to protect them against bullying, involuntary disclosure to unaccepting parents, and similar forms of harm are too significant to ignore in favor of intangible forms of harm stemming from alleged infringements on alleged parental rights or religious freedom.  If this policy helps even one trans kid to come through their childhood unscathed, that’s more than enough reason to enact it.


Transgender policies

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.


Transgender

Do not intrude on parent's rights


Absolutely oppose immoral transgender policies

While 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. Children will 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.  Adolescents, can experience hypersensitive and traumatic reactions to these situations. Schools should not accommodate the gravely harmful view that age 5 or 6 is an appropriate time to be encouraging irreversible “gender transitions”. The proposed policies of the Virginia Department of Education is immoral, asinine, and infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children.  Virginia has no right what so ever to force these misguided policies on the parents of Virinia. To the parents of Virginia, some food for thought for the safety of your children: private school and home schooling.


Transgender Regulations

I oppose the regulations because it intrudes on parents' rights to raise their children.


Children are BORN with gender identity.Asking them to choose causes psychological confusion


I support the model policies for the treatment of transgender students. Creating policies and best practices will help create a safer and more inclusive environment for students.


Oppose VDOE transgender policies devloped under  HB 145/SB 161

The transgender policies imposed by HB 145/SB 161 attempt to force schools to implement a severely flawed transgender ideology that denies the basic nature of mankind, as created by God.  This ideology forces children and parents to accept deviant sexual tendencies as "normal".  Rather than helping those few individuals deal with their sexuality issues, such policies exacerbate the incredible harm such abnormalities do to individuals so afflcted and to the larger society.   No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms when on a school trip or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex.  Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students--students who are gender-confused or who are uncomfortable in showering/using toilet facilities in the presence of students of the other biological sex should have recourse to private accomodations.


Oppose

I am in strong opposition to this measure. It is in direct contradiction to my religion to support this, or any other policy in relation, in any fashion. This is absurd that taxpayer money would be used to support policies or procedures that are in direct contradiction to the taxpayers morals.


Do not support this policy

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.


Transgender policies

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stated in his 1963 "Letter from Birmingham City Jail": "A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law." What you are doing is the very essence of an unjust law and goes against the laws of nature and God.


Support for Trans teachers and students

I support any legislation that will protect the rights of trans individuals. Teachers and students should be free to express their gender identity.  Genuine discussion and support will help students of all identities learn.  Pretending trans people don't exist, because it feels too difficult to have these discussions endangers students. State guidelines will help teachers make the right decision.


Transgender policy

Absolutely oppose this immoral policy.


Strongly oppose all efforts to execute transgender procedures.

Desist from efforts to Mandate Transgender Procedures

Natural law and God's law cover issues regarding transgender matters.  Above all, our children must be protected.  Adults concerned with doubts about their own sexuality should seek counsel from reputable religious and medical practitioners and not draw solace from self gratification, peer pressure, and liberal pundits.


OPPOSE

Please oppose this bill! It will do great harm to Virginia schools.


Transgender rulles

I oppose these policies


Transgender policies

I oppose the proposed regulations.  Schools should focus on education and leave the raising of children to the family/parent/parents. The Virginia Department of Education should not be subsuming the role of parents to provide family values and define the rights of students. The State of Virginia should not be spending tax dollars to provide gender-based supplies (e.g., menstrual supplies, ref Model Policies for Treatment of Transgender Students, pg 17) at no cost. While it may provide statistical fodder in the Model Policies for Treatment of Transgender Students report (pg 9), how will any change in policy change the percentage of students with depression or difficulty sleeping? The Virginia Department of Education's proposed policies, while perhaps initially well-intentioned, have grave impact on our next generation as they continue to mature.  Do not disregard the role of parents.


