Strongly support

Strongly support this. Violence against and suicide rates for our trans brothers and sisters are simply too high too ignore. Trans rights are human rights. Policies to protect trans kids can only work to create a better environment for all!


Strongly object to teaching of transgender and LGBT to our youth

You are born male or female, period. Quite leaving the parents out of raising their children. This does not belong in our schools. God help us.


Support!

Support


Protective legislation being considered for trans and non-binary students.

Hello - 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. I am a educator in both secondary schools and higher education and acutely aware of how critical it is for students to feel safe before any learning can happen.  Please consider protections for this most vulnerable student population. The research is dire in terms of mental health, suicide, usage of drugs and alcohol and failure to be successful in an educational environment. I thank you kindly for your consideration Dr. Katherine Boone


Support

Strongly support


100% SUPPORT

My entire extended family is in complete, unqualified support of legislation protecting the rights of ALL individuals particularly those most left behind in the past!


STRONGLY SUPPORT OUR TRANS STUDENTS

I am a 22 year old trans man currently completing my final semester at VCU. I began my transition from female to male at 16, but did not begin HRT until age 18. Because of the policies in place when I attended high school (Class of ‘17) I was unable to use the boys’ bathroom for an entire two years, which resulted in me not using the restroom for over 8 hours a day 5 days a week. In health class, there was never any guidance on the health of trans bodies, which resulted in me having to find all of my information about gender dysphoria, trans mental health, etc. all online, which gave me some accurate information but a lot of false information as well. It is 2021. It is time that trans people and especially trans children are given access to the necessary care they deserve to be able to live happy and successful lives just like their cis-gender counterparts. There has been evidence of transgender and gender variant people for centuries and it is unjust to attempt to completely invalidate our exisitence. We owe it to our virginia students to pass this bill and improve their elementary and secondary school experiences.


Oppose---read this carefully people

Schools already have bullying & harassment policies in place.  This is pushing a much more personal issue and agenda.  If this passes, I know many public school teachers will leave to teach in the private schools and many parents will pull their kids out to home school. Good for them, but what about the lower income families who have no choice but to send their child to public schools?  Don't they have rights? They shouldn't have to worry about their child's safety in locker rooms and bathrooms. Let students dress as the gender they "choose" and give them a bathroom and locker room to use. DO NOT allow the majority of students who would feel VERY UNCOMFORTABLE with having THEIR rights being infringed upon. What about the kids who want to feel safe and secure with the gender GOD gave them?  What about their rights? Focus on reading, writing, history, science and math instead of pushing sex and sexual confusion onto little, impressionable minds and lives. This kind of education is not for public schools, it is for the home  and parents to discuss in their families.  NOT in the school system.


I fully support all students

I support all children, including LGBTQ youth. Until society stops being bigoted, we need help in protecting children of all sexuality and gender (and color and religion....) from those who feel threatened by someone being "different"


STRONGLY OPPOSED

Absolutely do not support!!


In favor, strongly support.

This is the bare minimum for protecting and including trans students. Those concerned with sports, it does not allow competing based on gender identity, so don't use that argument.


Support!!! Thank you!! From a father and teacher

Many thanks to the members of the VA Board who are on the right side of history and working to ensure that trans students are treated with basic human dignity and respect!!


Strongly Strongly Oppose

I strongly strongly oppose


STRONGLY SUPPORT

strongly support


STRONGLY SUPPORT

As a soon to be parent I strongly support! This is basic human rights.


STRONGLY OPPOSED!!!

I am COMPLETELY AGAINST this proposal for several reasons! The primary reason being that my parental rights are being threatened & the well being of my child & their education is being compromised by not allowing parental notification! Huge government overstep!! I am not okay with any child being bullied for any reason! But this proposal goes too far and allows too much room for error!


Support Trans Kids!

I strongly support this well-researched and evidence-based proposal. Public education systems are entrusted with the responsibility to serve all of our students and provide responsive, inclusive, and safe learning environments. Policies that actively support transgender students are associated with higher rates of school attendance, higher academic achievement, and improvements in both mental and physical health. As public entities entrusted with student safety, we should always act with the most vulnerable students in mind. This policy would protect previously vulnerable students and create safer, more inclusive learning environments.


