STRONGLY OPPOSE

This new, proposed policy goes way beyond prevention and crosses the line into mandatory promotion of politicized, sexualized ideology. Considering that scientific studies and medical experts make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach puberty—it’s, at best, irresponsible to push involuntary promotion of gender confusion in a public education setting—and, at worst, actually damaging to kids who are still developing. (See statements about most kids outgrowing gender confusion in this Psychology Today article , as well as in this study and this one .)


Opposed to transgender policies

I am very opposed to the transgender policies being forced on our students.


Transgender policy

Please create a policy that will create a respectful and inclusive environment in schools.  In our church, we welcome and support LGBTQ students with love and respect so they can become strong, confident people who will support others.  We hope you will create


1% Should Not Rock the 99%

The behavior of a tiny fraction of society which has never had moral acceptance through the millennia from Greco-Roman culture to the world cultures of today must be evaluated on the basis of that established moral code.   Transgenderism is outside the established social norm.  Policies for the ninety nine percent should not be enacted on the basis of the less than one percent but the less than one percent on the basis of the ninety nine percent.


I strongly OPPOSE the proposed Transgender policy for Public Schools.

I am strongly opposed to the proposed new Transgender policy for Virginia Public Schools.  It is not the state's job to help a student overcome any gender identity confusion that they may have.  That is between the student, their parents, and God.  And it is not right to allow boys in girls' locker rooms and restrooms, and vice-versa.  Please use some common sense and kill this proposed bull.


Full Support

I am glad whenever there is more inclusive language adopted by educational communities. Having a supportive, consistent approach across the Commonwealth seems like an important addition to ensure that every child has access to educational equity. My son's best friend is trans. I sincerely wish that there had been this much forethought as he went through his schooling. Unfortunately, he didn't graduate from high school, in part due to the challenges his transition presented at school. It has to be brutal to correct teachers every single year when they call roll and your name is your pre-transition name. I sincerely hope this helps lead to more understanding of the issues facing trans community and helps ease the way for the children coming along down the road. As adults, it is incumbent upon us to enrich all lives by creating inclusive communities that allow all people to thrive so that we can be positively influenced by the unique contributions of all members of our society.


transgender policy for schools

Opposed to transgender policy for schools.


Deeply Misguided

Transgendered individuals or people who are confused in their minds, but their bodies clearly declare their gender. If you truly are concerned for them you would make free counseling available to these individuals. Johns Hopkins University was one of the first in the nation to open sex change facilities for transgendered individuals. They closed that facility in the 70s because doing psychological follow ups on their clients made them realize that they had wasted their time by chopping off perfectly good body parts. And that their clients were no better off after sex change operations than they were before. They concluded that doing a physical operation for some thing that’s a psychological problem is futile. Look it up. A major study from two Johns Hopkins University doctors a couple of years ago stated that “a woman trapped in a man’s body is not supported by scientific evidence”.  See the study And the new Atlantis special report on sexuality and gender, by Dr. Mayer and Dr. McHugh.


The deep state sickness

I cannot believe that day after day I can be more surprised, appalled, disgusted and frantically searching for common sense in what is going on in our country and is now in full force due to Senator Biden and company. Boys are born boys, girls are born girls.  Nothing, no surgery, no ideas, no prayers can change that.  To suggest that a boy who feels like a girl can compete fairly in any athletic event is a disgrace to both sexes.  To allow boys to shower with girls under any circumstance is disgusting and should alarm all parents.  These people who feel "different" from their God given sex/gender at birth are a very small minority in our country and should be treated as such.  We don't bend to small minorities....we don't adjust our lives for the very small minority.....we don't impose unnatural ideas into our lives to protect the few.  We are all free to do as we please, but let's start with common sense. There are two genders period.  You are either one or the other.  It's not a choice. PERIOD.


Show some Respect for Most of Us!

This policy is abhorrent to most Virginians. Nothing else needs to be said. Unfortunately there are too many idiots in Richmond and in policy making positions in general that more must be said. This is a case where the 99.9% are being treated badly in a misguided attempt to mollify the activists for the 0.1% Yes there are people who believe they are a different sex. But, there are people who suffer from bulimia, and similar mental issues. But should we encourage people who believe they are too fat to go on fasts? Of course not. The exact issue is the case with transgendered people. You don't treat people by indulging them in activities that will not cure them or allow them to live with their problem. The proposed policy of allowing people of opposite biological sexes to use the same facilities in public school is misguided, and will only lead to more emotional pain for the transgendered as well as many others. This policy will also create a situation that invites sexual abuse of our children, and creates a potential playground for sexual predators. And, yes transgender people are sometimes serious sexual predators. Not only that, how do you propose to "police" the locker rooms. Men watching over the girl's locker rooms? Women looking over the men's locker rooms? I urge you to completely scrap this proposal and look for a program that can provide compassionate care for the transgendered people it purports to care for.


Strongly Oppose Transgender Policy

I am very much opposed to the transgender policies being forced on our students.


THIS is an Act of Violence

These absurd policies proposed by VDOE are totally unconstitutional and will force all students, faculty, and administrators to comply with an empirically false view of sex and gender, even if it directly conflicts with their own fundamental beliefs... AND prevents parents from having any awareness or knowledge of the atrocities foisted on their children.


Totally inappropriate our kids are not in school to learn your ideology

this is not education, this is ideological indoctrination, the parents do not want this, please stop


Transgender School Issue

The physiology more than the psychology helpfully answers this issue.  Chromosomes and science let's us know ones sex over 99% of the time.  It's really not difficult.  If someone sincerely thinks something is true, does that make it true?  Some peoples logic says yes.  Most observe that life does not really work this way. If we continue down this "It must be true because I feel it, or I think it", does this logic hold up when consistantly practiced in life?  Try asking your banker when you think you have plenty of money in the bank and they say you are overdrawn.  How does that pragmatically work?  What happens if this logic is forced upon the vast majority who do not embrace it?  Is it fair to run over and abuse their sincerely held thoughts and ideas?  Some say "absolutely"!  Think about life that is pursued on that basis. Noted and respected doctors who once preformed this surgery have stopped.  Why? Because of the psychological problems and long term issues they have observed after studying.  They lose money but gain peace of mind.   Yes some also disagree but more often than not this is because of other factors than long term positive functionality. To honor the significant majority who find the implications of transgender policy in our schools very problematic, and even a threat to their children, I am very much against tax payer subsidized policy supporting this unproven direction. Sincerely, Guy Holloway


Every kid deserves safe access to the bathroom

Trans kids are bullied at such high rates many don’t age out of their teenage years. every body deserves access to the bathroom. there is no evidence that trans kids using the bathroom of their choosing makes bathroom any more dangerous for cis kids. If trans kids don’t feel safe using the bathroom, they will avoid them. That is not healthy for their bodies, their mental/ emotional health, and it speaks poorly about the community as they are enforcing unnecessarily gender roles on toilets. Just let the kids pee. All gendered bathrooms with urinals stalled are becoming more of a norm- I would encourage y’all to do some research into such.


Opposed

I strongly oppose any transgender policies in our schools that allow for bathroom use or gender reference/education or physical education, etc. that differs from biological gender


STRONGLY SUPPORT

Transgender rights are HUMAN RIGHTS. This is a brave, humane stance to take. This would protect transgender, intersex, and questioning students as well. This is a step toward a more equitable society. In every civil rights movement, conservative, oppressive groups of people have pushed against progress and against the expansion of civil rights. That is clear in the comments section here.  I ask our legislators to think of what legacy they would like to leave. Will you be remembered for upholding bigotry and enabling injustice toward a marginalized group? Or will you be remembered for championing an early step toward a fairer society?


It is important for people to use the bathroom concordant with their gender identity

People of all gender identities should be allowed to use the bathroom that most closely aligns with their gender identity and/or have the option for gender neutral restrooms. This will not only prevent the psychological harm and distress that can arise with having to use the bathroom of one’s assigned sex at birth, but it also prevents potentially unsafe environments for trans people, who may be subject to violence once they have been “outed” as trans due to having to use the bathroom aligned with their birth sex, even if it doesn’t align with their current presentation or genitals.


Strongly support

Trans people, especially trans kids, have to deal with enough without having to worry about a basic human right like going to the bathroom. Let people pee where they please—it’s not as if anyone monitors who goes into a bathroom currently anyways


Follow the science

People are adamant about "following the science" on any number of issues and yet we equate a mental abnormality with the proven science of gender. Stop confusing children with this absurd notion that you can be anything you wish. I wish to be an omniscient angel but it is unlikely to happen!


Support Trans Students

We should be striving to ensure every student feels safe and accepted at school, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.


[Support] Equity in schools around gender ID is a must

Robust data exist to show that gender is not an unchangeable construct - in fact, many other cultures historically accept more than two genders or have more gender-neutral language, so one might say that American culture has yet to catch up. This would be a great first step to ensure that trans and gender diverse kids are safe, happy, and healthy.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

We must love one another with wide open arms. We care so much when a child commits suicide, yet we set back and judge and force our transgender brothers, sisters, children, friends fear showing their true colors. In order to fix our suicide rates in the youth of are community we must open our hearts!