Oppose transgender policies

I strongly oppose the normalization of transgender anything. The Lord creates them Male and Female. Anti-Bullying doesn’t need to be compartmentalized to every different little group. Nor do


The VDOE Transgender Model Policy

The proposed policies articulate views that are opposed by many voters.  THe Model Regulations infringe the first amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children. VDOE has gone far beyond the path of the VA General Assembly guidance


Transgender policy

I strongly oppose this legislation


Completely in support of supporting trans kids

I am wholeheartedly in favor the  Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia Public Schools. All kids should be secure in knowing that respect and safety are cornerstones of their school experience. Transgender kids have had precious little of that for too long. Those who try to deny transgender kids these rights, which they assume so automatically for their own children, would carelessly trample on the well-being of living, breathing, vulnerable, young people. They attempt to do so with a small edit to the dehumanizing arguments that they have used for so long to marginalize and attack African Americans, Jews, gays, foreigners of all persuasions, and hosts of others not like them. I'm not going to tell those people what it means to be them. I expect them to leave me and my children to exercise that same freedom ourselves, and to get out of the way as the teachers and administrators in Virginia's public schools work to create an environment where we are all free to do that.


Virginia must not disregard the role of parents in public education. This would undercut parents’ involvement in the life of their children at school, and endanger the bodily privacy and safety of all students.


Is the VA Dept of Education going bonkers?

I strongly oppose everything. What in the world is going on with this society?  Who in the right mind came up with such nonsense?  Where is your sense of priority for important things that truly benefit the community?  Get working on important issues instead of stupid stuff like this.  Don't succumb to the radical transgender overzealous push!


Transgender polices are anti-science

Current thinking on transgenderism is born out of social and political pressure and discards everything biology tells us about sex and gender. Equally disturbing is Virginia's willingness to usurp parental rights, succumb to the insanity of made-up pronouns, and allow boys and girls to share locker rooms (what about the rights of girls who don't want a boy watching them undress in their locker room?). Virginia, this is absurdity on a new level. You are discriminating against those who hold fast to the biological understanding of gender. You leave no room for disagreement, no room for parents to live by their own convictions. Children who are confused about their gender need to be helped, but not in the way you think.


If VDOE approves the draft policies, they would undercut parents’ involvement in the life of their 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 ” – 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.


ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE!

FCPS needs to focus on teaching HISTORY, ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE. let parents do their jobs at home regarding sexuality.


If VDOE approves the draft policies, they would undercut parents’ involvement i


The draft policies would undercut parents’ involvement in the life of their children at school


DO NOT APPROVE THESE POLICIES

THIS APPLIES TO POLICIES RELATED TO HB 145 AND SB161: -The proposed policies & model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children based on their norms. -Schools should not promote or accommodate the harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to encourage irreversible "gender transitions". -With due respect and consideration for parents who have children with such tendencies, it is their sole responsibility to raise their children. -While public schools have the duty to protect all children, it should not be done by forcing children to to share bathrooms, showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms, or other intimate settings, in school activities, with a member of the opposite biological sex.


