K-12 Educator Very Strongly Supports

As an educator, I definitively believe that it is cruel and psychologically damaging to deny elementary and secondary students the ability to define and express their identity during their pivotal developmental years. My niece deserves to feel safe in her own skin, regardless of what anatomical features she possesses. Trans or cisgender, it should not matter. All children deserve to experience safe and nurturing environments as they grow up.


Strongly support trans and gnc people!

I strongly support transgender and gender non confirming kids, teens and adults!


VDOE/transgender policies

Strongly oppose political exploitation of ALL of our children, including transgender. Stop overstepping your  boundaries. VDOE is for Math, Language, etc. Not parenting.


Concerned

this is something that should not be brought to the school place! Having a bathroom that says other.. sure. Having children removed from homes ABSURD.


Protect trans kids

Trans kids are so vulnerable already. It is our job as a community to make sure our children can thrive in safe environments


Strongly oppose

Do not support


Strongly Disagree

Please affirm natural gender roles in the traditional use of proper grammar. Protect our children from potential dangers in bathrooms by having girls, boys and whatever’s. Girls, who want to be girls should be able to use a girl’s bathroom without being infringed upon by a male, who thinks he’s a girl. It’s a violation of her privacy and security. Please protect our girls!


Support

I am in support of the new guidance for transgender protections. We need to support all of our students and be inclusive and understanding.


If 99% oppose and 1% approve, who will you listen to?

Are you really going to do what’s in the best interest for society? In your mind you think you are but in reality you are sending this state further into the abyss with the ramming of a radical agenda down the throats of citizens who oppose your madness. What about the science? There are XX and XY that make us females and males. Anything else, is a mental illness. That’s science! Trust it!


School is an Infrastructure of Learning  not Care Facility

Biological Female is Protected Class needing separate Facility/Team as appropriate. Biological Male Facility/Team can Accommodate non-binary. School should get out of Sex Education because Infrastructure/Facility is not Family.


Full support of the policies for the treatment of transgender students

I am in full support of the Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. It is imperative every child attending a Virginia public schools is protected and treated with respect as an individual. Transgender children are vulnerable a target of harrasment and discrimination, we must ensure schools remain a safe environment for them. Thank you.


Absolutely not

This would be unsafe. Boundaries are established to maintain order for safety purposes. Allowing children to change who they are daily can create confusion not only for others, but for them as well.


Transgender school issue

Strongly oppose this, need to get back to education, sexual identity needs to be addressed at home and not be a distraction to the learning process.


Strongly oppose

God created a man and a woman not a transgender.


Strongly support

Trans rights are human rights. Transgender kids deserve the same rights and support as all other children in public school.


completely OPPOSED

I am completely opposed to this proposal for numerous reasons.  I work with refugee children (East African and Middle Eastern) whose parents would be appalled if their children were to experience this in school and yet they would have no idea that it is occurring.  Thus, I speak up for them. It takes the rights of parents to teach and shape their children away from them and gives it to the public schools and thus government.  It does NOT protect the vulnerable (our children) and instead opens them up to harm by encouraging them to question and make decisions in secret.  Further it opens up much opportunity for sexual abuse especially for girls/young woman as boys would be able to be in the locker rooms and bathrooms.  At a stage in life that young people are self-conscious and vulnerable, this is anxiety producing at minimum and inviting/producing physical harm at its worst. This proposal also does not allow for religious freedom.  Instead it will incriminate loving parents desire their kids to know and understand their gender as boys or girls.


Opposed

opposed


I strongly support the passage of this bill. Protect our trans youth.

I strongly support the passage of this bill. Anything less than equal protections for all students is unconscionable. Treating trans people with respect and dignity saves lives. Discriminating against them leads to poor mental, physical and emotional health outcomes and in many cases leads to suicide or self-harm. It also sends a message that violence against trans people is deemed acceptable by our schools and by our government. Do the right thing and protect your constituents. Put it in writing and demand justice for our most vulnerable populations. Nondiscrimination legislation shouldn't be a partisan issue.


VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED!!!!

As a mom and former public school employee, I am vehemently opposed to this guidance!! The VDOE is way overstepping their bounds. Get back to the business of educating our children in Math, English/Reading, Science, and True History so they can be competitive in the world instead of catering to a miniscule percentage of the population!!!


Adena Dannouf, Unitarian Universalist Community Church

Protect Trans Kids

It is important that our government do everything in its power to protect the vulnerable, and this includes trans children. The suicide and homelessness rates among LGBT+ youth are significantly higher than their peers, and one way to begin to deal with that crisis is for students to feel supported in school. No child should feel unsupported for being who they are, and there is no harm to the school or ANYONE really, to support the identities of these students. Just as it is important to support those with particular physical and learning needs, it is important to support our trans children and youth!


Strongly support for my Newport News student

I am the parent of three children in Newport News public schools, one of whom identifies as transgender. I am very supportive of these policies to provide consistent guidance to schools. We have already experienced the challenges and stress that comes from inconsistent guidance as we previously lived in York county, which did not have supportive policies in place. Trans students are some of the most vulnerable students and anything we can do to better support their education and development is well worth it.


Supporting Trans Rights as Human Rights

Human beings are human beings with, in America, unalienable rights. To classify any human as ‘other’ as ‘not of us’ has been used as an excuse for discrimination since our founding and it’s past time it stopped.


Gender Pronouns

Strongly disagree with the proposal to eliminate the usage of the standard pronouns for children.  Let these decisions be made by the students when they are older.  The majority of students have been reared in a home with the nomenclatures that people have used for centuries in the world.  The agenda for elementary children should be reading, writing, and arithmetic.


Strongly oppose!!

Stop imposing your will and indoctrination  of the developing mind of a child. It's not natural and you all know it.


How can we teach youth order if they can change who they are whenever they choose? Oppose

This should not be something children have to deal with in school


Please support transgender individuals receiving and/or providing public school services

Please support transgender and gender non conforming students, guardians, parents, and educator with policies that combat the hatred and misunderstanding that so many people share regarding policies that would protect these individuals. Many do not feel safe and whether people want to recognize these people are not, they do exist. Please help me protect them and help them be able to protect themselves. Best


Strongly oppose

Please do not support. My family strongly opposes


Strongly oppose

My tax dollars should not be used to support pushing the gender identity agenda among the citizens of Virginia.  There aren’t even accommodations for those who don’t want to participate in this - I thought I live in a democracy!


Transgender

Teaching children about transgender people and leftist ideology is just indoctrinating children to have messed up ideas about what reality is. We should be teaching children history, math, science;  just basic education. We cannot allow teachers to teach children that men can be women and women can be men. It’s absurd at the highest level. What world are we in?! If we don’t stop bowing and bending the knee to these crazy lefties, we will never win. We cannot relinquish our country, morals, and future to this stuff. Stand up for truth. This is immoral.


Absolutely Not

These guidelines are absolutely inappropriate and are not supported.


Please don’t

oppose


Oppose

As a parent of school age kids I strongly oppose this mesure. Kids have the right to be in bathrooms with peers of the same biological sec. I am not questioning transgendered people I question the fact they are trying to impose their behavior and their life choices in others that do not share their beliefs


Support trans students

Support trans students


Strongly Agree: Protect Trans Kids

Trans people are people — period. We must protect trans kids. They are deserving of respect, care, and non discriminatory practices. Children must feel comfortable and a sense of belonging when they are in school. It’s important for trans students to experience belonging just like any student, especially when they are clearly met with discriminatory attitudes by people who think someone else’s gender identity is a threat. From a teacher: trans people are not a threat. I strongly support.


Oppose transgender policies

Completely OPPOSE transgender policies in PUBLIC schools!!


Against transgender children going to bathroom in school.


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

I strongly support the model policies as stated. Please do not weaken the protections provided for transgender students as stated in these policies.


Strong support!!

Trans and gnc students deserve equality and understanding in our schools as they do in every aspect of life. Neglecting to do so would be a monumental failure of our education system.


Strongly support protecting trans youth!

We must protect trans youth! Trans people are disproportionately affected by violent crimes. Reprehensible when we have the ability to extend protections and don’t.


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

Strongly oppose


Yes for Anti-Bullying. HARD NO for infringing on others rights.

Anti-bullying policy is fantastic and should stay. Students should learn to respect one another...All. Students. Including those that want to identify as transgender. Some of these policies outlined are basically saying that this small minority of students rights matter more than the VAST majority of non-transgender students. These rules would impose a threat to personal beliefs, religious rights, open the doors to harassment, sexual assault, lawsuits, etc. These are not rules of equality. Quite the opposite.  And I am 100% confident that they will do more harm than good. Keep the anti-bullying, do NOT push for COMPLETE inequality in the name of equality.