Absolutely Not

Absolutely oppose. If they want special treatment, send them to a specific school of their own. My kids should not have to be forced to deal with this. Our religious vows do not accept this!!


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose this amendment.  I will drop my daughter out of school and fully homeschool her. God already chose their genders for them and people need to stop trying to change his work and stop taking over his job. I strongly oppose this legislation.


SUPPORT!

It is so important to protect trans and nonbinary youth. They are even more vulnerable than trans and nonbinary adults.


strongly support

As humans, we naturally oppose the unknown. Some people have ignorantly explored the unknown and gotten hurt due to lack of knowledge that would otherwise could have been prevented had that person known about it before experiencing it (learning it the hard way). In this case, the unknown is transitioning persons. With the internet and social media, we cannot prevent children from knowing it exists, knowing that they have their own culture, and to a degree, emulating that culture. Educating children about it in schools will help kids make an informed decision about what they actually think about the topic, rather than subjecting them to the pressures of social media and the prejudices of their parents.


PROTECT TRANS LIVES

If you're losing sleep over your neighbor identifying or expressing themselves differently than you do, I can suggest some wonderful over the counter sleep aid... Stop making this about you. It takes zero effort to mind your own business. By doing so, you're showing others respect. Don't take away kids' HUMAN RIGHTS just because you can't relate or understand. I cannot believe the amount of disrespect and selfishness in this thread. Times are (finally) changing so buckle up, baby.


I strongly oppose these guidelines

I do not, and you should not approve of these guidelines based on radical theories that eradicate all distinctions between male and female and indoctrinate our school children. These guidelines leave the parents out of the mix - a very bad and dangerous policy - both for the family and society as a whole.  It has been shown that gender dysphoria can be treated and, with help, a teen can realize and embrace their biological sex. Under these Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) guidelines, parents who encourage their children to embrace their God-given sex would be at risk of being reported for child abuse or neglect by the school. These guidelines also prohibit schools from notifying parents if a biological male is using the changing facility as their daughter - a facility that was designated for girls.  There is no consideration about how this will affect the girls. Additionally, 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." Again a bad move to keep the parents out of touch. The policies provide absolutely no exceptions or accommodations for a student or teacher whose religious faith, conscience, or understanding of biology and sociology prevents them from being able to go along with the “transgender” ideology and policies. These troubling policies proposed by the VDOE are totally unworkable and will force all students, faculty and administrators to comply with an empirically false view of sex and gender.  The guidelines need to be totally reworked in the light of helping teens to understand and embrace their biological sex.


Strongly Support

I strongly support trans and non-binary youth. The school system should be a safe and accepting environment for trans and non-binary students. The school system should encourage acceptance.


strongly support an equitable learning environment for persons of all gender identities

YES


Strongly oppose

Children/minors do not yet possess the moral agency to be coxed into making autonomic decisions about their sexual orientation. This is an independent decision that is to be made outside of the public school system, once the prefrontal cortex is fully developed. The teaching of personal sexual PREFERENCE has no place being taught in school. However, if children have questions they should not be left without resources like guidance counselors and social workers.


Trans rights are human rights!

Human rights apply to all people.


This needs to be revisited and revised

Children deserve protection, no matter who they are. However, there is concerning language here that allows the rights of parents to be potentially overridden, as well as the free speech rights of the teachers and other students. Holding an opposing opinion is not by default the same as bullying or aggression. There has already been a case in Westpoint,VA of a good and well liked teacher being fired for not complying to the degree demanded by a student and their parents. Nobody bothered to think of his rights, or the fact that he had a family to support. He did nothing harmful to this student, yet was treated like trash by the school administrators. This sort of silencing of differences is another face of the very thing that trans people are fighting for. Children should be taught to discuss and understand differences, and be resilient to the existence of respectful dissent. Article 1, Section 12 of the Constitution of Virginia states: "That the freedoms of speech and of the press are among the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained except by despotic governments; that any citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; that the General Assembly shall not pass any law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, nor the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for the redress of grievances."