Trans Guidelines Hurt Girls, Women and Lesbians

These changes are harmful to women and the lesbian community. Sex is determined by objective, physical criteria, not mental states. Mammals can’t change sex. Some doctors and scientists,  may go along with changing social or legal markers out of an attempt to be polite or ease suffering, to save their careers from the online mob, or to attract a new market in patients: but they’re never going to submit a peer-reviewed paper documenting a case in which a human being changes from male to female Nor will they submit a paper worrying over the pronouns of cows, or classifying any animal research subjects by sex on any basis other than the type of gamete they’d produce if they were healthy and reproductively active. Stop encouraging the idea that sex is a “social construct.” Stop claiming that the fact that sex exists is “white colonialism,” as though colonial-era Europeans were the only people who ever figured out how babies are made, and no one else knew until they showed up. This is nonsense on par with claiming that the Earth is flat and it makes everyone who repeats it sound ridiculous. Misuse of suicide statistics – In addition to basing claims of high suicide rates mainly on poorly designed surveys, trans leaders advance the idea that suicide risk is both a reason to immediately give in to their demands, and to immediately admit that the undefinable category of “transgender people” are the most oppressed of all. Suicide rates are related to a mix of cultural and socioeconomic factors, and prevention experts warn strongly against the counterfactual and simplistic attribution of self harm to any single cause. Not only that, but extensive data gathered over decades demonstrates that the phenomenon is not straightforwardly tied to oppression. If oppression were judged by that standard, white men would be the second most oppressed people in the US, after only Native American men, having a suicide rate more than twice as high as Hispanic, black, or Asian men, or women of any ethnic background. We implore you to invest some time becoming familiar with the guidelines issue by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention for developing responsible messaging about suicide, and learning to avoid the very real threat of spreading suicide contagion. As to coercive suicide threats — which LGBT leadership seems to have trained people to issue on behalf of themselves or others, often related to medical transition and compelled speech demands — many abused women remember this type of abuse for what it is: a tool of coercive control that will soon wear out its welcome as more people come to that realization. Cosmetic sterilization of healthy children – In the US, healthy 13-year-old girls are getting mastectomies, 14-year-old girls are getting deliberately thrown into menopause by their doctors, and 16-year-old boys are being chemically or surgically castrated. Many of these children will also face a lifetime of sexual immaturity, without the likelihood of ever experiencing mature desire or its satisfaction. For girls, in particular, this is being done without significant attention to the potential risks to cardiovascular health and life expectancy already known to be posed by ovarian failure before the age of 40. Survey data and past studies on gender dysphoria indicate that most of these children would otherwise have grown up to be same-sex attracted, and many more than expected are on the autism spectrum. Everywhere that early puberty blockers are being followed immediately by cross-sex hormones, children are being chemically sterilized, when the majority of them would have become comfortable with their bodies through the course of a natural puberty, and because of the mechanisms of puberty. Targeting LGB and autistic children for sterilization, and encouraging it as a way for these often marginalized or abused children to feel “normal,” is a eugenic crime against humanity. The world deserves better from all of you. Lesbian & gay erasure – Calling heterosexual men who enjoy dressing “as women” lesbians, or calling heterosexual women who’ve undergone extensive body modification gay men, is an erasure of the unique experience of being exclusively same-sex attracted. Stop calling straight people lesbians, or gay. Particularly, your guidelines will allow heterosexual men to represent themselves as lesbians, or be promoted as if they were lesbians and entitled to speak for women on that basis; this is homophobic and insulting to all women. Trans Ideology categorizes women and girls by degrading, dehumanizing names – Your guide lines will allow women to be called menstruators, bleeders, breeders, cervix havers, egg producers, uterus bearers, pregnant people, people with vaginas, non-prostate owners, non-men, vulva owners, front-hole havers, chestfeeders, or any other term that submerges our humanity into an anatomy lesson, for the sadistic purpose of telling us that our anatomy doesn’t matter to you. We are not “cis,” or “cisgender,” suggesting that we picked, or were allowed to pick, being female or being expected to conform to feminine sex stereotypes. We are women and girls, which are the proper terms for human females. Your guidelines will appropriate intersex language. Do not approve calling all women and girls AFAB, assigned female at birth, unless you’re using an intersex person’s terms for herself, or vice versa with using AMAB. You can’t identify into or out of having an intersex diagnosis, whereas only 0.02% of the population has a condition that makes it medically difficult to determine their sex, and it’s insulting to suggest otherwise. There is also no such thing as having an intersex condition of the mind. Mental traits or predispositions are not passed to children solely and automatically from mother to daughter, or from father to son, and sex is nowhere determined on the basis of such elusive mental traits.


VDOE Gender policies

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.


Oppose

I oppose this legislation.


Let the Parents Discuss Gender Issues with their Children

The model - Virginia HB 145 and HB 161 - regulation infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children.  Please let the parents or church leaders teach the children their religious beliefs on Transgender Identities instead of the school teaching our children the goverments' Identities beliefs. God bless!!!


Opposed to transgender regulations proposed by DOE

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. Opposed for the 3 reasons stated above.