Transgender Polices

I want to start by saying, I relize the position that you are put in is not an easy one. It's easy for us to come on here and tell you what to do without being in your position and for that I respect the members who must make these decisions. I understand that people have the right to identify as they choose no matter any of our opinions and even if what they identify is not supported by scientific evidence...its their right. It's also the right of the children going to public schools to be safe and have a smooth education. Having girls and boys using the same bathrooms is completely opening up the schools to tons of legal issues and safety concerns. If we want to accommodate transgender students then we need to have single person restrooms where they can go and be safe. Pro nouns change often and though I understand the need to not bullie an individual it is unfair and not ok to force other students to call a person as something they are not. Especially in younger age groups this will cause even more issues with gender identiy. If people want to call them by their choosen pronoun awesome but it should not be forced its a developmental disadvantage to children who are calling them by their correct Biological term. Also patents 110% need to be informed if their child is identifying as transgender for many reasons one being so the child can be given the recores they need and can be safe. How many children who suffer from gender identity issues kill themselves because and the people around them had no idea they where dealing with it. This is not an issue the school should be so involved with. If you are trans ok cool let people know your choosen pro noun use a bathroom in a safe place such a nurse office or a one stall bathroom, or the one of your biological sex. Schools are for education not for pushing gender disorders.


Educator Strongly opposes

As an educator and APS parent I oppose the policies put forth by the VDOE. These policies do not take child growth and development into consideration and place school ahead of family relationships. Among my many concerns are the following: -As children grow they are constantly trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in. Placing a label on students that can forever impact their future is wrong. Children should be allowed to question and wrestle with their identities without having to choose pronouns, or take any public action. -Parents are the most important people in a child’s life; it is their role to parent, not the role of the school. The role of a parent cannot be replaced. It is not the job of the school to decide what parents should or shouldn’t support. It is not the job of a school to decide what is right or wrong for a given family. It is normal for parents and children to disagree at times. It is normal for parents to have to guide a child, advise for or against something, to set rules, and to set expectations. It is not the role of a school to hold secrets from families and to drive a wedge in family relationships. -As an elementary school teacher I have had the whole gamut when it comes to family types, student backgrounds, faith, language and ability levels. I love all of my students and strive to make my classroom a place where each child is seen and loved. Children wrestle, flourish, learn and grow throughout the school year, this is normal and should be allowed to happen without the need for a label, name, or special group. -As a teacher it is my job to teach and to find ways to help all of my students to demonstrate their learning. As for the child’s role it should be to learn and grow, and to wrestle with hard questions as they do so. It is not the school’s role to push for quick fixes and/or labels, that could forever alter the life of a child or a child’s role to make such decisions without their parents’ involvement.


Totally oppose. Goes against science psychiatry

it takes years for children to understand who they are. Kids today are immediately fed disinformation on why they don’t fit in. They may gravitate to thinking they are the wrong sex, but they mostly are having difficulty fitting in. Picking pronouns and suggesting that a gender was “assigned” to them does not help them with their issues. It is destructive for them to think that simply changing their gender will solve their problems.


I wholeheartedly support the proposed policies.


ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

This would be terribly damaging to children in every way, and would negatively impact their psychological/mental health and well-being.  Parents should be the ones teaching about moral issues, and teachers should be educating, not indoctrinating.  Please just say NO!!


Strongly support!

Transgender children deserve to be treated with dignity and respect just like all children. I honestly don't know why it's it's so difficult.


Strongly oppose

Begin typing to enter your comments. You are limited to approximately 3000 words It is the school’s responsibility to educate our children academically. Please protect the privacy, modesty and dignity of these innocent children by keeping bathrooms and locker rooms separate. If a child has an issue with that then a private room should be provided. Please leave parents and families to handle the responsibility of dealing with issues of sexuality and let the school teach kids to read. Pay attention to the literacy problem we have in this country and start with that.


Do not consent

This is taking away rights from some while empowering others. How about keeping Male, Female bathrooms and changing rooms AND adding a Miscellaneous or Other. I think the costs of that would be much less than dealing with liabilities and other reprecautions of this proposal.


Strongly oppose!!I

I am strongly opposed to transgenders being allowed to enter girls restrooms or exercise classes.   They should use the facilities provided for their birth gender, period. Doing otherwise creates a safety hazard for young girls, not to mention confusion and stress in addition to the normal stresses of growing up.  Keep the schools out of this rulemaking. Keep freedom of religion in schools as well. No transgender education for students should be allowed.  Leave the sexual education to parents!!


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


Absolutely not

Absolutely not!!


Protect trans kids

We are talking about the safety of children which shouldn’t even be up for discussion. Protect all children...especially the vulnerable.


Strongly oppose

These policies do not protect the rights of ALL students, the teachers and administrators and the parents.  Please don’t do this to our children. A concerned parent.


STRONGLY DISAGREE!

I can’t wait to vote the idiots in Richmond out of office. Loudoun County school board as well!


Strongly Support!

Let's set a good example of acceptance and inclusion for our children through our policies. Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools


Negative

Oppose 100%


Vehemently Disagree

I strongly disagree with this!


Save our kids from this crazy idea!

We need to be protecting the innocent children!  Kids need to be able to go to school and focus on learning alone.  This would create identity issues for kids who are exposed to this ludicrous ideology.  Please say no and oppose this bill.


Strongly Opposed T

This policy is abhorrent in principle and in direct opposition to SCIENCE. Boys should not be allowed to be in the same private spaces or in female sports. This is a recipe for abuse and unfair athletic outcomes. One's biology(male/female) dictates which facilities to use and what sports to pursue. Not how one chooses to identify at any given moment in time. This policy is not fair to nor supportive of non-trans females. It places young females in uncomfortable situations that is not acceptable. It ignores the rights of those that are not following this destructive trans narrative.


All kids should be treated with dignity and respect

Transgender kids are at risk for anxiety, depression and suicide. They need to be protected and treated with care


I oppose the new transgender guidance!

The guidelines are anti science and highly subjective and should be discarded.


Thank You

Thank you for putting together comprehensive guidelines to implement this important law to provide safe, inclusive spaces for children and adolescents growing up in Virginia.


Completely Opposed

I am 100% opposed to this policy


Support and needed.

When we show students groups are protected, they know all students will be protected. Students need to see that when one group does not have equal rights, not only do they not have equal rights, but they suffer as well.


Strongly Disagree

I strongly disagree with this.


Strongly Support

Of course we should support trans kids, why is this even in question?


Strongly oppose

I cannot believe this has even gotten this far to even be considered to be talked about and forced upon impressionable children. It’s absolutely appalling and shocking. What has this country come to? Where is the protection for our children? Where are the morals?  We have a right to say what is imposed upon our children! When did we start calling wrong right and right wrong? Who is coming up with these extreme proposals? Why is it even being considered? Strongly oppose!!!


Opposed to the proposed draft of transgender policies.

With our tax dollars, FCPS wants to: Force Christian to use false pronouns, or face discipline. No person should be forced to swear or affirm the monstrous falsehood that children can be born in the wrong body. No Christian should be forced to deny God's purposeful design of male and female -- that's a denial of God Himself! This is a radical violation of religious freedom and freedom of conscience. Secretly affirm and facilitate a child's gender "transition" while at school! No notice to parents! This puts school administrators between a suffering child and his mother. This is designed to make children distrust and fear their parents. This is child abuse. Parents who don't "affirm" that their child is in the wrong body can be reported to Child Protective Services! It's Nazi time . There are NO accommodations for religious families who do not want to participate in this. There are NO exceptions for religious or conscientious objections. We require that religious rights and deeply held beliefs be respected. We are concerned about a redefinition of reproductive organs as "a cluster of physical and anatomical features" ... how will this apply to sexual assault? Will we not recategorize sexual assault  as simply assault since that area of the human anatomy is considered only to be a cluster of physical and anatomical features no more prone to trauma than any other set of organs?


Oppose New Transgender/Binary policy

Bullying of any student should never be tolerated, however special accommodations, rules, policies for this special group should not even be considered. This is an issue best handled at home and should not be forced on the majority of students. Public schools should focus a traditional education, not social issues that are currently the fad. If Virginia chooses to incorporate these policies, tax payers should be offered an option to send their children or grandchildren to a school that teaches their chosen morals and beliefs. I strongly oppose these new recommendations.