FULLY SUPPORT

I fully support the Model Policies for the treatment of Transgender students and I honestly do not understand the debate here.  Shouldn't all children be able to attend school, learn and thrive, in an inclusive, supportive environment? Shouldn't all children be able to feel safe when they go to school? Unfortunately because of our society, we have to carve out a special policy for our transgender students. Thank you for all of the contributors to this policy.


SUPPORT AND PROTECT OUR TRANSGENDER YOUTH


Strongly opposed to the transgender school policy

I am strongly opposed to the transgender school policy.  These policies jeopordize the safety, well-being and mental health of all students.  They infringe on the rights of parents to know and fully care for their own children.  They impose a radical and extreme ideology on all schools and families, disregarding personal and religious freedoms guaranteed by our constitution.


No

I strongly oppose the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. Gender Dysphoria should be treated as such.  It is irresponsible as well as reprehensible to accommodate, promote, celebrate or force such confusion on taxpayers and most certainly not on our children. This is not a matter of equality.  It is a matter of simple biology and healthy psychology.  This does not mean to ignore those who suffer or encourage maltreatment of those affected.  It means address the dysfunction as such and give help. These proposed policies do not help; they hinder and deceive... all at the expense of the children.   Our society can not survive if we are duped into promoting deception of nature.  Lord, have mercy.


Transgender propaganda

There would be no people alive to support this transgender propaganda, unless they would have been born of the union of a woman and a man.


Transgender School Policy

Schools are for education, not promoting political agendas and indoctrination.


STRONG SUPPORT

According to the National School Climate Report , 86 percent of LGBTQ youth reported being harassed at school, compared to 27 percent of students overall. School years can be challenging for all students, yet those who identify as LGBTQ often face additional pressures or concerns. We need to have these guidelines in order to attempt to reduce this obvious inequity within our school system, with specific emphasis to address the disparities among trans* students.


Strongly support this model policy

All of our students deserve to be seen, to be themselves, and to be safe. As an educator, I see first hand that young people in Virginia are far more ready to embrace each other's identities than those who fight for any particular policy. Let's listen to our students. When we catch up to them, we can get back to the business of educating. Ignoring the realities of our diverse culture and bending to the will of sameness only serves to undermine our academic authority. Protect and celebrate our students so they can be proud to have us as educators and mentors.


WEEP FOR OUR CHILDREN OVER THIS POLICY

GENDER: GOD'S GIFT FOR LIFE!     Translation:   We do not determine our own sex/gender - God does! When God made the first people he made them male and female - none other. When he finished his creation he said that it is good. There are only males and females who are natural descendants of the first pair. There will never be any other. And nothing that we can do to our minds or bodies can change that.  Rather, we are to ACCEPT and REJOICE in our God-given sex/gender. Suppose throughout all of history each generation had to decide what their sex/gender was for them. What chaos. What a burden of confusion.   For our schools to teach other than the natural, biological truth about our bodies is a travesty.  It amounts to mental and physical abuse.  If we pursue this foolishness, how long will it take to prove it is wrong? How many lives will be ruined? The day will come in which we wake up, with great regret. It will be like the blindness of previous generations who perpetuated the myth to view slaves as property and of only having value as workers.  DEFUND THE POLICE? No, DEFUND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION and DEFUND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY! Leave PARENTING to PARENTS!


Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Children

I strongly oppose the model policies for the treatment of transgender children in VA public schools. This does not mean to ignore those who suffer or encourage maltreatment of those affected. It means address the dysfunction and give help and love!


Strongly Support

I strongly support this. All children should feel safe and supported in school and I applaud the effort towards a more safe and inclusive learning environment for all.


Support

I strongly support the model policies.  I encourage our elected officials to do everything that they can to ensure that VA public schools provide a safe and welcoming environment for all children, regardless of their gender or sexual identity.   I want my children educated in an environment where they can feel secure, knowing that everyone's human rights will be protected.   Only in a safe environment can our children grow to respect themselves and others and develop the skills they need to be constructive citizens of our democracy.


Equal Accwss for Trans Youth

I stongly support all measures designed to assure Trans Youth equal access to public education.


Strongly support!!

Children are children, and all humans are humans. We need to protect our kids and each other, regardless of gender identity. Also, there must be representation of trans voices when the guidelines are written!


Equal Access Child Rape

Policy proposals = child rape. Policy proposals = child rapists. Policy supporters = child rape supporters. Deal with it.


If policies pass, then class action law suit.

Okay, everyone. When these s ram this through (just like they'll be ramming your children), we've got to suit them for all they are worth. Suit the VDOE and suit each individual behind it individually. These ers weaponize the law and then try to (and often succeed) in deplatforming the lawyers who would represent us. We'll do it to them. We'll take them out. We'll have them in court trying to defend their perverse child ing ways until they die.


Strongly Oppose Do Not Codify Delusional Behavior

I Strongly Oppose Plesse Do Not Codify Support  Delusional Behavior


Strongly Oppose - Don't teach our children to hide behind labels - We are all equal

"I strongly oppose the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. The schools should be teaching reading, writing and arithmetic and let parents teach their children about these other sensitive issues.  All children should be respected and be able to learn without fear.  Children should not be identified by their sexual orientation but allowed to be known by who they are as a person.  Let's not teach children to hide behind these labels that serve only to further divide us. It is irresponsible as well as reprehensible to accommodate, promote, celebrate or force gender dysphoria on taxpayers and most certainly not on our children. This is not a matter of equality.  It is a matter of simple biology and healthy psychology.  This does not mean to ignore those who suffer or encourage maltreatment of those affected.  It means address the dysfunction as such and give help. These proposed policies do not help; they hinder and deceive... all at the expense of the children.   Our society can not survive if we are duped into promoting deception of nature.  Lord, have mercy."


No: Proposed policy an attack on speech and science

The proposed policy for the treatment of transgendered students is an attack on free speech and on science itself. It is totally ironic that these policies claim to protect some vulnerable people from bullying while in fact themselves bully anyone who follows the evidence of nature.


Strongly

I strongly oppose the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. Gender Dysphoria should be treated as such.  It is irresponsible as well as reprehensible to accommodate, promote, celebrate or force such confusion on taxpayers and most certainly not on our children. This is not a matter of equality.  It is a matter of simple biology and healthy psychology.  Follow the science. President Biden always says “I follow the science.” You should too. This does not mean to ignore those who suffer or encourage maltreatment of those affected.  It means address the dysfunction as such and give help. These proposed policies do not help; they hinder and deceive... all at the expense of the children.   Our society can not survive if we are duped into promoting deception of nature.  Lord, have mercy


Trans and Non-Binary Youth in Virginia Public Schools Deserve to Be Safe!

Trans and Non-Binary youth at Virginia Schools and using Virginia Community Services need to be kept safe and offered support.  It is the right of all American children and youth to receive a "free and appropriate education" under FAPE, and this includes trans and non-binary children and youth.  A person, who is misgendered, bullied, and forced to use facilities that do not conform with their identity are not in a safe comfortable space conducive to learning and growth.  Please keep in mind the equal rights of trans and non-binary children and youth to a safe productive space to learn. Thank you, Wendy Katz, MSW


STRONGLY OPPOSE

This bill completely oversteps parents. It is downright scary our government is putting into law that things going on with our children can be purposely kept from us. Complete government over reach. A child’s teacher is there to teach, not counsel a child on genders, or to use different names and pronouns and keep parents in the dark. No child should be bullied or discriminated against, that’s about all I agree with in this bill. Bathrooms/ locker rooms are separated by sex- sex isn’t ‘assigned’ it’s actual something called biology. Besides ignoring biology, this bill also ignores any other children’s rights and privacy. OPPOSE THIS BILL!


Department of Education/ transgender policy

Strongly oppose the transgender policy for Virginia schools, K-12


I stand with Virginia Trans Youth

There is no more painful feeling of loneliness than being surrounded by others who vehemently oppose a trait of your very being that you have no control over. Trans youth are the most at-risk population in this country, and their needs both are valid and significant. Don't let these children down; Do what's right, and put the lives of our most vulnerable citizens ahead of the   hate that fills the hearts of their oppressors.


Draft Policies for Transgender Students in Public Schools

That the VDOE —supposedly serious people —should be proposing to force a series of policies on the already heavily burdened public school system in the name of transgenderism would make a circus of our public schools.   Promoting and teaching  transgenderism has become a fad in recent years, but we may be very certain that public schools in China and India waste no time on it.  Any person in the VDOE advocating these policies should be fired. Our children whose time in school was wasted “transgendering” will be ill equipped to compete in the upcoming world economy.


Strongly oppose Statewide Transgender Policy

I strongly oppose the proposed Statewide Transgender Policy.