In opposition to transgender policies

VDOE should NOT approve the model policies giving special accommodations to students who self-identify as transgender.  These policies disregard the rights of the many, many students who would be negatively affected by these accommodations for the very, very few students in question. These policies particularly hurt girls and young women by creating opportunities for those of the opposite biological sex to victimize and abuse them in private settings, such as locker rooms, hotel rooms, and bathrooms.  Why on earth, in this political and cultural moment, would you open up avenues for this exploitation of and assault on women? Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. Students have the right to this privacy.  Parents have the right to demand the upholding of these rights for their children. Let me repeat this last point: The model regulations infringe upon the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children, protection of them from all harms -- bodily and psychologically are key here -- being paramount. Oppose these proposals immediately.


new transgender policy

I am totally appalled by the news of these new transgender policies by Virginia. This is totally wrong and unAmerican. We are born with the body God gave us and that does make us all women and men. We are NOT the same.  You will be scaring children, to tell them to go to the same bathroom as all boys and girls, yes boys and girls. As often as kids do get harassed this is an open door for rape in the bathrooms. I cannot believe what I am reading. And to not  have any parental control over your child is just wrong. They are kids not adults. Making decisions are in the hands of the parents not children. I totally find this unacceptable and unconstitutional. Please do not go down this path.


Oppose

I oppose this plan.


Disapproval of gender policies in school

I absolutely agree with zero tolerance for bullying or discrimination against anyone— that includes children who are confused about their gender. Kindness and inclusivity is on the rise and I appreciate that. These policies are way too extreme and give children who don’t know enough about the topic too much liberty. This is confusing and distressing for kids. There is science in child psychology to back this up. It also discriminates against anyone who has a religion that teaches God created them the way they were meant to be. My bet is that the number of religious families in the schools greatly outweigh the number of gender confused children.


Transgender Changes in Education

I'm opposed to these changes, why not have a public discussion first and get all opinions


God made us male or female and we can’t change it

God made us the way we are man or woman he didn’t make 2 in 1


Strongly oppose transgender policy

A boy is a boy and a girl is a girl.  DNA does not lie.  This transgender stuff is a sickness and not normal.  I oppose for the following reasons: 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.


Opposed to changes in transgender policy

Opposed to these changes, please have a big discussion first


Oppose transgender policies.

Oppose transgender policies in public schools. Let parents parent their children


Opposed

I oppose this legislation.  It infringes on the rights of parents and students.


OPPOSE

Stop corrupting and indoctrinating our children.


Oppose

I am opposed to this bill, especially the idea that school personnel could be influencing a child's gender transition without notifying the parents. From the proposed document: "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." The school has the responsibility to inform parents of major changes to a child, whether injury, mental health decline, or any sort of new behaviors. Whether or not you agree with the idea of transgender theory, parents MUST be informed of such a large issue in the life of their child. Allowing schools and teachers to withhold the fact that a student is suffering from gender identity issues is serious, and will lead to delayed mental health treatment that is vital to the student. There is very little scientific fact regarding transgenderism except that almost all students affected by it have co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses. Schools and teachers do not "know better" than parents and cannot provide the adequate counseling needed in such situations. Thank you for your time, Lauren Schierer


Don’t Implement!

It’s vital that the parents remain the sole authority with their children and what they are exposed to.  These model policies are counterintuitive to parental authority and should NOT be implemented.  If there are parents who feel inadequate to discuss these topics with their children, they should seek help elsewhere.  These type of policies and thought policing only misleads the educational system to think they have the ultimate authority.


Transgender Policies Proposal

Reasons for opposing transgender policies: 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. The Department’s proposed policies would pit children against their parents when it comes to important questions about sex and gender identity.


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

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) SHOULD NOT disregard the role of parents in public education! I do not want the VDOE to undercut parents’ involvement in the life of our children at school, and endanger the bodily privacy and safety of all students.  P rotect children and parental rights in public schools.


Strongly Oppose Transgender Policies

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 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.


I oppose the new transgender policies!

I am the mother of two high school children and I oppose this change on religious and moral grounds, and believe it will cause emotional harm to our children.  It is unfair to impose my children to sharing bathrooms, locker rooms, or any other location that requires physical privacy with other transgendered children; or worse adults of a different sex.  This policy infringes on my rights as a parent to raise my children based on our religious and moral beliefs. It will cause emotional harm to our children to be forced to deal with situations that deny their needs for physical separation from the opposite gender. Children should be raised with a level of modesty and respect for privacy until the time of choosing as adults.


oppose

Oppose this


Fully support

I fully support the implementation of this guidance document.