Strongly oppose VDOE transgender guidelines

These guidelines will not help to alleviate discrimination women will no longer have a voice in sports. How long have our voices been silenced? How hard have young girls worked to succeed athletically, won college scholarships etc. all Thai will be gone. Gone. Gone. Shame on you for wanting to silence women. if someone wishes to identify as a gender other than their biological sex that’s their right; however, they should Compete in their biological sex category. They should not be discriminated for competing with boys even though they “identify as a different gender”. It’s unfair to allow biological boys to Compete with biological girls. There’s plenty of science to back this It would be helpful to review all science and research to show this new “experiment” with youth will psychologically help children who identify as trans. The current science and research does not appear to support these guidelines but rather suggest a global “experiment” with our youth, which should not be permitted. Parents have the right to guide their children and the schools have no right to take away my right as a parent to nurture and educate my child. I will always teach my children to love and respect everyone, as we are all children of God, and to respect their freedom, but I will never allow someone to steal and usurp my right as a parent to care for and educate kindly approach this matter in a different way... there are other healthy and helpful Ways. these guidelines will do great harm To all children, even those who identify as trans


It's a good start

My oldest child is transgender. I did not expect or anticipate this and was not particularly well-prepared for it. Over the course of a year or so, she began to articulate her identity, expressing it first through hairstyle and clothing. We talked a lot about how you shouldn’t have to change yourself just because of what other people think about you. By fourth grade, she had learned what the word transgender meant and was certain that it described her. Nobody told her to be this way. Nobody forced an ideology on her. She told me who she was, and I accepted it. Our friends and family have overwhelmingly been advocates for her. I know we are fortunate for that. The two biggest challenges we’ve faced so far were related to public school. Her classmates mostly responded within a range from indifference to enthusiastic support. But when she first started openly using her transgender identity, a few of the students on her bus argued with each other about whether she was really a boy or a girl, as if she had no say in the matter herself. I don’t know if this was outright bullying or earnest confusion, but I do know it was humiliating for her regardless. At her request, we drove her to school for a week or two until she felt comfortable taking the bus again. In the meantime, her classmates and teacher helped normalize the situation and before long it became a non-issue, even on the bus. Earlier, my daughter, my spouse and I had met with the school. Everyone—the teacher, the guidance counselor, the administrator—was helpful and accommodating. We discussed bathrooms and school identification records. The only problem was that we were all in uncharted territory together. No one seemed familiar with how exactly the school policies should apply to our situation. This surprised me. Surely my daughter couldn’t be the first openly transgender student in her school. I couldn’t help but think how others had likely struggled silently on their own before her, in that very same school. Or how many others in different schools might fare if their school administrators weren’t quite so open and willing to figure things out together. These policies will help families and educators navigate the considerations of transgender students like my daughter, and make these discussions and choices easier for everyone. They will help reduce the harm done to transgender students in the absence of such guidelines. Much of the opposition to these model policies seems to be based on the incorrect assumption that schools will be forced to teach students about gender identities. Or that the privacy of cisgendered students will somehow be violated. (I would hope we can agree that no students should be violating each other’s privacy at all, regardless of their respective genders!) In reality, these policies represent a minimum set of guidelines to ensure that transgender students will not be excluded from participating fully in public schools. We need this. Because at the end of the day, transgender girls are girls, transgender boys are boys, and every LGBTQ+ student is a student. And public schools are for all students.


Support need for physical/emotional safety for all/Disagree with application

RE: Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. My comments are as follows: In general, I would strongly support that all person, regardless of their gender preferences, be treated with respect, kindness and afforded all opportunity to learn in an a physically and emotionally safe environment.  No one should live in fear. I do not support how VA proposes to apply these goals. A first concern has to do with bathroom access.  I have a 16 year old cis gender son.  I care about his wellbeing and others like him who would struggle with using an open bathroom or locker room with someone who is not similarly cisgender male.  Their discomfort matters too.  I hope this policy, without having read it, addresses the need for private changing areas. Other issues include taking disciplinary actions against anyone who fails to use the student's preferred pronoun.  This sounds draconian.  It will work itself out in time without using fear tactics.  It will take time for people to adjust but we all will.  Panic and shame over miss identifying someone is counterproductive and destructive to any person especially ones like my child has special emotional and social challenges and is covered by and IEP who struggle already with emotional regulation.  Living in fear or shame about using the wrong pronoun is not emotionally healthy for anyone.  Asking people to use the preferred gender out of kindness will work.  Most students will comply and make the adjustment if done injecting fear.  Solutions short of disciplinary actions will address most of the rest. Not requiring parental notification about gender identity issues with their child is not in the best interests of the child.  Parents know their children better than anyone.  Scientific studies have shown some children work their gender issues out in time without medical intervention.  Parents know best if this is a valid issue or if it's just some current social trend.  There is already evidence of this societal/peer pressure as a motivator not real gender identify issues.  It's a serious matter to take medical steps to change gender.  It's a difficult issue no matter what.  It should be done only when fully informed.  The parent, who knows their child best, has to be part of the equation. Not allowing any questioning of anyone entering a restroom.  How does this protect against predators?  This policy prevents administrators and teachers from protecting students.   It makes them afraid to intervene when they have serious concerns.  This is diametrically opposite to providing a physically and emotionally safe environment. It is not acceptable to assume that "non support" or helping a child to sort out their gender identity by parents constitutes "abuse."  No one loves their child more than a parent.  No one wants their child's happiness better than a parent.  Allowing a child whose brain is still forming (whose executive functioning, judgement and reasoning skills are still biologically and scientifically documented to be still under development) to make profound life changing decisions without the involvement and counsel of their parents, the ones who love them most, is morally wrong. I have a child who is ADHD.  Support for my child's special challenges by the Arlington County Public School system was abysmal.  We had to move away.  The school did not care for my child as much as I did.  I was constantly having to advocate for him.  The incompetence and disregard for him was extraordinary.  I have no confidence in any institution, other than a family, to care for my child as much as a parent would.  While I have encountered caring teachers and staff members, this is not universal and in some cases seriously lacking and surely did not last beyond the time in that school.  Given the vast numbers of children in the schools and overall in the state, the government is not able to give my child the depth of love and attention they need.  That is the purpose of the family.  That is why the family exists...to care for the child, moment by moment, day by day for a lifetime.  Try as it might, a school cannot do that.  It doesn't have enough people, enough money or enough information.  A family never loses care for their child...never and for this reason should never be cut out of the equation. Finally, I just learned about this policy today.  I follow the news but was only made aware of this policy through a friend.  Watching the video conference reveals strong predisposition for seeking positive feedback so that the guidance can be implemented.  This creates a cause to distrust your commitment to ensuring all voices are heard.  It conveys a predisposition to seeking and ensuring only positive feedback.  This calls into question whether VA made aggressive efforts to ensure affected communities knew about this policy with adequate time to consider and make comment.  I had only a few hours to listen to the video conference, skim other comments and draft up a response.   I think your efforts to get the word out where marginal and based on my earlier comment, I suspect targeted to those audiences that would give you positive feedback so you can say, "Most of the comments were favorable."  Perhaps this is not the case but all appearances say otherwise.  This is contrary to the highest principles of good public administration.


Strongly Oppose

I am strongly opposed to this for a variety of reasons according to my Catholic/Christian faith.  Let me first say I am always in support of anti-harrassment and anti-discrimination policies however this crosses a line which certainly is incompatible with my faith and beliefs and I am certain this hold for those others with similar morals and values.  Let me begin: 1) I do not believe that students under the age of 18 are capable of making decisions regarding gender expression of sexual identity.  If they are/would be capable, then the voting age should be lowered as well.  Making such a decision is just as important as making a decision on a candidate to represent them to form the rules of our land 2) I disagree that parents should/would be punished for encouraging children to embrace their God given sex.  Believe it or not, there is a higher power responsible for our being and everything around us.  That entity knows best and for us to decide/choose otherwise is to say we are above our Creator.  Who knows best?  Us or our Creator? 3) I do not agree that anyone can choose their gender at any time?  Do any of you seriously remember what it is like growing up in middle/high school?   Just imagine any boy or girl who would fake their gender just to be able to go in the same bathroom/locker room and then participate in various sexual activities. Maybe this is our answer to the declining American population, NOT!!!! 4) I disagree that all students should be allowed to use any bathroom or locker room they choose? Do I really have to explain to you what any boy/girl couple would do just to have the opportunity to be together during school hours? Especially those crazy, raging, pre-pubescent kids? 5) I disagree with a gender neutral dress code standard. No girl should be allowed to take their top off and compete in swimming activities, even if they claim to be a boy. 6) I disagree that parents will not be notified that their child is being interrogated by school officials for allegedly violating these policies, or have the opportunity to intervene on their child’s behalf, UNLESS the complaints are not resolved “at the school level." So a 6 year old violates these policies, their parent's will not be notified? If you do not see anything wrong with that, please seek help. 7) Overall, I believe these proposed policies will violate those people of religious faiths and beliefs. I want to re-affirm that I am anti-discrimination and anti-harassement. I also believe we already have such policies in place to protect transgender individuals so this bill is unnecessary. If one still agrees with this bill, then let me urge you to read more deeply.  Do you think it is right for a government entity to be able to administer drugs/medication to your child, aged 5 or older, to change their sex without YOUR consent and knowledge?  Let that sink in...