Oppose Model Polocies for Tx of Transgender Students

"I strongly oppose the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. Gender Dysphoria should be treated as such.  It is irresponsible as well as reprehensible to accommodate, promote, celebrate or force such confusion on taxpayers and most certainly not on our children. This is not a matter of equality.  It is a matter of simple biology and healthy psychology.  This does not mean to ignore those who suffer or encourage maltreatment of those affected.  It means address the dysfunction as such and give help. These proposed policies do not help; they hinder and deceive... all at the expense of the children.   Our society can not survive if we are duped into promoting deception of nature.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

STRONGLY OPPOSE This bill is Completely government over reach. A teacher is not a counselor to children on genders, and should never keep parents in the dark. This bill ignores Basic biology, and it ignores other children’s rights and privacy. I OPPOSE THIS BILL!


PLEASE MAKE 1984 FICTION AGAIN...

Dear Oligarchic Overlords, Please impose your will over your humble subjects that we might learn to love big brother with all of our hearts, minds, and souls. "War is Peace! Freedom is Slavery! Ignorance is Strength!" Orwell, 1984


Propaganda Intended to Humiliate You

“Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, not to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to.” ? Theodore Dalrymple


Giving Up On Virginia - Opposed

If this passes my children will not be attending public school at all cost!


I stand with transgender youth and equality for all!!

Transgender and non-binary students in Virginia public schools deserve to have protection and safety while at school. I stand in support of vital protections for transgender and non-binary students!


Can a leopard "decide" to be a zebra?

Jer. 13:23-- Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?  Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to doing evil.  There will be a pay day for the evil of legislating transgender within the schools.


STRONGLY OPPOSE RUINING the next generation of potential parents

I strongly oppose poisoning the minds of children to believe they can be what God has not made them.  Can we even make one hair on our head?


This is an awful idea!

I guess I should not be surprised at the outrageous proposal created by the Department of Education, yet here I am.  It is beyond comprehension how something so utterly ridiculous would actually be thought reasonable.  How could it ever make sense to trample the rights of one group in order to advance the "rights" of another?  Could you really think of no other way to accommodate the needs of transgender individuals without taking away opportunities,  privacy, and free speech from everyone else?  You have no authority to compel me or anyone else to inhabit the alternate reality in which someone else resides.  This is complete nonsense!


Trans Rights are human rights

Trans Rights are human rights


Transgender policy

STRONGLY OPPOSE


Transgender school policies

i am totally against transgender policies in public education in the state of Virginia. First of all a child isn’t capable of making a decision of changing his or her gender unless influenced by someone in the school system pushing this agenda. Parents always have rights above the state concerning what’s best for their kids. This is immoral and has zero basis of fact. The idea is to confuse our kids to believe they are something they not. This is a policy of government overreach again.


Strongly oppose the transgender school policy

I strongly oppose the proposed transgender school policy. Regardless of ones faith or lack of, biology dictates there are only two genders...male and female. Biology also dictates that one is born male or female based on DNA passed from the biological father ( a male). A person can decide they wholeheartedly feel like they are a fish, but that doesn't make them one biologically. This ideology does not belong in the schools where children are. As a grown woman I don't want to be forced to use a restroom or change in front of a man because that person identifies as female. But as an adult, I can choose to go elsewhere...our school-aged children stuck in school all day doesn't have that option. They should not be mandated to do so, nor should the government have a right to go against a parent's rights of faith and belief system to indoctrinate all students with this proposed policy. I am a voting citizen, and if you vote for the policy, you will NOT have my vote in the next election!


Being trans is already hard. Schools shouldn't make it harder. (Support)

Let me first say that there has never been any verifiable instance of a trans person being sexually predatory towards others in a bathroom. It has never happened once in US history. Next, let's remember that transitioning is hard. It is a time of extreme vulnerability, where a trans person experiences constant degradation, harassment, discrimination, and often violence from their family, colleagues, and strangers. No one pretends to be trans just for fun. It's an extremely traumatic experience, second only to the constant trauma of NOT transitioning and living a lie. Sexual predators don't need to pretend to be trans in order to assault others. If a predator wanted to walk into a bathroom and assault someone, they can. There is no reason they would open themselves up to the kind of ridicule and violence that comes with being openly trans, just so they could get into a certain bathroom. It's absurd. Trans people want to use the correct bathrooms for all the same reasons that YOU like to use bathrooms that correspond with YOUR gender. Namely, they want to pee and poop in peace. By god, just let them.


Forget trans or cis, this is a logistics issue

we’re discussing this from political perspective and we lost sight of the real issue at hand. For a long time it has been the most comfortable and easiest thing to simply saying there are two bathrooms one for boys and one for girls in order to provide the most privacy and the least expectation of anything going amuck. Now we’re having to face a situation where people are not only taking surgical operations to make themselves different but simply verbally declaring an inclination that therefore is a political reality. That makes things incredibly more complex. So much so that we can’t simply create a different bathroom for every gender type, gender expression, Sexual orientation, dysphoria, or assigned sex. Not enough rooms in the whole school to make that many bathrooms. To my mind this could all be solved by simple logistical solutions. One of the things I read about in California it was a bathroom in a park designed to have individual stalls for maximum privacy without declaring a space to be gendered. In other words the stall itself becomes the gender specific bathroom. When I enter into that space it becomes my gender. When I leave it again it is no longer my gender. so how does this apply to us. To convert the bathrooms in any building public or private business or school to this kind of thinking takes a little bit of work. First the stalls themselves have to be supplied with decent closures for personal privacy and the ability to lock them securely against all intrusion. That means rebuilding bathrooms but it’s not a huge expense and it’s probably possible to do a lot of that at a minimal cost. If we can retrofit every business in America for Covid cough screens and other personal protections in a matter of weeks and months we can certainly retrofit bathrooms to provide necessary personal privacy. In fact once this start happening and people are building this I guarantee individual businesses will pop up producing the very products necessary to retrofit all bathrooms to a certain security standard. The next biggest problem is how to handle the spaces themselves. Thankfully that too is a solution that’s easily managed although this one is slightly more construction-based. To conserve on plumbing most male female bathrooms live back to back sharing a common wall and one which could easily be punched through to produce a single common space. Gender specific signs on the outside become unnecessary. Common activities like laying your book bag down being in your briefcase or purse washing your hands all happen in the non-gendered space. Anything more specific than that takes place in a completely private stall. there is still a couple of logistical hiccups. Urinals probably need to be removed and retrofitted with actual stalls. The fact that you can fit four urinals in the space or two stalls to accommodate  more people Will have a detrimental effect on number of people serviced in the men’s room whereas ladies rooms typically have longer lines. That is unfortunate reality of the situation. I think we will also run into more cases where parents will want to monitor the activity within the restroom more carefully because they know that there will be shared restrooms between genders all genders and even adults. Already many schools provide an adults only bathroom for this reason. as for locker rooms where disrobing is in fact a public event I don’t have a solution. I wasn’t very comfortable on dressing and re-dressing in front of other men when I was in high school and all the track team. Not changing out of my actual underwear between sporting events and school, between history class gym class and math class was a solution but not a particularly sanitary one. How does one then resolve the extended problem of a boy wearing women’s clothing walking into a locker space with boys not wearing women’s clothing and women wearing women’s clothing. My wife wasn’t comfortable showering in front of other women much less showering where men might see her. I am not sure I’m comfortable showering in front of other men. I made great efforts to shower and dress early in the morning or late in the dorms shower time just to take advantage of the single private shower stall out of the whole complex. I don’t know that there can be a solution to the efficient disrobing cleanliness and re-addressing of a massive number of people required for a team. But just saying that we shouldn’t be concerned or saying let the student claim the sex they want, those answers aren’t going to resolve anything either In short I think we can very easily arrange for anyone to use a bathroom with adequate privacy and security. I don’t think there’s a ready solution for locker rooms and sports. I don’t support the LGBTQ agenda but I do recognize the need for children to Use a rest room. Maybe with enough smart people you’ll come up with a locker room solution that I don’t currently have.


Transgender school policy

I am opposed to any policy which promotes or normalizes transgender accomodations upon our children or society at large. Transgenderism is a form of mental illness and should be treated as such. Our schools should stick to their only legitimate purpose - that of educating children. They should not be the instrument or forum for radical liberal policies which attack traditional famly values.


Don’t teach little children that lying is ok

I strongly oppose this bill. The government should never tell little children to lie to their parents, and teach them that this is ok and the right thing to do. This is further enforced by teachers being able to legally lie to parents about what is going on at school. Parents need to raise their children, and the government should not presume to know more about raising children than parents. Furthermore, this is going down a dangerous road to where the government can take control of anything by simply saying it is for our own good. A brief look through history shows why this is such a bad idea.


oppose transgender policy in schools

Please do NOT support the transgender guidelines in our public school system.  Our biological sex is not something that is altered by law and we are putting the safety of our children at risk when they share restrooms and locker rooms.


Disastrous - strongly oppose

Disastrous - strongly oppose.


Strongly Opposed to CPS Involvement in Parenting

Schools should not be contacting CPS if parents disagree with a child’s choice.