Opposed

Opposed


I just wanted to attend school

As a recent graduate of a VA high school, I fully support this document. I was lucky enough to attend a relatively accepting school, but I still attended every day in fear of discrimination. I stopped playing soccer, something I had done for 13 years, because I would have to petition the VHSL to even let me play on either team. I paid extra money to take gym online because of the intense amount of anxiety that surrounded locker room situations. I almost ran down hallways to the other side of the school every time I had to use the restroom so that I could use the only single stall bathroom. I lived in fear and anxiety. Sometimes it feels like I didn’t even attend high school or graduate at all. My transcripts and other documents that were sent to colleges had only my legal name in them. I had to petition my counseling office to even let me graduate under anything other than my legal name and then, when the  ceremony fell to administration after the virus, I was deadnamed at my own graduation. I want for transgender students in Virginia to not have to face the anxiety and disappointment I did during the years I was out as transgender at school.


disgusting

You are attempting to break down the laws of nature and religion.  We, as a nation, should be upholding these laws, rather that tearing them down.


Do not approve this policy.

This policy is wrong. Anyone with common sense can see that. Our school system is already bad but this would make it impossible for a normal child to attend. Any parent who would keep there child in a school system with a police like this is not and I repeat NOT a true parent.


Opposed

As a former public high school teacher, observing and enforcing many of these proposed regulations seems problematic to impossible.  If a student considers his/her gender to be fluid, he/she could change it daily thus making it difficult to impossible for teachers and fellow students to keep up with "preferred pronouns."  This is a serious concern if failure to do so means risking disciplinary action for "harassment." The language regarding parental authority vs. school authority on this matter is very concerning. “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). Would encouraging one's child to embrace their biological sex/gender be construed as abuse or neglect?  Could a parent be reported for neglect for not providing a second wardrobe for a child who has decided to "transition?"  Likewise, the “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) raises concern.  If parental consent is required to excuse an absence or approve a field trip, it would seem negligent of the school system NOT to inform parents if their child was considering or exploring gender reassignment under the guidance of school counselors, health personnel, etc. If the guidelines are enacted as proposed, you WILL have students taking advantage of these policies to gain access to restrooms and locker rooms of the opposite sex; individual restrooms and individual changing stations in the locker rooms would become the only way to protect the safety and discretion of each student. “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). Lastly, 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. As a teacher and as a mother sending her children to public school, I oppose this draft of trans policies and advise that language revisions be made, parental information and consent policies be reconfigured, and consideration be given to protect religious liberties within the school system.


treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools

Please oppose these proposed policy changes presented in HB 145 and SB 161


This is an amazing step forward!

This is a great policy that will allow our transgender students to feel safe in their learning environment! This is an absolute great step forward.


I oppose Transgendered policies in public school.

Children that are struggling with body or gender dysmorphia should be told the truth about their gender. They are either male or female. This is determined by Biological forces. They should be helped to understand that it is impossible for a female to become a male or a male to become a female. This is basic science. Lying to our children is never the right answer.


Strongly OPPOSED!

We believe that schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students.  As such, no child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex.  Without a doubt, 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.  Science shows that children, particularly adolescents, can experience hypersensitive and traumatic reactions to these situations.  It is abhorrent for schools to accommodate the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions”.  It is clear that these proposed regulations infringe on my First Amendment rights as a parent to raise and care for my children.


Transgender

Oppose this bill for the protection of the children. God created them male and female. Period.


Opposed

It is not the duty of the school system to impose specific views and beliefs on their students.


Opposse

This stuff has to stop for the security of our children.


fully support

fully support


Opposed

Children are not a commodity or product. The are persons with inherent dignity but are immature in their development - physically, emotionally, intellectually and in their sense of self.  Parents, not the schools/school board/Dept of Ed,  is responsible for the raising of their children and who they are.


Transgender Policy

Transgenderism is against God's Will. God made them  Male or Female. God sets the rules because He is God. We obey. Period!