Strongly oppose

Ok


Trans Kids Deserve Equal Rights, Support

I support trans people having the right to use the restroom without harassment or discrimination. Every human deserves the right to use the restroom without harassment. It is the decent, humane, and just thing to do. Trans people use the restroom all the time without hurting anyone.


I do Not consent to this! It’s a hard pass!

I do not believe we should be teaching kids this, god gave us two genders weather you like it or not. What they decide to do is up to them. STOP pushing their ideology on others.


This issue is not for schools, this is a parent /family issue for home. The burden on schools is to only teach the basic academic  subjects for an education. It is not the jobs of strangers to guide decisions of developing minds that are not your own personal children. The schools are to teach. Mom, Dad, and immediate family are the ones who raise up our God given children. It appears to be exploiting all school children by allowing or encouraging any peer /child   to behave in ways that encourage exploitation. Schools are to teach. Spiritual, physical and mental health issues are for the parents.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

This policy breaks the parent- teacher partnership that so many schools claim to have. It does nothing to help a child’s mental health; rather, it is detrimental. It dismisses the parents who have raised this child. This policy also assumes that the school personnel has a more vested interest in my child that I do as a parent. That assumption is incredibly inaccurate. When a child leaves the school system, she/he will always have family. The schools should not put a wedge in that relationship. Major life decisions (such as repeating a grade, holding back for a “gift of time” to delay kindergarten, and any  conversation about gender) should always be in the parents’ hands— not the schools! Family will always be part of that child; the school system is only part for a few years of her/his life.


TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS - STRONG SUPPORT

Trans rights are human rights. These measures are minimum basic rights and protections that will SAVE LIVES. I know this is the south but the amount of hate and transphobic vitriol displayed by our community in these comments is disgusting, terrifying, and deeply saddening. Why do so many people hold such evil views? Protect and support our trans students!


Transgender policy in Va public schools

I do not agree with the proposed transgender policies for Va. schools but this does not mean that I don’t care deeply for families and children who are struggling with this issue.  I am a mother and have worked as a teacher in a private school. The public schools are not the place to facilitate help for a very complex issue.  Public school teachers are often overwhelmed and stressed with many challenges and the suggestions of these policies would only make life more difficult in the classroom.  Calling a child the wrong “preferred pronoun”  could be described as “harassment or discrimination.”  Parental rights and privacy could be ignored by the school staff who try to help children explore their gender expression.  This is not the role of the public school. Studies show that most young children who are not exposed to suggestions of changing their gender ID,  learn to accept their biological sex by the end of puberty.  Children should be protected from social media, movies and TV that suggest such concepts are possible....of being able to change one’s gender.  The vulnerability of a child with autism or ADHD can be a factor as well. The public school systems will have to change their high school biology textbooks.  Science matters and science proves that one can not change your biological sex assigned at birth.


Support

I support the guidance for trans student policies and protections


strongly oppose

I strongly oppose this policy for a myriad of reasons.  I will note several. All students should be treated with respect.  However, this policy goes well beyond preventing transgender students from being bullied to forcing teachers, students, and parents to accommodate behaviors and world views that conflict with their own strongly held convictions and religious beliefs.  I also firmly believe this policy will open the door to an increase of sexual harassment and exploitation, especially of girls. The education of children is primarily the responsibility of the parents.  Failure to communicate with parents, especially about issues such as gender identity undermines the responsibility and rights of the parents to teach their children academically, socially, morally, and spiritually and breaks down trust within family relationships. Most importantly, transgenderism runs counter to God's created order as described in His Word, the Bible, and therefore should not be encouraged.


Parent

Coming in with a strong PASS not a matter for schools


Opposed to Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools

All human beings should be treated with respect. Respect requires that adults refrain from harming children by intentionally confusing them as to whether they are male or female. As a matter of science, every person is either male or female; and it is important that children are affirmed in their biological sex, not taught that it is fluid or a matter of choice. Many things are a matter of choice. Whether a person defies sex stereotypes as to career choices or child-bearing choices represent true and important choices. But one's sex is not a matter of choice. Our chromosomes determine our sex and program our bodies to develop accordingly throughout our lives. To teach a child that she might be male, or he might be female, harms the child emotionally, mentally, and physically. The recent social construct that there is a difference between sex and gender is detrimental to the healthy development of a child at all stages of development. Hormone therapy causes devastating and permanent harm to a child or adolescent. In the not-distant future, this brief period during which educational "experts" promoted a severely harmful ideology will rightly be viewed as an extreme form of child abuse that left far too many young victims permanently harmed. Virginia should choose the wise course, which is to let other states experiment with this harmful ideology and observe the results. In a decade, scientific data undoubtedly will show that this ideology inflicted needless and grave suffering on too many children. If adopted, these model policies will expose Virginia school officials to lawsuits by former students, who as adults will want to hold accountable those who foisted a harmful ideology on them when they were too young to understand the permanent harm they were doing to themselves by undergoing hormone therapy or endless surgeries. Finally, calling these policies "model" policies is deceptive and a misrepresentation unworthy of public servants. A "model" policy is a policy that is optional. These "model" policies expressly require that school districts adopt them or more extreme policies. These "model" policies coerce school districts into adopting these policies whether or not the elected school board members think these policies harm the children in their districts. Please reject these "model" policies. Generations of Virginia's children will thank you.


Strongly stand against this! Not morally acceptable!

strongly stand against this! I will not feel safe with my child going to a public school system like this! Please don’t do this!


Strongly Agree

We need to provide a safe place for everyone to learn and grow in, and this is a step in the right direction.


Dai’Dieon Colmore, Lynchburg Students RISE

STRONGLY SUPPORT

Trans students in elementary and secondary schools deserve to be treated the same as trans high school students.


Support All Students

There is no evidence that allowing transgender students choose which bathroom to use is in any way damaging or unsafe for any student. There is, however, plenty of evidence to show that transgender students are very much susceptible to harm when they are NOT allowed to choose. At my children’s elementary school, there are two bathrooms marked as being available for ANYONE to use. These are the most convenient restrooms for students with disabilities, students with IBS, adults visiting the building, and yes, transgender students. Basically, anyone not comfortable using one of the large public restrooms in the building. These restrooms accommodate one person at a time. This shouldn’t even be an issue. With the bullying and suicide rates of students in the LGBTQ, and particularly the transgender community, being seven times that of their peers, it would seem maximizing support and safety for ALL students would be a no-brainer.


As a parent and educator, strongly support! All students deserve to be accepted and protected!

As a parent of a transgender child and educator, I strongly support these policies. All students deserve to be accepted, protected, and valued. Too many are responding out of rigid beliefs and fear but the harm is truly only being felt by the trans youth themselves. We don’t have to agree with or understand someone’s perspectives or experiences to still value treating them with dignity and their safety. Schools should be a safe place for ALL students. Safety includes being able to be themselves.


Strongly oppose

Our children are born male or female, it’s science! It is a shame in this society that parents can not be trusted to raise their children in the way they seem fit. Please do not push an agenda children that is unhealthy for the students. If this is going to be required it should also be required for students to take a bible class.


Strongly Oppose

We need to help our children to get up when they are falling!!!! Who if it’s not an adults (us parents, grandparents and so on) responsible for children to guide them to teach them and instruct them so they would not go screw minded!!! "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6


As an elementary school teacher  I STRONGLY oppose these policies!!

As an elementary school teacher, I STRONGLY oppose these policies!!!  There is enough confusion going on around these kids without adding this into their school day.  Or ours!


Strongly oppose.

Strongly oppose.


Support for All Students  & Families

You have the right to be treated according to your gender identity . I don't want people being treated over color, gender, or their beliefs in a space that should be safe for all students. Time to move forward and start arguing about other issues not how to keep holding other people down. Title IX is a federal law that makes sex discrimination illegal in most schools. Most courts who have looked at the issue have said that this includes discrimination against someone because they are transgender or because they don’t meet gender-related stereotypes or expectations. Several other federal and state laws also protect transgender students.


Strongly Oppose

If these policies are passed, my children will not be attending public schools.