Transgender 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. Sex is not “assigned” at birth.  It is generically determined at conception. The recurring use of the phrase “assigned at birth” in the proposed policy is objectively wrong and crosses over the line into propaganda and double-speak. The proposed policy gives transgender students privileges over and above those of other students, namely the right to use the bathrooms, shower facilities, overnight sleeping arrangements and locker rooms of their own choosing.  Other students are not given similar privileges. Our society has sex segregated facilities for many reasons, not the least of which is a respect for privacy.  Do members of the Virginia Department of Education really support making their young daughters disrobe in front of biological males? Local school boards already have non-discrimination policies in place to protect transgender students.  Such situations require tact and sensitivity to accommodate and protect everyone involved.  The proposed policy does none of that and should be discarded.


Strongly Opposed

For one, this is absolutely ridiculous. No teacher will tell/teach my child what gender they are/should be. Also, I will not be told as a parent what I can/cannot say to my child in regards to their “gender.” This will also take away from girl sports and open the door for sexual assault/rape rates to increase. None of this is ok! Not now and not in the future. By allowing this, you are basically stripping away all female sports and the opportunities that can come from playing high school sports.


Oppose transgender policy

I strongly oppose the transgender policy you are wanting to implement.


Opposition to transgender policies proposed by Virginia Department of Education

I oppose the transgender policies being proposed by the Virginia Department of Education. These policies disregard the role of parents in public education, and express views that are contrary to those of many parents. Through its blanket endorsement of such views, the VDOE goes far beyond the path the General Assembly prescribed. The model regulations infringe upon the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children, and could very well pit children against their parents. Schools should not be accommodating the particularly harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible "gender transitions."


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose...what we need to do is put religion back in schools!  Enough is enough with this craziness!


Let Teachers Teach Education - Not Force to Undermine Parents

The forcing of the transgender agenda on schools is not needed.  Teachers have enough pressure to educate students on the fundamentals they need for learning.  They do not need to be forced to teach social agendas that they may or may not agree with.  I agree transgenders should be treated with respect and not subject to any bullying .  However, they do not need this sort of “protection” that takes more and more rights away from parents and teachers.


Transgender policy

This is not something that needs to be taught in school!!


Opposition

I am extremely opposed to the government creating mandates for gender promotion in the public schools. Schools should never be enforcing such subjects that are so controversial and should be handled by parents. This is not education at all. It is forcing an agenda. We need to get back to learning basics, English, grammar, mathematics, science, reading and encourage reading, and subjects for basic life skills like economics, home economics, arts, music and vocational programs. Gender/sexuality programs that clearly promote differing opinions have absolutely no place in the education of children. Thank you,


Strongly apposed

Strongly apposed, absolutely absurd.


Strongly opposed to the transgender policy proposal

i am strongly opposed to the transgender policies being proposed. Policy such as this have no place in our public school system and if implemented will open the door to a whole host of other problems


Absolutely oppose

just because legislators want to pretend, that if a dude pretends to be a women, I am required to pretend with them. I’m sorry I can’t do that. This kind of legislation makes me also think all the legislators do is pretend and play games with their constituents lives


Strongly Opposed

These guidelines are ridiculous. Students do not have the maturity to handle possible abuses. Privacy is very important in middle school and high school. Gone are the days when all parents taught their children to be respectful of others.  Unfortunately parents very often support their children no matter how extreme their ‘rule’ violations may be.  I am very much opposed to subjecting preteens and teenagers to not only having to deal with the possible bad behavior of bullies or other abusive peers but to also have another level of temptations of their own. Bathrooms and locker rooms need to be gender specific and dress codes do need to apply differently based on gender.


Strongly oppose!

I can't believe this proposal!! We are going down the wrong path with these policies.  Parents have ultimate rights to determine what their children are being asked to accept in the shared bathroom, etc. At school.  Not to be notified when a child is confronted is overstepping a boundary.  Please register and take seriously this objection!!


Transgender Policy

I am strongly against the transgender policy that will negatively affect K-12 children in Virginia Schools


Funding of Gender Promotion

Government  officials do not have a public mandate to enforce gender promotion in all tax payer funded schools.


Transgender is not LGB

Transgender is not LGB. It is a mental dysphoria as accepted by the medical professionals. If you think it is LGB, then you also think being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a mental disorder. It is not. Transgender women are heterosexual men, often with a fetish, still with their biological male genitalia, who are preying on women and girls in their spaces. They are NOT SLEEPING WITH GAY MEN. The are preying on lesbians and heterosexual women. STOP this absurd pandering to the LGB community by including transgender. If you have doubts, go ask Bruce Jenner if he is gay? Ask Blaire White? You are swimming in woke-world ignorance.


Strongly oppose transgender agenda

To whom it may concern, I have read through the documents in relation to transgender education in Virginia’s public schools. I am appalled that the wants of the (very) few outweighs the needs of the many to be safe in the one place they spend the majority of their waking hours - school. The proposed policies open the door for more harm than good. I urge you to reconsider these proposals.


Strongly oppose

You people are nuts. You're either a male or a female, no in between. You're trying to change thousands of people's way of life and impose penalty towards them if they don't go along with it because a few can't decide what gender they wanna be from day to day. Y'all got some serious for brains and need to be stopped.


Strongly oppose transgender policy

I want to write you to strongly encourage you to oppose any transgender policies in our schools. It is God who determines a person's gender, NOT the government. They can have "equal rights" without access to public bathrooms and locker rooms. This will cause another huge surge in the homeschool movement as many parents will not stand for this immorality. It is also not fair to allow boys to participate as girls on sports teams. Talk about pushing women's rights back 100 years! That is completely unfair to every female athlete. Please do what is right and the majority of Virginia residents want-NOT the vocal few.


Opposed to the proposed model policies for the treatment of transgender students- HB 145 and SB 161

While I agree that all students should be made to feel welcome and accepted, my main concern with this draft model policy is that it leaves parents out of the informational loop at every level.   The proposal indicates parents will not be informed if a student has expressed to school officials the desire to be the opposite gender or use the opposite gender bathroom.    The proposal indicates parents won't be notified if a biological male uses the same changing facility as their daughter and vice versa.  What about the privacy and safety of the nontransgender child?  The fact that disciplinary action will be taken if a student or teacher does not use the child's desired pronoun.  Where does that leave the parent who has no idea this has happened?  These bills may support the transgender child's rights, but it completely ignores all other students' and parents rights.   I ask you not to implement or enforce the proposed Model Policies for the treatment of Transgender students. Instead, I ask that you write a fair and equitable policy that includes all students and their parents.


Strongly Support!

These protections and policy are essential to protect transgender youth in our schools. This is suicide prevention! I am proud of this proposal and strongly support the policy as is! Protect our trans youth in Virginia!


Strongly Oppose

I want to write you to strongly encourage you to oppose any transgender policies in our schools. It is God who determines a person's gender, NOT the government. They can have "equal rights" without access to public bathrooms and locker rooms. This will cause another huge surge in the homeschool movement as many parents will not stand for this immorality.


Opposed to the proposed Transgender model policies

This proposed legislation usurps the role of the parent and forces ideology inconsistent with many families onto students.  That is the main issue with this legislation at its core. My child is in school to be educated in the basic core subjects to prepare them for college and the workplace and not to be subjected to the cultural social issues du jour. In addition, as a parent of a teenage daughter, it is NOT appropriate to allow a biological male in the locker room or bathroom with her.  There are other accommodations that can made for the minority of students who need them.  We should not be asking for the majority of students to make uncomfortable accommodations just because it's the current social fad to cater to the vocal minority. Lastly, if what my student or a teacher believes that biological gender is the only truth and speaks to that truth by using the appropriate pronouns, penalizing them is an infringement on their first amendment rights of religion and/or of speech. This type of legislation seeks to stuff liberal ideology down the throats of those with differing opinions under the guise of "inclusivity."  This legislation should NOT pass.


Opposed to VDOE Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students

I strongly oppose the Virginia Department of Education Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. I think this is significant over reach by the department of education


Strongly oppose

As a parent I feel very uncomfortable with my child going to the bathroom with anything other then their gender. This is just opening thing!!


transgender policy

STRONGLY  OPPOSE


Strongly support

Children who are vulnerable need adults ready to understand and advocate on their behalf, in schools, in the community, and in through the legal system. Denying the variety of human experience leads to shame, exclusion, and harm.  This is an opportunity to protect and shield young people from the negative and violent impulses of bullies and fear mongers.  We are all stronger when we act on the side of justice and equity.


Strongly oppose promotion of transgender education and liberal sexual lifestyle


STRONGLY OPPOSE

As a parent of five boys, I strongly oppose the Transgender legislation policy being considered for Virginia schools.  Making broad policies related to our children's sexuality is NOT the job of the schools or teachers.  Making broad policies for a fraction of the school's population is ridiculous.  You cannot in good conscience believe that there won't be severe complications with boys and girls sharing bathrooms and locker rooms or having girls allowed to go topless if boys can????????  What are you monsters even thinking?  Our children are there to learn but ....  we all know how the schools have abandoned that after the last year we've had of only offering TWO days a week for these poor children.  I cannot express my disgust with the VA schools in one comment.  If you pass this legislation I'll be forced to homeschool my children and raise them in a Godly home that teaches REAL history and REAL life skills.  The government school system has become a tick sucking the life blood out of our children and making them unable to function in society as adults.