STRONGLY OPPOSE

Let me begin by saying ALL children should be treated with respect.  However, this is not the way.  These policies take it too far, and will only further the division we unfortunately witness in our nation today.


Guidance Document

I oppose this policy. Parents are the first caregivers and educators of their children.


I OPPOSE TRANSGENDERISM

I OPPOSE TRANSGENDERISM.


Fully Support These New Guidelines

It's as though the people opposing haven't even bothered to read the document. Transgender students deserve as much protection as all other students and the laws of our country already say as much. This report has been well-researched and explained. I hope the state adopts these policies.


Oppose legislation that opposes parental rights

Please oppose this bill which is harmful to children, families, and teachers. Please allow teachers to focus on teaching and caring for children lovingly without introducing harmful legislation that disrupts that.


transgender policies

Girls are girls and boys are boys.  Anything else is misguided nonsense at best, intentionally harmful at worst.  People need to wake up to the truth.  Protect our children.  Reject this misguided nonsense.


I oppose restrictions to parent's rights

Parents' rights should not be denied. Schools should have no right to facilitate gender exploration w/o the parents' knowledge or consent. Parents should have every right to be able to discuss sexual/gender topics with their children w/o the risk of being accused of child abuse. Bathrooms and locker rooms should be limited to use by the person's biological gender. We should be encouraging communication and support between teachers and parents. Dress codes should remain consistent and not allowed to be changed according to a child's whim. Parents should be informed immediately if any disciplinary action is to be taken against their child. Teachers should be allowed accommodations based on religious faith or conscience.


I oppose these transgender student policies

These troubling policies proposed by VDOE are impractical and will force all students, faculty and administrators to comply with rules that will conflict with their own fundamental beliefs. The administration of such policies could be confusing to the children and disruptive to the classroom where the primary  goal is to teach our children the basics-reading, language, the arts, math, science etc. If such policies are implemented you can be assured that many parents will move their children out of Virginia public school systems to private schools or homeschooling.


I strongly oppose transgender policies

I strongly opposed transgender policies.


Protect the dignity of ALL children

This policy does not protect the rights of ALL children. While intended to protect privacy and dignity of those that do not consider themselves Male or Female according to their birth sex, it forgets to protect the privacy of those that do consider themselves Male or Female. How is the school going to protect the right of privacy and dignity of a girl when someone with male genitalia enters the locker, shower or restroom pretending to consider themselves a female? How is the school going to protect the cisgenders from emotional harm and depression when they constantly have to avoid entering lockers, showers, restrooms because of fear that someone believing to be the gender different from their biological sex? Parents have the duty to protect and educate their children and not the Dept of Education or the State or the Governor or the School board. The parents should be the only ones that make all decisions for their children. If you want to protect and not discriminate against religious views of the children, then you have to allow them to keep their believes even when they do not believe that genders are fluid. No bulling or harassment should be allowed from neither part. While we have to protect all children, do not discriminate one group for the benefits of the other.


Oppose transgender policies

These policies would undercut parents’ involvement in the life of their children at school, and endanger the bodily privacy and safety of all students.


Against the transgender guidance in schools

I believe that God has created everyone as either a male or female.... in His image. We don't need someone being lead by demonic forces to change what God has created and say that something that God has created as good is now considered evil because a person wants it changed. I'm opposed to anything involved with the transgender changes including language.


These Policies Are an Egregious Overreach of State Power

I am writing strongly to oppose the model policies. These policies make state power the determining factor in philosophical and theological questions regarding human identity and sexuality and thus usurp the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children; i.e., to be the primary educators of their children. Sincerely, Daniel McInerny, PhD