Oppose Transgenderism being Pushed - Respect children please

We learned decades ago from the feminist movement that children do not have to play with gender sterotypical toys.  Now at this point, if a boy plays with "girl" toys or the reverse, that child is at risk for being pushed into transgenderism. We need to listen to the voices of those who have chosen to detransition.  They are telling us of their regrets.  One woman with a deep voice (from the hormones meds I am assuming) stated how her body dysmophia changed toward a positive outlook once she started running not with living a trans life.  I have attended a Planned Parenthood training.  I have spoken to high school students on STDs, and sexuality. We are doing them a disservice by encouraging them to be intolerant of each person that will not change pronouns at their whim.  And we have not long lasting research on what happens as older adults when they were put on hormone suspenders early in life.  When we push transgenderism, we increased the pressure students internalize as we tell them not to embrace the gender of their body and we encourage body dysmophia.  Listen to the voices of those who have detransitioned and wish that adults would not celebrate their coming gender bending but would have encouraged gender embracement.  We know that one out of 8 women has breast cancer.  Many of these breast cancers are estrogen driven.  What hormone related cancers are we exposing our children to?


Please do not ignore parental rights

As a mother of 6 children all in Virginia public schools, I am appalled that the Department would put such a wedge between parents and their children.  Saying that "schools should help make decisions about gender identity without the parents being informed" is an outright attack on the family unit.  The family unit which is the foundation of society, and the provider of stable tax dollars used to fund your schools.   While every single human being has innate dignity and worth, your approach to achieving "equality" it is inappropriate.   Children should be affirmed in ways that uplift the beauty of their body, and not at the cost of dismantling the truth and goodness of human sexuality.  This "Guidance" only fortifies regressive, sexist stereotypes by enshrining the notion that subjective feelings and preferences (like hobbies, attire, emotional patterns, or style of interaction) are what define a man or a woman.  What an insult.  Many sex specific environments have cultivated support, growth and success among women and men- which is tremendously vital during the developmental years of a child's life.  This guidance document is NOT what Virginians want.


support. lets go boyes

So ummmmm why wouldn't you support trans kids??? Neglecting them and going against them messes them up mentally and that's just not good dudes!! I don't care about your religious or political beliefs, they may be important to you but that's no excuse to berate and invalidate trans students!! "yOuRE jUST ConFUsInG OuR ChiLDREn" We're not ing dumb Melissa. "iTS a MEnTaL IllNEsS!!!!" Be quiet, Diana. "GOD DIDN'T MAKE YOU THIS WAY!!!!!!!!" Coming from a religious person, if God loves everyone so much, then why do you say that trans people will go to hell just for being trans?? Everyone should be treated equally. And nobody is forcing this into your children, they're just making the environment safer for trans people who need safety. from a trans person :]


I vehemently oppose

Strongly oppose


Strongly Oppose Transgender Guidelines

VDOE as you know a teacher’s job is very difficult. It is totally discriminatory to take away the rights of teachers and other students by insisting that using the given name of a child instead of a name or pronoun a child chooses on any given day is harassment.  To say the child’s name is not harassment or discrimination. People are not mind readers and most people do not photographic memories.  Schools do not have the right to take away parents authority over their children.  This is what is done in communist or socialist countries were no one is free.  Many children are confused about their gender when they are young. Most outgrow the confusion naturally. Children do not need school personnel causing more confusion in their lives by going behind their parents back and teaching them about sexual identity. Gender identity is not subjective and to say it is only causes confusion in a child. How can parents who encourage their children to embrace their God-given sex be abuse or neglect?   Parents want what is best for their children. They know their children better than any school personnel. To allow a child access to bathrooms or a locker room on any day based on the whim of the child’s sexual identity for that day takes away the other children’s right to privacy and will ultimately lead to sexual abuse. Parents should always be involved in any interrogation of their child by school officials. Parents have the God given right to know what their children are being taught. These ideas should never be school policies. These policies will inter with a teacher’s ability teach and educate the children. These policies will cause teachers and students unfair treatment by school official and administrators. None of these policies are good for our children or Virginia. They will do more harm than good even to the students they are supposed to help.


OPPOSED STRONGLY

Keep it out of schools!!!!!


Concerns about scientific accuracy

While I surely support compassion and appropriate care for children who experience various kinds of gender dysphoria (e.g., https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gender-dysphoria/symptoms-causes/syc-20475255 ), I wish to register concern about the proposed model policy document.  It strikes me as a well-intentioned but misguided overreaction.  As a professional scientist, I would hope that before taking actions that seem to defy common sense (such as allowing boys and girls of school age to mix in bathrooms or even overnight accommodations according to self-selection criteria that can not be criticized), one would at least seek to have a model policy based on sound and noncontroversial science.  We are not at that point yet. Why do I say that this document and part of its reasoning are based on statements or principles that are not scientifically proven?  For example, the document asserts “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six.”  This is not an uncontroversial scientific fact.  Rather, studies show that children who exhibit gender dysphoria will normally resolve that according to their sex assigned at birth in the majority of cases by the time of puberty.  This is stated, for example,  by Dr. Stephen Stathis, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Children’s Health Hospital, Queensland, Australia, in this article, https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/blog-gender-dysphoria-in-children-and-adolescents-is-not-a-phase/ .  The approach explained by Dr. Stathis and used in Queensland recognizes both the seriousness and the complexity of the problem and the need for a compassionate and scientifically and practically sound response to children who are affected by various gender-related situations.  No one solution suits all. Furthermore, a 2018 article [Littman L (2018) Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. PLoS ONE 13(8): e0202330. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202330, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0202330 ] speaks of “… the possibility of a potential new subcategory of gender dysphoria (referred to as rapid-onset gender dysphoria) that has not yet been clinically validated and the possibility of social influences and maladaptive coping mechanisms. Parent-child conflict may also explain some of the findings. More research that includes data collection from AYAs, parents, clinicians, and third party informants is needed to further explore the roles of social influence, maladaptive coping mechanisms, parental approaches, and family dynamics in the development and duration of gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults.” Another 2018 article states “virtually nothing is known regarding adolescent-onset GD [gender dysphoria], its progression and factors that influence the completion of the developmental tasks of adolescence among young people with GD and/or transgender identity.” (Kaltiala-Heino R, Bergman H, Työläjärvi M, Frisén L. Gender dysphoria in adolescence: current perspectives. Adolesc Health Med Ther . 2018;9:31-41.  Published 2018 Mar 2. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S135432, available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5841333/ ) Gender and its dysphoria are very complex matters about which the science is not yet settled (the science in any case can not settle the inevitable philosophical questions concerning the very meaning of the terms themselves).  In particular, it is not clear to me that it is wisest that the child should be the one allowed to make the determination about gender identity.  Children are continually interacting in a variety of ways with other children, adults, family, teachers, and professionals.  This is a complex matrix in which children are situated, and identity is an emergent phenomenon arising from such a complex set of interactions. More than the child is involved in making this determination. If I were to try to identify the most significant problem with the present document, it focuses too much on the particular child who has special needs with respect to gender issues and fails to account for the ways others need to be taken into account in dealing with that child’s issues.  I for one would have a problem in Virginia being a teacher in a public school under these guidelines since they defy common sense and I would have to be very critical of them, as stated above (but I have never been such a teacher).  I see these policies as potentially quite harmful to other children or to parents who do not agree with the principle of “fixing” a complex problem by an educational policy.  Yes, I do support the need for special care and compassionate treatment of children who experience any kind of gender dysphoria.  But the “cure” may be worse than the “problem.”  Consequently, I hope the Virginia Department of Education will truly listen to voices that do not share their perspective on these matters and revise this policy document accordingly.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

I strongly oppose The Virginia Department of Education Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools (Model Policies). The Model Policies not only contradict science and reason, as well as the teachings of many religious faiths, the Policies fail to consider the role of parents as the primary educators of their children. The Policies flagrantly contradict the Virginia Department of Education and the Board of Education's stated beliefs "that families and schools working in collaboration can create meaningful relationships that lead to significant gains in student achievement and success. We strongly encourage local school officials to develop plans and policies to enhance family engagement in their children's school, lives, and in the education community..." The Model Policies also contradict the Fairfax County Public School system's  "BELIEFS" which state: "The Dynamic and supportive partnerships among students, parents, educators, and the community are critical to meet student needs and provide enriching experiences" and "Families play a fundamental role in their children's education." Please uphold the critical and most basic relationship between parents and their children and reject the Model Policies.