Transgender policy

Oppose! I can not believe the amount of people supporting this, even “Christian” people. You are either born as a male or a female.  You are about to cause a lot of issues for children and the parents of such children.  This is ridiculous


transgender policy

STRONGLY OPPOSE


Support and protect trans kids

Everyone deserves to feel safe and happy, transgender people are no exception. This community is already very vulnerable, Anything that can be done to support trans people, the youth in particular, has my full support.


Strongly oppose

i strongly oppose this bill for several reasons. I am the parent and MY children are my responsibility not a teacher’s or a counselor’s or principal that I am not able to choose to begin with.  I am not interested in their personal political view points or their idea of what is best for my child.  I think it is negligent and irresponsible on the part of the school to do things behind the parents back or against their wishes.  Their pay comes from the parents taxes not the child and I have never relinquished my duties or responsibility to a school employee or some politician. I do not approve of biological boys using girls bathrooms or vice versa.  Add a 3rd bathroom.  Bullying isn’t under control why add another component to it. At what point are you going to stop taking a woman’s right to privacy way!  At what point will you actually protect all children not just do knee jerk reactions to new situations  I think time would be better served by getting sex addicts and molesters out of the school system instead of giving them another Avenue to hurt children I pray for all children and their safety


Strongly oppose!!!!!!!

I think this is ridiculous and against parental rights. This only harms children and goes against what many people stand for. I do not want my daughter's in a bathroom with boys!!!! I do not feel this is right at all! Bathrooms should be kept the way they are. I see lots of sexual assults happening and a lot of people just not wanting their children to be in public's schools if this happens!! Your taking people rights away just to cater to one group. If anything have a gender neutral bathroom which is one stalled and anyone can use it. But to make it mandatory and to say it's abuse for parents to raise their children the way they choose is ridiculous!!


STRONGLY OPPOSED

STRONGLY OPPOSED


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

Strongly oppose the model policies.  There has to be a better way to address this.  The model, as written, is grossly unfair to students who identify with their assigned gender and puts girls, in particular, in a more vulnerable position.


Stop the insanity


Strongly Opposed to the transgender policy!!!

I am absolutely opposed to this transgender policy!!! Considering moving!


oppose-as grandparent

as grandparent ---am concerned for the future of my grandchildren,life is tough enough for kids now without being subjected to these policies being added to the schools--and if this is not way of life for them then they should not have to endure this at school. It is a matter for families to handle --not the school


Support

I support the guidance! Respect the dignity of every student.


Strongly Oppose Promoting Transexuality in School

It is a fact that boys cannot 'become' girls and girls cannot 'become' boys.  Gender is defined at the genetic, not cosmetic level. Promoting the alphabet soup of gender identity and expression, especially to impressionable school children, is akin to child abuse.


Strongly opposed

Stop social engineering.


Very concerned and strongly opposed!!

I am 100% against this!! I am a mom to 2 young kids and this is very concerning to read about our school systems! I am 100% all for equality for all no matter how you see yourself-straight/bi/transgender/etc....and for fair treatment for everyone but this has gone to far!! HAS OUR SCHOOLS LOST THEIR MINDS!!! These issues should be discussed and handled at home with their parents... not in schools with teachers. Schools are for learning and teaching... not trying to convince our kids to become someone their not... especially behind their parents backs!!! The idea of having boys and girls changing together.. no matter the age... is very concerning and wrong!! And to top it off.... stating that its completely ok for girls to go topless during certain activities!!! Are y'all insane!!! Look at how many sexual predators are out they and that's just putting our daughters at even a higher risk. Not to mention how many pictures could be taken by these disgusting people of our daughters!! COME ON PEOPLE..... THIS IS SUCH A DISGRACE!! I have lost all faith in our school systems and that they are safe for our children anymore. If this passes and becomes rules.... my childern will not be a part of it!! They will be pulled from the schools and taught another way!! Thanks for failing our children. This world right now needs PRAYERS AND SO MANY OF THEM!!


Anti-science, anti-logic

I will not subject my children to this indoctrination of anti-science, anti-logic, “inclusive” yet exclusive mentality. Stop wasting our time with proposals that hurt our student body and are using our students are experiments to lead in a progressive, intolerant movement.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

Indoctrinating our children in sexual behaviors in school, ESPECIALLY K-9, is sickening.  These are CHILDREN.  Let them be CHILDREN.  Male and Female CHILDREN.  Please ... for the sake of the CHILDREN.


I Support!

I support treating transgendered students with all of the respect and humanity with which we should treat all students, so we can ensure they feel safe and supported at school.  And the dress code is excellent for all students. But I do think some commenters raised legitimate points: 1. bathrooms - it seems likely that transgendered students will get bullied in bathrooms, suggest providing unisex small bathrooms and changing areas for any student who wants to use them. 2. Assigned males at birth competing athletically against assigned females - I don't know the answer to this issue, but it clearly requires considered analysis to ensure fair outcomes for all athletes regardless of their assigned genders.


I strongly oppose this insanity

I fully support peoples choice of sexual orientation but these policies jeopardize the safety of every student. If these are implemented as a current dcjs holder i will have no choice but to chaperone my daughter throughout the school to ensure she isn’t the victim of the countless sexual assaults that are bound to happen.


strongly, adamantly oppose

I am extremely and adamantly opposed to such policies for our school and for our children.    This is an abomination and insult to God's design, plan, purpose and instruction for his human creation.   Neither sex nor gender (whatever title you choose) are fluid; it is a biological, scientific and spiritual fact that there are only two, created to support, compliment each other and procreate.


Get out of our kid's bathrooms!

You have no business at all telling our kids that they have to tolerate the opposite sex in their bathrooms, locker rooms, anywhere that is traditionally restricted to one sex.  Take your sick social experimentation elsewhere.  What is it with you leftist that you suddenly think you know better than human nature and all natural history?  People with gender identity issues need professional help, not accommodation.


Save the kids

Please don’t do this to Virginia’s children. The principles in this proposition are ridiculous . We are basically conservative in this area. This would be brain washing indoctrination. We don’t want this for our children. It is forcing the beliefs of a very few on the masses. Leftist, liberal hogwash. You would be forcing good teachers to make a decision to leave teaching in public school or go against their own beliefs. This matter is best left to the parents. I don’t want boys or male teachers in the same  bathroom with my granddaughter. And girls able to go shirtless?  The “education” they are getting now is bad enough without adding this insanity.


Strongly opposed

This is not what needs to be discussed at school.  Children need to learn to read write use math and etc.  We are focusing on everything but learning.  Bathrooms should be for the same sex.  This is creating a whole new problem if we are going to allow the opposite sex share a bathroom.