Absolutely Not

Have the people agreeing even read this?


Fully support trans student rights

I highly recommend making all students, regardless of gender identity feel supported and equal to their peers by all means necessary, and that starts with the schools.  Trans kids face a multitude of discrimination and shame in everyday life and the schools should be a safe place for them to go, be able to be who they are, without fear of retribution.  With these policies in place it will set a tone that discrimination and violence against others cannot be tolerated.  It also sends the message that teachers and others are safe people to be around and will accept students for who they are.  The third message is that they are human beings, deserving of the same rights as all others, and should never be dehumanized by others for their identity.  This is one step towards civility and wellbeing within the school setting.


OPPOSE

I oppose such preposterous legislation that infringes upon the rights of students, parents, and teachers who reject this policy.  Stop pushing against God's natural order.


Strongly Support

Trans & non-binary youth deserve safety, acceptance and acknowledgment. The large majority of a child and teens life is spent in school, so this needs to be a safe place for children physically and mentally.


Support Transgender Rights

It is time to support the human rights of all Americans no matter their race their gender or their culture. All children should have a safe place in school this includes most importantly transgender children and all other children that are not fully embraced by our society.


No!!!

Please understand this is nothing to do with taking away the rights of transgender students, this is about safety of all students. I have personally been sexually abused by other students in the past OUT IN THE OPEN. If access is given to them to go in any bathroom/ locker room, it will be BAD. I’m truly sorry that transgenders are uncomfortable in their own skin, but that doesn’t give them the right to take away everyone else’s rights/safety! This is NOT OKAY! Focus on school! Not feelings!


I support guidance

I am a middle school teacher and support my students being their true selves.  I support without judgement or malice. I stand against prejudice and discrimination of Trans and Non-Binary students, as well as any member of the LGBTQ+ community.


In Support

I am in Support of trans rights in Virginia


Strongly support this guidance document

Transgender rights are human rights. It is necessary and life-saving for LGBT sex education to be included in general sex education curriculum. Sex education does not solely give 'advice' on sex as a practice but rather explains and supports students in their self discovery and self exploration. This includes everything from masturbation, pleasure, consent to self expression, gender identity and sexual orientation identity. All humans (including teens and children) should have the forum and platform to explore and learn about themselves.


Strongly oppose

This does not respect the freedom of speech or the freedom of religion of students - and parents - who adhere to the the truth that sex is determined by our biology. Public schools need to be respectful of ALL the public they serve.


I support the guidance

I want ALL children to be able to focus on their education by having schools provide a safe and inclusive environment, where LGBTQ students feel supported and respected.


STRONGLY OPPOSE Proposed Transgender Policies by VDOE

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I believe any reasonable citizen of the state and of this nation understands and supports the concept of ensuring that everyone's individual rights are respected and honored including, specific to this subject, those citizens who identify as transgender individuals. However, the concepts that are being advanced in this policy initiative go far beyond ensuring that those rights are respected. There is a well-known saying in this country that one person's rights end where another's begin. This proposed policy exemplifies an egregious violation of this concept. Rather than simply ensuring transgender citizens' rights are honored, these policies are trampling on the rights of parents and children who have every right to not embrace this lifestyle in their own lives.  Embedded in this policy is a prohibition forbidding parents from teaching their children the values that they have every right to believe in and practice. According to this proposed policy, doing so would result in severe punitive actions against the child. Additionally, in my opinion, you have no right to engage in severe disciplinary actions against a child and to purposefully withhold those actions from the parent. In summary, this policy is clearly employing intimidation and bullying tactics to advance a moral belief that should not have to be embraced to attend public schools.


Oppose, Oppose, Oppose

This policy, if approved is very dangerous for our children, community, country and world.  To force this policy on children and families is in itself harassment.  You are talking about allowing a small minority of children to dictate to the majority how they must act. There are only two genders.  To even suggest otherwise damages children and families.


I support this bill

I support this bill. Trans youth and LBGTQIA+ youth are at high risk for suicide and mental health concerns. These children need our support to navigate their lives just as all children need love and support to guide them. I hope that the VaDOE adopts an inclusive policy that holds all leaders, teachers and staff accountable to these youth.