Absolutely, strongly, enthusiastically, SUPPORT

I support these proposals in their ENTIRETY. Children need support, or they cannot excel. Absolutely appalled at many of these hateful comments. This hatred has absolutely no place in our schools. As the twin of a transgender brother who is now an EMT out there saving EVERYONE'S lives no matter their identity - I saw close at hand how hurtful, how absolutely debilitating hatred in school was to his education. The protections in place today are not enough. We NEED these proposals NOW. We needed them yesterday. These policies, followed by the school system, will show transgender students' classmates how to be OPEN MINDED, LOVING, ACCEPTING, SUPPORTIVE allies, adults, PEOPLE. How dare these commenters suggest that these policies will pollute children's minds. We absolutely must support every child if we want any to succeed. I give my full support.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

Trans kids must be protected as the they have little to no protections as it stands right now. It’s the responsibility of adults to protect children and especially the responsibility of those who hold any sort of office to protect their LGBT+ citizens, trans people often being the most often harmed.


Trans youth need community & school support

It is imperative that students of every gender identity have the support of their schools and communities in their formative years.  The ways that students are treated not just by their classmates, but by their teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, and even parent teacher aides show how they can expect to be treated in the adult world.  There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever favoring the opinion that inclusion of trans students in sports has a negative effect on any of their fellow teammates.  There is no evidence favoring the lies that treating trans students with a greater dignity than they’ve been offered historically will have any negative effect on their classmates.  I am strongly and passionately in favor of these guidelines, and ask that you consider the quality of life you really want these students to have in these years that will mark their relationship to society for life.


VA. Dept. Of Transgender Education's Transgender Policies

I cannot believe that you are even considering such a policy. Whether a child is born Male or Female is obvious. And you are WAY overstepping your boundaries to have the schools counseling with students without the parents consent. I am TOTALLY AGAINST ANY PARTS OF IT!


Transgender

strongly disagree.  We cannot keep making exceptions for  every exceptional problem.  It is not right to have students choosing which bathroom they would like to use.  This would lead to more bullying etc.  if a male feels like a female use the men’s room until mature.  If they then would like to become female go through the surgery etc.  same for females.  This transgender thing is way out of touch with reality.  Men play men’s games and women play their games.  Men should dress as men and the same for women.  This idea has destroyed Boy Scouts.  May God help us. This is nuts.


FULL SUPPORT!

All students deserve to the right to identify and express themselves as they feel, and for that identity to be respected. Trans and non-binary kids deserve love and respect, and people who think that allowing them to be supported means threatening the safety of cisgender students is completely off base and factually incorrect. Trans and non-binary students are not the ones putting others' safety at risk- THEY are the ones who are overwhelingly targeted and at increased risk for violence victimization, substance abuse, suicide risk, and sexual risk than their cisgender classmates because of the stigma and transphobic culture of our society. Allow students to be equally accepted and embraced and feel safe at your school.


Virginia Dept of Education Transgender policies.

I strongly OPPOSE these draft policies for treatment of transgender students.  This is another attack on traditional Judeo/Christian values and beliefs.  It is also another attack on the family. These policies intentionally remove parents from the part they play in nurturing their own children.  The thought of allowing males to be present in the same changing facilities as girls  and young women will invite all forms of sexual violations .  As a parent of two girls, I believe this is a bad idea. The proposed policies provide no exceptions for parents who find them abhorrent.


STRONGLY OPPOSED

Enough already! Every day brings something more absurd than yesterday to the table.  God help us and protect our children from all evil ??


Strongly Oppose

I am strongly opposed to transgender curriculum being added in K-12 schools. Students, especially at the elementary level and middle school, are very impressionable and are trusting of those who teach them. I believe this will do more harm than good, and it will not create the loving environment you envision. Children should be allowed to be children without an agenda and being forced to decide. Humans can only be two genders, and science (DNA) confirms this. Parents should be informed with any concerns that take place in the schools as well.


Policy on transgender students

Please do not ignore the crucial role parents play.  To identify parents who oppose the transgender identity as abusive is shameful.  It’s amazing to me for how small the actual population of transgender individuals there are, how the majority of non transgender individuals must bow to them.  God made us male and female.  We are never told in the Bible that we can choose whatever sex we want.  So to exclude parents and the important role they play in their children’s lives is blatantly wrong.


Strongly Oppose!!

Let the parents  raise their children, not the state!!


Support for protections and guidelines for transgender students.

Protections and guidelines for schools in regards to transgender youth protect transgender students from discriminatory,  penal, or hateful treatment. Additionally, providing a welcoming education setting for transgender students benefits the students themselves, but also aids in creating a more equitable and open learning environment for all students. I support the guidelines for transgender students and think they would provide great benefit to schools, school divisions, and school communities.


Strongly Oppose

Strongly oppose transgenders(born male) using female bathrooms, locker rooms, showers and in sports. Violence and rape will increase and unfair advantage in sports.  Virginia should be ashamed!!


Opposed

I dont agree with any type of special treatment for transgenders. School is about getting an education, everything else is a bonus.


Mary Butler - Mother of two FCPS students

Vehemently OPPOSE!!!

This is the most insane and ridiculous thing I have ever heard. This is awful!  This is a disorder that needs to be treated by qualified professionals not an opportunity to push a particular agenda. I consider this child abuse in the worst way. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS TRAVESTY YOU ARE TRYING TO INFLICT ON OUR CHILDREN. I am concerned and strongly believe everyone should remove their children from FCPS. This is shameful.  Sick.


Strongly Support

Denying protections to a vulnerable group of people will do nothing to create a safe learning environment for all students. Every individual has the right to be who they are. Attempts to discriminate won't change that. All children should feel safe and respected when they are at school.


Disgusting.  No way!  what sick mid came up with this.

When is our congress going to show some leadership.  We have a problem with sex crimes now. This will only make it worst.  Next thing you know the make teachers will want to shower with the female students.   What sick mind came up with this.


For the well-being of students and families I oppose this guidance

Because I care that every student be treated with respect and that the role of parents should be strengthened, I must oppose this guidance. While it claims to be “evidence-based,” the guidance draws “evidence” from advocacy groups who have politicized the research outcomes and recommendations. Furthermore, this policy will obliterate girls’ sports.


Support transgender students!

This is an important step to encouraging a "positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students." We should be removing the barriers that make it harder for people to receive a proper education, live and exist. Protect and support transgender students.


An unconditional NO!!!!

There are so many reasons to be against this transgender legislation. I firmly believe parents have the ultimate say in their children’s upbringing and so much of this legislation is laser focused on usurping parental rights and authority with their children. To the allowing of anyone, according to their gender identity, to use restrooms and changing rooms: To begin with, the very idea that a gender confused adolescent is the one driving this vehicle is terrifying. They cannot so much as vote until they’re 18 but they CAN decide to subjectively identify themselves differently than their anatomy identifies them—and everyone else is to be subject to that???? In whatever state of undress they happen to be??? And that’s okay?!?! To compound matters, not notifying parents that their daughter is sharing a changing facility with a biological male is as dangerous as it is wrong. If my daughter is abused by another student who identifies as a female but is biologically male, I would hold  the school 100% responsible—99% of parents would do the same. Beyond that, why in the world should a vulnerable teenaged girl  be subject to a young man who subjectively claims to share her gender—no! and that schools are forbidden from advising me, as the parent,  that this is taking place?! In what universe?? And that these policies allow for no exceptions based on religious faith and strongly held beliefs is WRONG. To those of a strong faith, it is clear that these laws are diametrically opposed to all we believe and how we are raising our children—and to remove our right to continue to raise our children as we see fit and according to Biblical mandates is utterly reprehensible.


Former resident thrilled to see these policies!

As a former resident of Virginia it warms my heart to see such an inclusive bill! Transgender and gender non-conforming children can have such a tough time in school. Policies like these will help schools become a safe learning environment for all students.


Policies for the treatment of transgender students in Virginia’s public schools

As a Black non-binary person with experience working alongside trans and non-binary youth, dealing with bullying from both other students and administration is a pretty hot topic. There’s only so much “ignoring” a person can do, and having to deal with that everyday takes an emotional toll. It’s worse when policies aren’t on their side, as they feel like there’s no true protections, no true safe spaces in their schools. Supporting this guidance would create a welcoming environment for everyone to thrive.


Strongly support advocacy for ALL people in schools! Great step forward!

All groups, especially CHILDREN, deserve protection and acceptance. This is a great step forward for teaching tolerance and open-mindedness.


Support

I support this.