Oppose this policy in its present form

As many have said in this forum, this proposed policy needs a lot of revisions.  In its present form, I would oppose this policy.  Provided below are the concerns and areas of proposed revision and consideration keyed to proposed policy section and page number. Acknowledgments, Page 3: While I appreciate the extent to which representation for the transgender population has been invited to provide input below, this acknowledgements page does not note participation by ANY organizations or individuals who may hold contrary views to those listed below who would also be qualified to provide input able to insure the generation of an equitable policy and subsequent application for ALL students, which would more fully achieve the objectives of SB 161 and HB 145 to foster environments of non-discrimination/ harrassment-free, as well as a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, including LGBTQ+ students. Such policies should not be generated in isolation from the larger community. If other groups were involved in the development of this policy, then their contributions should be acknowledged here also so that future readers may have the benefit of knowing who contributed to the policy’s formulation. Were the June 2020 advisory committee members identified in the acknowledgments section or was broader participation made than what was documented there? Enumeration of the stakeholders should be made explicitly for the benefit of future readers, for increased transparency and future development evolving from this policy. Terminology, Page 6: Please offer an example where gender expression is not related to a person’s gender identity when the choice of the individual expressing his/her/their gender. How an individual chooses to express themselves is a reflection of their identity. Please enumerate criteria for the establishment of such an expression when, according to this policy, gender fluidity is a permitted gender identity. Guiding Principle, Page 8: Is such a declarative statement regarding gender identity by a five to six year old binding and legally actionable?  Given the range of ages and maturity levels between five to eighteen years of age, seems the elements of this policy are too broadly applied without consideration of student maturity and long-lasting consequences in the interests of the student, for which the parents/guardians are responsible.  Also, how does this policy seek to balance the rights of LGBTQ+/non-binary individuals with the rights of cisgender, binary, heterosexual students so as to minimize social stigmatization for them also in the same manner as enumerated in this section? THROUGHOUT, specifically on pages 10 and 12: “Persistent” and “intentional” need to be defined as they pertain to the standards this policy seeks to establish. Given the potential gender fluidity due to identity, maturity, environment, etc. in conjunction with the developmental phase for persons under the age of 18, makes the perception of persistent and intentional behaviors subjective, and therefore, present the possibility of subjective and potentially capricious harassment accusations against individuals who are ignorant of the student’s preferred gender identity or otherwise limited from using preferred names and pronouns (e.g. teaching foreign languages which only possess binary pronouns for an individual that identifies as non-binary, addressing a cisgender, binary, heterosexual student's comments about a transgender student in order resolve and address both students' concerns, etc.) Student Privacy/Confidentiality, Page 11: How does this process work in an age of social media, where students are still LEARNING to communicate and convey ideas responsibly in social media platforms, which may concurrently be available to broader student, staff, and adult populations within the school’s community?  This policy doesn't even touch on the changing maturity levels of the student populations applicable under this policy. Student Privacy, Page 12: Who are the parties responsible for determining unsupportive families to the transgender students? What are the legal criteria by which families are deemed to be unsupportive? By what authority/authorities are these parties given the right to come between a student and his/her/hirs/their family? What forms of “family support” would qualify as warranting external action if a parent determined such support should be temporarily or permanently taken away from the student? Obviously losing housing should necessitate appropriate authorities, such as the Virginia Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services, intervening for the sake of the student; however, if this is the guiding premise for the policy actions school districts are to foster or build from, some of these areas of intervention need to be enumerated explicitly. Parents should have the primary perview to raise their children, with schools supporting parents in that mission. There needs to be a goal to work with the student to safely share their status with their family. We are doing our student population and families a disservice, if schools facilitate hiding students from their own families. Recommend clarifying this standard applies to notification of other students and other students’ parents, but does not apply to the transgender student’s parents. Student Identification, Page 12-13:  See comment on persistent and intentional. For the sake of those considering or presently employed with the school district, the paragraph needs to be clearer and space needs to be allowed for students, staff, and parents to ask questions and engage students evaluating their gender identity. "Schools also should be prepared for genuinely innocent confusion or uncertainty that may come up from school staff and students." is the ONLY sentence in this entire policy which allows any accommodation for staff or students to engage in a PROCESS that could allow a student to evaluate their gender identify in a healthy manner. Recommend a formal process by which the student and/or parent may document the request to be addressed by an asserted name and/or pronoun. This gender status decision must be formal to provide transparency to all involved parties to be on notice and signify student/parent commitment to the stated gender identity. Additional substantiating documentation need not be required; however, documentation with local school districts should be readily available by both location and language for both students and families to indicate their preferred gender expression as a matter of record.  The school divisions' efforts to protect student privacy should not include privacy from said student's parents/guardians. Access to Activities and Facilities, Page 16: The notification guidance for parents is insufficient. Notification to parents of the policy application’s to overnight trips should be made for each and every individual overnight field trip. Additionally, ALL students’ expectations of privacy interests should be respected, not solely those of the student population explicitly identified by this policy. This policy, as written, does not allow for safety protections for students from individuals wishing to abuse this policy in order to harm students. Also parents or students who oppose this aspect of the policy are negatively impacted, if the student/parent chooses to withdraw from the overnight activity or overall program due to the administration or misadministration of this clause of the policy. Professional Development and Training, Pages 18-19: All of these components operate with the premise that a student’s LGBTQ+ status is permanent, fixed, and not open for discussion or engagement of alternative lifestyle statuses. While such a status may be true of adults, such is not equally applicable to those under 18, who are still under the guardianship of parents and/or appointed guardians and should be in a stage of life development that allows for exploration of views and perspectives. An LGBTQ+ status may be affirmed without completely excluding Cisgender and/or heterosexual components of professional development. The absence of such from this list of components indicates that solely LGBTQ+ culture is to be affirmed, which is not only untrue, it is also discriminatory against other Constitutionally protected religious and personal convictions.  Also what constitutes, "an appropriate community member"?  This clause seems like an opportunity to discriminate supportive, but challenging alternative viewpoints.


Strongly oppose!  Not your place.

This is not inclusion, it is indoctrination.  It is also not the school’s place to override parents. Outrageous.


Oppose

Child protective services called on parents? Ridiculous!


Oppose

Please doNOT involve our children in discussions on gender.


Strongly Oppose

Government does not hold the authority to dictate the biological sexuality of children. They do not have the standing to educate children on sexuality and transgenderism and to force this on children. It is not government’s nor the school’s responsibility to educate children and adults on sexuality.


We're Failing our Young People

It is so disappointing to see that Virginia is following the political trend to introduce these harmful policies that prey on young people who are insecure and still maturing physically and emotionally.  We are failing our young people by encouraging increasing numbers of troubled teens to make these life-altering choices when  this biological issue truly affects a very small number of people.  We are also failing our young women by failing to protect their privacy in restrooms and changing areas and their ability to play sports again their biological peers.


Strongly Oppose...Your body parts you were born with tells you what sex you are!

Strongly Oppose!


STRONGLY OPPOSE!!

God created man and woman, nothing else! Stop imposing anti-Christian beliefs on our children! It is tyrannical, diabolical, and wrong on all levels!


This is RIDICULOUS! Strongly opposed

Are we going to ignore SCIENCE, which tells us what gender we are regardless of how we feel?!? Not only are you putting children in danger, you are destroying the fabric of society by introducing TERRIBLE confusion! This is absolutely ridiculous! Do women now need to worry about prostate cancer and men ovarian cancer?? Do we need a refresher that men need more base calories than women? That their metabolic needs are FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT?? As well as bone structure, muscle mass, hormonal differences, etc.?? Why in the world would you introduce teaching that just throws EVIDENCE out the window and puts people in legal jeopardy who accidentally offend someone by saying ‘he’ when on Tuesday it was ‘she’? This is discrimination at the highest level! As a black woman, it’s not right that anyone on any day can just claim this or change that. You’re not helping minorities and under privileged populations—you’re dissolving them and making it even harder to break the cycle of poverty. Women and people of color will no longer have protected status and have the opportunity to achieve equal pay or recognition. A male who can’t cut it in his own field can then claim to be a woman and take spots that belong to others who are actually female! We’re already behind the power curve and trying to change the cultural thinking about women and their role in society, and now a man can just step in, with all his privilege, background, and opportunities I didn’t have access to and take my spot because today he feels like a she?!? Really??


Strongly oppose anti-science transgender agenda

Strongly oppose this effort. Science is science. There are only two genders... male and female. Calling oneself a female when a biological male is pretend. Getting sex change surgery does not change chromosomes. I do feel for people who have gender confusion. We should not be unkind. We should help them in the way we help all of those afflicted with addiction or mental illness. However, allowing boys to go into girls bathrooms or lockerooms (and vice versa) is wrong and minimizes the privacy of male and female children. If a transgender person wants to be called a certain name, that is up to them... until you try to indoctrinate our children with anti-science nonsense and forcing them to state that a girl can be a boy or vice versa. Again, we need to be kind but the truth matters and I will not allow our children to be told otherwise to suit a political agenda.


Strongly Oppose

Strongly oppose of the policies vdoe is trying to approve.


Fully support

As a mom whose 8 year son’s friend is gender non-conforming, I fully support equitable education for all students.


I am absolutely opposed.

I oppose each one of these policies believing that they will result in dangerous and harmful outcomes for all who practice them.  These policies are an attempt to make personal identity a psychological choice when personal identity is a biological fact.  And though an individual can "claim" to identify as something he/she is not, he/she cannot change who they, in fact, are.  Gender is a God given gift, and no one can change who he/she has been created to be.  Any attempt to do so by man will only result in confusion, pain, sorrow, and diminished human flourishing because it is a direct act of rebellion against the sovereign, almighty God who is the creator and sustainer of all things.


This is not the answer to children struggling with gender identity

This bill is not the answer to children struggling with gender identity.  While I believe these children should be shown compassion and love, promoting or pushing children towards embracing a different gender than their biology can have far reaching impact on their future mental and physical health.  For these and basic parenting rights, any bill that would promote removing parental involvement in such far-reaching decisions pertaining to their children should be opposed.  As a citizen of Virginia and a practicing nurse in this great state, I oppose this particular bill.  Thank you to all who work and serve those of us living in this beautiful state!


Science & Aesop both have something to say about this issue

In case Virginia's highest education officials have not been paying attention to current research, we now have incontrovertible and irrefutable scientific evidence that Darwinism and New-Darwinism utterly fail to explain the specified complexity of biological life.  Turns out that life is extremely much more complex than Darwin could have imagined in 1859.  Peer reviewed scientific literature speaks of the failure of Darwin to explain digital code found in DNA.  A word (the human genome) made up of 6 billion letters (nucleotides) simply does not arise by random mutations.  Of course, the popular press keeps the primary axiom alive because so much of our progressive social theory depends on Darwinism being true, that is, that we are highly evolved animals determining our own fate and making our own rules as we advance as a civilization.  Now that the lie has been put to Darwin's theory, we are left with few choices.  However, as painful as it might be for liberals to accept, intelligent design bubbles to the top as the most viable answer.   And, if that is the case, it behooves leaders to ask how we have been designed (hint:  as Male and Female) and to align social policy with that intelligence, an intelligence that far exceeds that of any one of us, including our elite social planners.  If we want students to find lasting fulfillment and inner peace, encourage them to consider the beauty of their design.  If we want to be politically correct, come up with a bunch of trendy new terms for gender classifications and then find bathrooms and locker rooms to accommodate each of them.  Wise Aesop had something to say about such foolishness way back in 600 BC, but maybe ancient wisdom is no longer taught in government schools.   His fable is called "The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey."   And I save you the time to look it up by telling you his conclusion:  "Please all and you will please none."