Harming our youth through gender confusion/distortion/manipulation

Children are happiest when they can live in truth. Living in a false “reality” only leads to sadness, depression, and low self-esteem, and even suicide. Catering to the depraved state society has sunk to through the sexual revolution’s systematic rejection of truth has brought us to this point in history where gender is rendered meaningless.  As you already know in your heart of hearts a persons gender, either male or female, cannot be changed by thought, hormone “therapy” or surgery. Sexual abuse and immortality has become so acceptable, children are now actively being sexualized and groomed by adults to be objects, and not persons of infinite value, loved by God and created in His image and likeness. Schools should in no way support this mutilation and twisted distortion of the human person. Sexual activity is to be exclusively for the bond and union of husband and wife, the gift of children, and the stability of the family.  Outside of these parameters sexual activity brings disorder and disaster, disease, broken hearts, depression, loss of dignity and self-worth, and emotional emptiness in individuals. It causes social unrest and resentment, makes life seem meaninglessness and without purpose and leaves people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually empty. Immorality in the sexual sphere has reduced sex to a recreational activity between two people, using each other for sexual gratification. The sexual target gets younger and younger, leaving children used, abused, and confused. Why are the schools supporting this? Why are you supporting this? You are harming children by promoting this travesty. Get back to truth. Come back to God. Only then will there be peace.


I do not approve of this!

This is not something I would ever approve of!  It goes against everything I believe in!


I object

This will do more harm than good because it will lead to an increase in the number of cases of sexual assault.


Privacy

The gender of a child is a private/family matter.  Schools do not have any right to control this.  Bring the child and family together PRIVATELY to resolve any issues, and stick to what you are being paid to do by taxpayers:  EDUCATE NOT DICTATE!!!


Support for this life-saving policy

Thank you for these life saving guidelines. The trans people I know and love are directly affected by their everyday treatment in public spaces and this begins at our public schools.


Transgender Policy Considerations

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 This policy goes beyond the roles of state government and infringes on the roles of parents in the lives of their own children.


Do Not approve Policy/ uphold children's dignity

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.


Strong support of the model policies

I strongly support the model policies, because they protect the rights of transgender and gender creative children. All children need our love and support. When transgender and gender creative children are forced to suppress who they are, it increases their rates of depression and can lead to a range of negative thoughts and behaviors, including suicide. We have the tools and knowledge we need to support young people: which is to listen to them, allow them to be themselves, and ensure an environment where they are free from discrimination and hate. When we support our transgender and gender creative kids, we create an environment that helps ALL kids flourish. It builds trust, mutual understanding, and celebration of the ways in which we are all different. These model policies should be adopted by public schools.


Oppose

I am strongly opposed to this proposal. As a parent and VA public school employee, I believe that this transgender ideology needs to stay out of schools. Alternatively, I would support funding for counseling and other resources to help these students who struggle with their gender, as most often it corresponds with history of abuse or trauma for which transgenderism is even more damaging.


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

I fully support the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. I thank all the professionals who worked to produce these thoughtful model policies. I especially support removing the gender marking on all forms where it is not necessary, and replace it with the student's pronouns.


Transgender regulations proposed by VA Department of Education

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”.


I Support this!

Approve


Opposed!

Opposed to this policy


I support

I support inclusion regardless of sexual orientation.


opposed!

I strongly oppose this legislation that strips parents of their rights and is so confusing for teachers and other students.  It is wrong to have a young student just say what sex they feel they want to be and make everyone around them have to change pronouns depending on what the student determines.  Just because they're confused does not mean they have to confuse everyone else.  This is the only diagnosis in the medical field that is now self-diagnosed which is wrong and obviously politically motivated.  Don't make the other children suffer.  Don't expose our daughters to boys who just want to get into their bathroom/changing rooms to see them.  That's wrong! Vote what is right!


Model polices regarding transgender students

I strongly disagree with the VDOE model polices regarding the treatment of transgender students.


OPPOSED to the policies in this guidance document.

I am opposed to the policies in this document.  We must uphold the safety and bodily privacy of our students, and the parental rights of their parents.  Thank you.


Oppose

the VDOE should not disregard the role of parents in public education.


Support

I support this document so that all children's rights to a healthy educational environment are protected.  No matter what gender a child identifies as, I demand their right to receive quality education without being made to feel miserable.  I will not tolerate people making my fellow Virginians feel like they're less worthy of participating in society because of the type of person they are.


The epitome of Inhumanity = abortion of  on display

Disordered Minds searching for a cure.


The epitome of Inhumanity = abortion of the Mind on display

Disordered Minds searching for a cure.