Opposed

As a mother and someone who has taught all ages in public schools, private school, and homeschooling, I have some serious concerns. I don’t want students who are already struggling with who they are to be treated poorly, but this has many serious issues. I really don’t even know where to start. Even something as simple as not allowing teachers to direct any students to the correct restroom, is absurd. I’ve had to politely call out students many times from going in the wrong restroom, not because they had gender confusion, but because they simply weren’t paying attention. It simply saves kids from embarrassment. This shouldn’t be against the rules. And if a student is really having gender issues most schools have at least one extra restroom that’s not gender specific that could be used without having to send a biological boy into the girls’ restroom or vice versa. And pronouns... Young children are just learning correct pronoun usage. I’ve listened to little ones use the wrong pronouns, not on purpose, but because they are just learning. Let’s not confuse that and hand out punishments. Let’s have some room for some common sense. And sports... more absurdity. Where are the feminists? Girl’s sports have been fought for long and hard, so are we just going to mess that up now? And one of the most disconcerting issues of all, the issue of parental rights. Parents are responsible for their children and their moral upbringing, not the state. The fact that the state is trying to use policy to keep parents out of the decisions about their own children’s upbringing is criminal. Surely, there are people smart enough to figure out policy to protect a small vulnerable population without squelching parental rights and the rights of other students! Again, where is the common sense?


Strongly Oppose

This is a very dangerous precedent.  God made us male and female, it's the society that has confused people and children.  Please do not do this.


I support the rights of transgender students!


STRONGLY SUPPORT

The suicide rate for Transgender children is high when we do not accept them as equal to other children. To not make strides in this area, now that we know this, is to have blood on our hands.


Transgender

Strongly oppose!!!


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose the State taking it upon itself  to sexualize children under the pretext of education. It is highly inappropriate to undermine parent's rights and religious beliefs to assess their own children's unique level of understandings and innocence.


Strongly support

I'm seeing a lot of people saying they don't support this policy, but am I the only one who read the statistics about transgender teens and how often they are bullied and threatened and how often they are depressed and anxious due to how people treat them? I feel like many of you just wish they didn't exist or wish they just weren't trans, as if they have a choice about how they see themselves. There's no fascist agenda here, just asking people to accept that some people are different from you. I have a feeling where the "73% of trans teens reporting experiences of verbal threats" comes from seeing some of the comments on here. FYI: I am a cis-gendered man but I have met multiple trans people in the course of my job and they were some of the most loving, loyal people I have ever met. While I hope this encourages people to stop and think, I know this will probably not reach the people who believe differently so let me also say that I support those of you who are trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, etc. Love you all.


Strongly support!!

Trans rights are human rights, and trans students deserve to feel safe and validated in their schools. Giving in to hateful and ignorant voices will only prolong their influence in public dialogue despite the fact that trans people aren’t going anywhere. Virginia needs to stand up to protect all its inhabitants and to show its support for our most vulnerable populations.


Stop the Madness, including this Ill-Conceived & Dangerous Policy

Every single child—including and especially those struggling with sexual confusion—should be protected from harm and harassment. There is no question of that. And Virginia has a good anti-bullying law. But this new, proposed policy goes way beyond prevention and crosses the line into the mandatory promotion of politicized, sexualized ideology. Scientific studies and medical experts make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach puberty—it’s, at best, irresponsible to push the involuntary promotion of gender confusion in a public education setting—and, at worst, actually damaging to kids who are still developing. It encourages schools to implement across-the-board promotion of the concept that gender is “viewed as a gender spectrum” and can be “something in between or outside the male/female binary.” It declares that sex is arbitrarily “assigned” to babies at birth, rather than an intrinsic part of their biological design. This policy is "anti-science." Accordingly, it is a scientifically-false statement that people are just arbitrarily “assigned” a gender when they’re born—sort of like affixing a branding label to them at the store. The policy totally divorces gender instruction from any reality whatsoever in basic DNA science and biology. It’s also important to note that the proposed policy makes clear that the Virginia Department of Education wants this radical thinking reflected in every operational part of the school—even advocating for schools to incorporate “educational content that is transgender affirming into the general education curriculum, such as history, literature and science.” The policy encourages schools to outright deceive parents: It says schools should “respect” students if they don’t want their parents to know about their new transgender identity. The suggested plan for implementing this “respect”— and the policy specifically spells this out—is that, in cases where parents are not embracing or facilitating their child adopting a new gender identity (like using a new name, pronoun, etc.), then teachers can use the child’s new identity at school, but in the presence of the parent use the original legal name and so forth. According to this policy, schools must allow boys identifying as girls, for instance, to use the girls’ bathrooms or change in female locker rooms—and this can all be done without ever notifying parents. Sadly, no one ever talks about the harm done to very young girls, for example, who feel powerless to expect physical privacy in the presence of biological males—not to mention young men who don’t want to change in front of biological girls. The proposed policy is both dangerous and lacking any basis in science and logic. But, this is what we get when the progressive ideologues are charged with managing education and teaching our children. This policy is an abomination.


Support Women’s Rights by Opposing This

If a man who thinks he is a woman can come into a women’s locker room, this is a violation of a woman’s privacy. If a man who thinks he is a woman can play in women’s sports and win because he is stronger and bigger then this is a man imposing his world view onto woman.


I’m favor! Trans rights are human rights!

Children are always learning and growing. So teaching them from now will allow the youth to learn and be curious so that our future will have less hate.


I support this policy

Transgender students are not a threat to anyone and deserve to live and learn in a safe, supportive environment, same as everyone else. Rather, policies are needed to protect transgender students from discrimination and harassment from fellow students and even teachers and parents who misunderstand the issue.


Strongly Support

All children, especially those whose gender identities don’t match with their assigned gender at birth, should be provided the safe space, resources, and social support to thrive and receive an inclusive and impartial education and experience like the rest.


STRONGLY SUPPORT!!!

Trans rights are human right and DO NOT deserve to be discriminated against, especially in school.


Strongly opposed

There are only two genders and they are determined by one's biology. Suggesting anything else is child abuse and denies scientific fact.


Strongly support measures to protect trans youth

Trans youth are at disproportionately high risk for depression and suicide. Human Rights campaign reports place suicide attempt rates between 29.9% and 50%, depending on the gender of the respondent. A supportive community makes a massive difference in the emotional health of trans students, and that starts at the bottom with having their basic rights respected. If Virginia believes in the potential success of all students in its school systems, it should begin by ensuring all students have the right to be respected for their gender and presentation. Trans youth are far more at risk than they are a risk to anyone else. Since they are legally required to attend school, it should be a place where they are protected.


Support

I support the proposed policies to create school environments where all students - including those are transgender - are safe.


Absurd and evil

We are created by our creator male and female. He (God - our creator) makes the rules not the Education Dept. This regulation, if instituted, will create further division within our nation. It would be an atrocity. God will not be mocked. This is evil.


In strong support of trans youth

Transgender youth are experiencing violence and homelessness at higher rates than their cisgender peers, and are at higher risk of suicide as well -- I've seen this for myself when working with survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. If we're serious about investing in our future and creating safer communities, that means supporting the most vulnerable among us, such as trans youth of color. As a person who is committed to public safety, I strongly support legislation to promote the health and well-being of transgender youth in learning environments and beyond.


Trans

Let kids be themselves. Their bodies are none of your business.


Satan Strongly Supports

As the prince of darkness, I always love when children are abused (if I can't have their mother butcher them in the womb).  So of course, I STRONGLY support this measure by the Virginia government, which of course I control.  My demons told me: "Don't use Ralph Northam! What good is that idiot?"  They obviously forgot that I used Miley Cyrus AS A SINGER! Seriously though, please keep horrifically abusing your children and rejecting the Lord.  I so do love to see the suffering of your idiocy and how you destroy yourselves.  Keep Virginia blue!


STRONGLY SUPPORT FOR A BETTER SCHOOL COMMUNITY

This is in response to the transgender policy for VA Public schools: Honestly it’s just disgraceful how many of these commenters are so wrongly misinformed of who transgender students are and the struggles they go through. In no way will a rule like this endanger your ‘straight’ students lives, it will only help create and put it place a policy that better supports these students maneuver the struggles of understanding their own sexuality while they are already most likely dealing with ostracizing by their peer and school community. Please pass this policy so that every student an an equal opportunity to a safe and fair education. Putting policies in place to help transgender students will not only help those students but create an overall more understanding, empathetic and safe environment for the school as a whole. Places of education should be for learning but also for molding students into citizens who can learn to accept and embrace differences which are what make our country so great.


Support amendment

Support amendment


Strongly OPPOSE!

Strongly oppose, God help us!