Strongly oppose

This is absolutely the most obsurd thing I have ever seen and heard. Girls should not be in locations designated for boys and vice versa. A strong compromise would be a gender neutral bathroom and locker rooms. Risking the safety of others is not acceptable for one group of people.


Strongly Opposed!!!

I am very strongly opposed to the transgender guidelines for schools! They are NOT protecting a majority of students in the body of a school. Those who have faith based or conscience driven desires for modesty and privacy will be taken advantage of and abused- there is no outlet for their protection. If a student is not comfortable using either gender’s restrooms or locker rooms, they can/should be provided a separate facility to protect themselves against bullying, abuse, etc. What is being proposed is insanity, illogical, and will result is hurt and abuse to so very many more than it would help. It will strip the rights of children, parents, caretakers, teachers, faculty, etc. and will cause chaos, pain, and an incredible amount of injustice!


Transgender stuff ridiculous

This self identity stuff has gone too far; its not hard to tell what sex a you are; God made male and female.  If I identify as a race car driver, that doesn't make me one - simple analogy.


Strongly Oppose

This is a huge concern as a parent, with both a son and a daughter. Absolutely oppose this!


Strongly oppose.

Save The Children from these satanic Pedophiles!


DO NOT SUPPORT

Which gender you are born with is permanent for life. Your bones do not lie. All discussion of the topic should be left to the parents, not the school systems or politicians. No agenda such as this should ever be forced on families and especially children.


Fully support

Fully support


Strongly Oppose!

In regards to page 12 of the policy, we are very upset about VDOE overextending their roles in giving power to school staff to manipulate a child's mind at any age. These policies are designed to help children hide aspects of their lives from their parents thus breaking down trust within the family. It is the parent's role and responsibility in their child's life to help walk them through life's challenges and decisions. VDOE has no right to take away the parent's involvement and dialogue in the well-being of their children.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

Absolute madness


Insane

What you are doing is insane. You are taking parental duties away from parents and you are putting our children and staff in a situation way they will be bullied and denied their rights! Stop this now


Biology Matters - There are only two sexes

We must not allow this to move forward! I support allowing someone to believe whatever they want 100%. Unfortunately facts matter. Biology matters! There are only two biological sexes. No matter how you attempt to redefine it there are still only two. Just because you believe something doesn't make it true. My words are not hateful, they are factual. What is hateful is forcing others to adhere to and perpetuate a lie. Again, freedom allows for anyone to believe and to live how they choose. Forcing others to believe what you believe is tyranny. The level of complexity being proposed is a nightmare for our teachers, school administration and students to navigate. Do not force our students, teachers and administration to follow these unrealistic expectations. Sincerely, Dan - a lover of freedom and truth


Oppose

I do not agree.


STRONGLY SUPPORT and if you care about the kids you would too

We must love and support the kids of Virginia. That means all kids. Failing to make this law hurts one of the most vulnerable groups of people. Trans and non binary kids need our support. We cant let hate win this one.


STRONGLY OPPOSE any changes or allowances that embrace transgenderism in public schools!!!

STRONGLY OPPOSE any changes or allowances to education or policies that embrace transgenderism in public schools!!! No child, especially elementary age, should be forced to learn about transgenderism by anyone. Public schools should not be considering policies or practices that suggests or even encourages the possibility that a child could identify something other than their biological gender. If a concern is raised, it should be private and very rare, addressed by the parents and doctors of the individual child. Likewise, school teachers should not be overriding and hiding any student issues, educational or otherwise, for any reason!!!!


We Strongly Disagree

As a native Virginian I am deeply disturbed the VDOE has become involved in social experimentation. Its not the job of unelected bureaucrats to celebrate and normalize this type of behavior in our public schools.


Strongly and vehemently OPPOSED

It is outrageous to waste energy, funding, time on a plan to address this when such a small percentage of teens have gender identity issues. The proposal states that all students should be free of harassment well what about the damage that will be done when a pervert decides to use the female restroom and my daughter is in there. What about my daughter’s wellbeing? being a teen can be a confusing time and what kids need is HELP when they’re questioning who and what God created them to be. This proposal is ENABLING the confusion amongst these youngsters. As someone else commented, we are endangering our youth. Your physical genitalia should determine the restroom you use. Period.


Proposed Transgender Policy

I am strongly opposed to the adoption of this policy.  It will ruin the life of any transgender person it touches. Well thought out psych counseling is the better way to go.   There is no scientific basis for the approach being promoted here, as the purported studies being offered in its support and have been withdrawn, as they were severely flawed.   T J Wear


INSANE!!

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, this is not American. I understand you have children that needs to find their identity but you don’t do it in the school system. This is looking at a huge law suit.. Theses people have to be out of there mind and something seriously wrong with them to pass this. Just crazy!! what is our country coming too?


Strongly Oppose and yes, wake up and follow the true science, not junk science

All our children should be protected.  By passing these types of policies we are in effect, canceling the protections to be afforded to those who are not struggling with their gender at birth.  Those who are being convinced and pressured to become Transgender or Non-binary, are in fact being abused by those who encourage such behavioral and physical changes.  At what point will they be held accountable for such actions?


Transgender policy

This policy violates parental rights. In no situation should secrets be kept between school personnel and children. Do not pass this bill!


Strongly Oppose Transgender Agenda

My husband and myself strongly oppose the transgender agenda proposed to the Virginia public school system. We have two children, one entering kindergarten in the fall, and will not send them to public school if any part of this proposal passes. Please hear the cries of Virginia parents and do NOT approve this agenda.


Suppot

All kids need love and acceptance as they grow into their most authentic selves.


Strongly oppose

As one of Virginia's public school teachers, these guidelines are appalling and dangerous. To be required to keep vital information about their child's behavior at school a secret from parents - the ones who deserve this knowledge most - is absolutely wrong. Encouraging and approving of keeping these secrets from parents conveys a horrible practice for the student to carry on through their lives and lead into more and more self-destructive behaviors. As a Virginia born citizen, I'm appalled at this dangerous document of guidelines, all of them, for our children and our families.


Support!!


Virginia Transgender School Policy

As a grandmother, I am appalled at the proposed Virginia transgender policy for our children.  It is our responsibility to protect not only the bodies, but the innocence of our children.


Anonymous (because I fear harassment from the LGBTQ+ people)

Oppose: Violates 1st, 5th &14th Amendment; violates settled law regarding parental rights