Look at ALL THE DATA, not just one sided studies included in the Model Policies re: transgender

Few issues have been silenced as effectively as policies related to "gender theory" through bullying, censorship, and "cancelling".  This bully lobby has been successful at banning so-called "conversion therapy" but it is reliant on faulty, limited information and does not include details of professional treatment for persons seeking relief from very real trauma.  This limited, and therefore, erroneous information is the basis for the recommendations for VDOE's Model Policies.  Significant information is available for anyone who would do an even cursory review of the literature.  But a good place to start would be to read: We've been erased by Victorian politicians » MercatorNet


Do not Support this at all

Absolutely do NOT support this. This is wrong on so many levels


STRONGLY SUPPORT

I support the guidance.


POGGGGGG

YOOOOO Anyone who supports this is POGGGGGGG!!!! Anyone who denies this is against equal rights. I don't think anyone wants segregation, but there are valid fears. However, I think the benefits MASSIVELY outweigh the downsides. And to all of you saying that "It'll change their lives forever" are wrong. they can change back to being cis males/females if they choose. If not, good for them. They found who they really are. If they do, good for them. They experimented, and found who they are. cis males/females. It's ABSURD that this is even being debated. Here's an informational YouTube video explaining why it is good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ


STRONGLY OPPOSE

We desire equal rights for all of humanity. Children are still under the supervision of their parents. Stay our of our families. Stay our of our choice of religion. Stop trying to make everyone universal. Each child is unique. Are you also going to pass laws for helping children who want to play a violin? Of course not. Allow local communities to meet the needs of it's people. This needs to be a case by case situation. Allow provisions for single bathroom and facilities. You can't put everyone into a pigeon hole. This supports trans-humanism. Should we add AI to this bill, too? I appreciate that a few individuals may have a transgender consideration; however, you are now putting everyone else at risk and in embarrassing situations by assuming that we have to protect this small percentage. What about all the children who have not made this election? What about their privacy? What about their rights? What about the cost? Children up thru around 14/15 of age go back and forth with many different ideas and insecurities. It is not up to the state to encourage and support the personal choices of an individual. Personal choices require personal responsibility. You know like: EVERYONE NEEDS TO WEAR A MASK AND HOME SCHOOL AND STAY ON HOME ARREST UNTIL WE THE GOV'T DECIDE WHAT'S BEST. Remember "WE THE PEOPLE" are your employers. We actually pay your salaries and give you the opportunity to serve with liberty and justice for ALL .


OPPOSE strongly, medical science does not support, antibullying already in place

As a medical doctor, mom of 4 and military wife,  I strongly oppose this transgender policy.  There is already antibullying in place.  You will muddy the waters and minimize bullying in general.  You will open the door to other worse events like violence and rape and confusion.  There is no reputable medical  evidence to support this measure.  You will be creating issues you cannot foresee and damage many a child in the process.  I took an oath to do no harm and this will harm!! Opposed!!


How is this “protecting the youth” it’s NOT. It’s wrong on so many levels !

This is wrong on so many levels and should not be allowed. Keep the 2 genders in their own separate bathrooms.


Strongly support

I'm writing in support of any effort to make transgender students feel more included and safe in their schools. Feeling safe at school is critical for students to learn successfully. It can be hard for school administrators and teachers to under, and establishing policies to equip school administrators with clear and consistent guidelines will help them ensure every student feels safe and valued so that they can focus on learning while at school.


Seek to love your neighbor - oppose this policy

Affirming something that is hurtful to my neighbor is not loving. This ideology goes directly against all we have known to be true of child psychology for the last century. There are hundreds of decisions we believe children are incapable of making with any level of informed maturity. we have deep understanding of how children’s minds process new information, discovery, and comprehension. Why on earth would we ever conclude a child to be an expert on the truth of what they are experiencing as it relates to their human identity? children feel many things. It is abusive for adults to steer a child into an understanding of gender and sexuality that is a mega minority amongst adults. As a community we will learn this lesson the hard way. Policies like this and the loud voices that support them should be held accountable for each LGBTQ suicide in the next two decades. which will, and already are, on the increase. Nobody desires anybody to be bullied. That is not the issue. Each child should receive an education. That is not the issue. No child should be used as a tool buy an adult to advance a novel social agenda. I’m grieved at the depth of pain and consequence that is on the horizon.


Strongly Support

I strongly support the proposed protections. All people deserve protections, no matter their gender or gender expression. Students deserve to feel safe in their schools and be protected from bigotry, bullying, and harm.


Opposed

Please leave your agenda at home, Lawmakers.  The government-funded school system should not be promoting an agenda that is contrary to the laws of God and nature. Virginia children should not be exposed to teaching that leads them to question their gender identity. Children are not in school to celebrate their identity. They are going to school to learn the essential skills to move into adulthood, and to prepare to work and provide for themselves and their future families.  Life skills are important to teach, as well as the teaching of ethics. If instruction in morality cannot be given because of "separation of church and state," how can you justify teaching something as personal as how one identifies themselves with regard to gender.  Alternative lifestyle instruction has no place in the educational system.  Perhaps you should consider teaching children how to protect themselves from human predators who would steal their innocence, and perhaps their very lives, if they think they can get away with it. And while I'm commenting, let me be clear, any child harmed by your educational policies should have every means of legal redress for harm incurred under your laws passed in the Va House and Senate. My lawsuit, should my child be harmed, would include each one of you by name. Again, I repeat, leave your personal agendas at home, Lawmakers. You have no right to push your personal agenda in Virginia's schools.


Protective legislation for Trans and non-binary students

I'm writing to support protections for transgender and non-binary students in all of Virginia's public schools. These students deserve a safe place to learn and succeed, and protections will help facilitate a positive learning environment for everyone. Thank you, Helen Bard-Sobola Arlington, VA


Transgender Proposals:  Strong NO!

The current proposals involving transgender students flies in the face of common sense and totally ignores the rights of the students who identify with their God given gender.  To allow students to whimsically select which gender they relate to, and then to use bathroom facilities, locker rooms, and (not mentioned yet but it's coming ... to allow those same individuals the opportunity to athletically compete against their opposite sex) clearly tips the scale of justice in the favor of the transgender student and ignores the rights and interests of the straight student. As an administrator in a public school environment,  the logistical nightmare of adhering to these self-interest proposals is insurmountable. Since when are educators evaluated on the merits of their transgender sensitivities?  Students in today's academic climate have a difficult time meeting the state standards imposed by the Standards of Learning (which is another matter all unto itself).  Just check out the results of the English 11 EOC Writing scores over the last several years!  Write persuasively the VDOE commands, and now you want to impose politically correct "pronouns" to the confusion?  Students today have a hard enough time writing a complete sentence which is grammatically correct and free from spelling, syntax, subject-verb agreement, and capitalization errors ... and now the VDOE wants to impose yet another layer on top of those expectations and punish those who just can't seem to remember the correct pronoun to use now (teachers and students alike)! Stop the madness.  Stop catering the very narrow minded special interests and start looking out for the good of the general public, students, administrators, and teachers in the school systems.  Use common sense and vote "No!"  We have bigger fish to fry!


Support for Trans Youth Policy

I am in complete support of this policy proposal. It seems to support both the actual youth living in VA but also the studies nationally that show how safe spaces can benefit queer youth. I think this program could set an awesome example for schools in states everywhere.


STRONGLY SUPPORT TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

The evidence is overwhelming. Trans people, especially trans youth need to be protected from incessant hate that’s become abundantly apparent even in this forum.


Strongly support protecting trans youth!

I strongly support trans youth and any measure which will help protect and include them in school activities in a way that is respectful, accepting, and that helps foster further understanding and tolerance.


The Ungodly Grooming of Children to be Exploited by the Sick and Evil

The movement to sexualize our children by the State must be stopped! School curricula and popular culture are leading our children into sexual confusion and warped ideas of personal identity. Progress in the wrong direction is not something to celebrate—especially when it goes against the Natural Order of Creation or even the established facts of science.


YES to safe, supportive, and non-discriminatory schools

This bill is critically important to protect the equal rights of some of our most vulnerable youth.  The message sent by the state, the legislature, school boards, school administration, and teachers is what will be received by all students.  That should be a message of support for student development, choice, safety, and a non-discriminatory learning environment and community. There is real harm to transgender students from negative messages we send, and no evidence of harm for inclusive and supportive policies.  Do the right thing and pass this bill. Amy Shepherd Arlington, VA (mom to 3 public school students)


*Strongly* support

Trans and non-binary people have always and will always be a part of society, and they are just as deserving of human rights and dignity as everyone else is. Plugging your ears and pretending that trans kids don't exist, or worse, actively attacking them or trying to force them to conform to what you believe they should be, is abusive. Supporting them is the only good and moral option.