I would like to second the comments made by Paula Ryan of the the Family Foundation.  I've added my own clarifications using [brackets]: If passed in its current form, VDOE policies would allow any student, while at school, to act as a member of the opposite sex – including name change, pronouns, and the use of opposite sex bathrooms and locker rooms – without the knowledge of and permission of the student’s parents. Additionally, under these guidelines, schools will also be permitted to help a student explore, facilitate, and make decisions about his or her sexual identity while at school without the permission of the child’s parents.[This violates settled law regarding parental rights.] Additional policies proposed by the VDOE include: 1.      Failure to use a student’s new “preferred pronouns” – which can change from day to day and even defy basic rules of grammar (“ze/hir/hirs”, “they/them/their”) – would be “harassment” and “discrimination”, for which both faculty and students would be subject to disciplinary action. 2.      The definition of “Gender identity” is completely subjective to each person claiming it, hence it cannot possibly be known by anyone except that person. Since it cannot be tested or ascertained by any objective method, nothing could prevent students from constantly “changing” their “gender identity” to exploit many situations. 3.      Parents who encourage their children to embrace their God-given sex would be at risk of being reported for child abuse or neglect by the school. 4.      Schools would be prohibited from notifying parents if a biological male is using the same changing facility as their daughter that was designated for girls. 5.      All students will be allowed to use any bathroom or locker room they choose, without being questioned by any school administrator or faculty, eliminating privacy and safety of students in states of undress. 6.      Parents will not be notified that their child is being interrogated by school officials for allegedly violating these policies, nor will parents have the opportunity to intervene on their child’s behalf UNLESS the complaints are not resolved “at the school level.” [This is a clear violation of due process clause of the 5th amendment.] **Please note: All of the above proposed policies are permitted without the permission of the children’s parents. Wait a minute, aren’t parents responsible for the upbringing of their children? Yes, when it comes to raising children, parents are ultimately responsible for their children’s care and well-being. Additionally, most Americans believe that parents should have the primary responsibility of raising and educating their children and that the government should not interfere with this right except in cases of abuse and neglect. Parents assume a variety of responsibilities including providing for the child’s basic needs, ensuring the child is educated, and protecting the child from harm. This isn’t just my opinion, either. The law in Virginia clearly affirms these principles in § 1-240.1 where it clearly states that, “A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent’s child.” Furthermore, in 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the rights of parents in Troxel v. Granville when it noted that “the liberty interest….of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by the Court.” The Supreme Court also affirmed the natural duty of parents in Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925) when it overturned an Oregon law that prohibited parents from sending their children to private schools. The Court asserted that that the Oregon laws violated the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education noting that, “The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” There are also legal and financial responsibilities that go along with raising children. In particular, as with most states, parents in Virginia can be held legally and financially responsible for the actions of their children. For example, if a parent or guardian fails to take reasonable steps to supervise their minor children, and one of the minor children causes harm to another person or to someone’s real or personal property, then the child’s parent can be held legally and financially responsible for the actions of that child. These are called parental responsibility laws, and they have been part of our legal system for over a century. It is abundantly clear that the Commonwealth of Virginia is guilty of actively seeking to undermine parental authority by implementing rules that lie in direct contrast to the legal responsibilities of parents as recognized by the Virginia Code and the U.S. Supreme Court. What about the rights of the students who are not “transgender”? I think we can all agree on one thing – no child should be bullied for any reason. However, this doesn’t mean that kids claiming to be (or being told by adults that they are) “transgender” should be allowed to force other children to accept environments that make them feel uncomfortable, conflicted, or violated. For instance, the notion that all students must be permitted to use the bathroom of the opposite gender if they simply  “identify” as such because using the other bathroom would make them feel uncomfortable ignores the fact that this will likely cause many other students to feel equally, if not more, uneasy. [This is the correct way to interpret the 14th amendment.  The narrowly construed and twisted "understanding" used in the proposed VDOE policy includes holdover language from the Obama administration that was never proposed or debated in Congress and has not been subject to judicial review.] If the idea behind the new “transgender” policies in Virginia’s schools truly is to promote equality, then doesn’t every student deserve the same right of feeling safe and secure in school? If we can agree that the answer to this question is “YES,” then we must also acknowledge that the goal of the VDOE fails to recognize that every single student deserves fair and equal treatment especially given the fact that the number of students who accept their biological sex far exceeds those who do not.  [In fact, the VDOE has not provided this very important piece of information: How many children who identify as transgender (or their parents/legal guardians) have filed a formal complaint of harassment based on activities at or connected with school?] The proposed policies also provide no exceptions or accommodations for a student whose religious faith or conscience prevents him or her from adhering to the transgender ideology or policies. Indeed, these policies promote and accommodate the extraordinary faith claims of “transgenderism” over those who faith-based beliefs that God created mankind as either male or female and that gender is fixed from the moment of conception and cannot be changed regardless of an individual’s feelings or desires (and for which science empirically validates). At a minimum, religious exemptions and conscience protections should be afforded to those who are substantially burdened by the VDOE policy to ensure that the fundamental right of parents to raise their children in the manner of their choosing is respected and protected. But children should never be put in the position to have to raise those rights and objections to begin with. VDOE failure to address religious liberty in the proposed policy clearly violate the 1st amendment. The bottom line: [VDOE cannot make policy that blatantly violates the 1st, 5th, 14th amendments and settled law regarding parental rights.] We know parental rights are not without limits. The state has a legitimate right to step in when abuse or neglect as generally understood are reasonably suspected. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Virginia already has the authority to set reasonable educational requirements to ensure that ALL students are treated respectfully while at school [- additional rules like this one are not required.] Parental authority should never be superseded by the State without substantial cause, and public schools have a high duty to respect parents’ fundamental rights and authority over their children. These so-called “Model Transgender Guidelines” fail [to recognize existing laws/statutes which already cover the issue at hand.  Additionally the proposed policy fails to adequately scope the problem, provide cost/benefits, identify resources required, emphasize settled law regarding parental rights and constitutional authorities that protect all student not just a very few.]


I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS POLICY

This policy is not only detrimental to children and their emotional health, it is DEVISIVE between children and parents to the core.


Oppose - Free Americans will refuse to comply

It is audacious that this is even under consideration. Parents not only have the right, but the duty to raise their children within the framework of their value system.  No level of government has any business trying to insert themselves into that.  Shame on anyone who invites it.  This is so far over the line.  Disgusting. Shame on you for even having it up here.


Vehemently oppose this perversion

this is sickening and you should be ashamed for this. Sexuality is discussed in the home. Government overreach via children’s sexuality is the beginning.


Against this idea

Please focus on teaching our kids reading, math, writing,etc. Protect our kids, all while keeping communication open between the school and parents, NOT tearing families apart by keeping secrets.


Oppose these policies

The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools are harmful to children and disrespectful of families. It is not the job of VDOE, or the schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia, to undermine families and basic biology with such policies. Children and youth are in a process of discovering what it means to be male or female. Those are the biological options. It is not the role of schools and teachers to assist children in declaring otherwise. Children cannot perceive the effects of a decision to change or follow another gender. It is a disservice for school personnel to be involved in these matters that are under the supervision of parents. Children are still part of a family. They are not the property of the state to be used in a political manner. At the very least, school personnel should follow the wishes of parents and not usurp their role.


Totally Opposed!!!

If this rediculousness is allowed on our public school system, the results will be devastating!  How does anyone see that boys and girls(the only two genders) using the same bathroom and locker room will not cause problems??  This blows mind that it's even under consideration!


"Strongly Support" comments are void of substance

The record in this town hall comment forum will reveal that the vast majority of "Strong Support" comments are devoid of any substance other than the person submitting supports the measures.  So what?  Is this 'majority rules?'  Are we voting on this?  The real questions are, "What are the substantive issues at stake here?"  We have lots of kids uncertain and confused about their identity, some rebelling against the gender 'assigned to them at birth.'  Given our increasingly amoral and anti-religious culture, our social-media driven world, and a raft of doctors more than willing to profit from gender changing technology, it's no surprise we have confusion.  The proposed measures will add to the confusion and further normalize behavior that has heretofore been considered aberrant.  How progressive our Department of Education leaders are!  Our founders had it right in their reference to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God."  But, of course, I don't expect the Declaration of Independence is being taught today in government schools.


Strongly Reject Transgender Student policy

I strongly reject this policy regarding so called Transgender Students because it is HARMFUL to children and undermines the rights of parents!


Support

I support the guidance.


Strongly Reject Transgender Policy

I reject the policy regarding Transgender ideology.  This is a mental illness and you are promoting something that is not normal.  The school system should stay out of this area and focus on academics.


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose.


Strongly Support

I strongly support this proposed policy guidance. Transgender individuals deserve the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  They deserve equal treatment and to learn in a safe environment.  Gender is a social construct and someone fully being themselves is not evil or harmful to others. On the other hand bigotry and discrimination are harmful to learning. How is it that our children understand basic empathy and as adults we lose that? Science again and again has shown us that gender goes way beyond male /femal but also what does it bother anyone if someone is fullibg living their identity and experience. The true harm is is in the bigots in our schools systems and the bigoted parents teaching their children to hate. They are perpetrating lies about transgender individuals without every knowing or wanting to know anything beyond their false ideas.


STRONGLY oppose transgender policy

This policy is harmful to children.  Abuse, of course, should always be condemned. Virginia schools already have strong anti-bullying laws in place.  However, hiding a child's gender confusion from the ones who love them the most, their parents, in order to promote a political agenda is not protection.  Refusing to promote the scientific truth of biology and DNA and replacing that truth with a human-designed "gender spectrum" is not education, it is indoctrination of a human-designed religion.


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose this model.  There is no doubt that a child who thinks they are the other sex needs help and therapy. Parents are the primary educators of their children and are legally under their protection. This concern is a personal concern and  should be worked out with the parents, child, and their choice of therapy. Schools should only assist/help with this only when parents ask them to be involved.


OPPOSE THIS TRANSGENDER PROGRAM

This proposal, "Model policies for the treatment of transgender students in Virginia’s public schools" should NOT be approved.  It is unnatural and removes the responsibility of imparting moral guidance to children from the parents.  It is not the role of the public schools to attack and denigrate the religious beliefs of the students.  It is the job of the public schools to teach subjects like math, physics, English and science.


Strongly Support

Trans rights are human rights. I strongly support treating all of our students with kindness, dignity, and respect.


Opposed as Written - Needs More Work

Reading through the policy set forth is a step in the right direction but it still needs work.  I agree with the protections being placed for all students including LGBTQ and those with religious beliefs. I am opposed to allowing students to share locker rooms where privacy is not maintained, not like restrooms that have stalls in place, to whichever gender they identify themselves with.  What provisions are in place to ensure a student is making this choice because they truly do identify with the opposite gender if staff is not allowed to ask or know?  Will staff be made aware as to be able to allow the child access and what happens if a male or female decides to access the other sex locker rooms for teenage fun or mischief?  For those who don’t think tweens/teens would do such a thing should not be making policy in regards to youth. I do agree that sports should be excluded from this policy as though children with male genes should not be competing in female sports and vice versa.  Science shows the genetic make up alone makes males competing with females an unfair advantage for females. The policy as stated is a step in the right direction however it needs more work to ensure that all children are protected and have a safe learning environment and are not forced to protect one type of student over another which does nothing but divide our youth further.