I oppose the VDOE draft transgender policies

I oppose the draft transgender policies put forward by the VDOE.  The proposed policies articulate views – such as the view that “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six ” – that are far different from those of many parents. Through its blanket endorsement of views like these, the VDOE has gone far beyond the path the General Assembly prescribed.  The model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children and educate them on issues of sex and gender identity at an appropriate time.  And schools should not be accommodating the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions.”  I am extremely concerned about the trend to assume that children -- whom we don't trust to make a whole host of key decisions about their wellbeing because of their not yet fully developed brains and emotions -- can make at times irreversible decisions about their gender identity at extremely young ages.  Children go through many stages, some of them quite contradictory, and should not be encouraged to take these irreversible decisions.


I do not approve/strongly disagree

I do not approve/strongly disagree


Gender Dysphoria is Real, but Forcing Transgender Ideology on Kids is Wrong

Anyone experiencing gender dysphoria deserves compassion and real love. But forcing transgender ideology on our kids in some kind of social experiment is wrong. I'm sure most the people who support this policy similarly want all kids, no matter what they are experiencing, to be loved and not mistreated. That intention is laudable. But force feeding children the dogmas of secular progressivism isn't loving them, telling confused kid they are actually not confused isn't loving them. There are millions of Virginians who still believe sex is a biological reality, and that feelings don't determine reality. At the very minimum, make some room for them.


Oppose

Oppose


I oppose new VDOE guidance's assault on children and parents

This policy seeks to force the state's public school students to positively affirm those suffering from the disorder of gender dysphoria. Equally as appalling, this draft guidance also seeks to undermine parents' authority to educate their children in the area of sexual mores. If imposed, this guidance will force students and parents who object to this offensive intrusion into this sensitive area, to either protest loudly and constantly, and, or pull their children out of Virginia's public schools. Accommodation may be able to be made for students suffering from the gender dysphoria disorder, but brainwashing all students and staff, and proposing to spy on and turn-in parent to CPS, is not only wrong-headed, it is an assault on the freedoms of conscience, expression, privacy, and religion. This is a dangerous draft policy.


Strongly Oppose Warped Sexual Teaching in Schools

How awful to confuse children with lgbt teaching and letting them decide which bathroom, etc. to use.This goes against the teaching of God and will have dire consequences.


Strongly oppose transgender policy

This policy is not thinking of all the children that will be harmed. This will negatively affect mental health of all students.


Preserve the Privacy of Girls in the Lockers and Bathrooms

Females students deserve to have an environment where the locker and bathroom is a place where only females are allowed. Permitting males who identify as females is a breach of privacy and places our young women in a place where they can be abused and taken advantage of.


Strongly oppose

I strongly OPPOSE this legislation.


Keep Boys and Girls In Separate Rooms During Overnight Field Trips

Boys and girls should be kept in separate rooms during over night field trips. There is no place for children and adolescents of the opposite sex to be in the same room overnight. This is a breach of trust between the school and the parent and also of the school and the student. This policy would contribute to the mental health of all students.


OPPOSE! YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR DNA! STOP THE LIES! PROTECT OUR KIDS


Strongly oppose DOE transgender policy. This would only spread the confusion concerning gender int

The proposed regulation would only spread the confusion concerning gender into our open classrooms while denying parents their rights to be most intimately involved in their children's life decisions.


Oppose. Being an experienced teacher myself, I strongly oppose this bill.

I strongly oppose this bill. I have worked as a teacher in an elementary school since 2004 and this is completely inappropriate. While I teach with an unbiased opinion on every topic, I cannot hide the truth that you are born with a specific gender. This goes into teaching about life choices. We might as well encourage young people to smoke, drink, and use drugs because it feels good and they want to try it. Completely inappropriate. Plus, children are minors. To ask educators to hide a student’s choice from parents is completely unethical. In addition, allowing all genders to enter any locker room, opens up possibility for abuse of the innocent. Privacy should be protected for boys and girls. There are handicapped bathrooms for single use. Teachers are already struggling to stay in the schools based upon rules from Covid. This bill will empty the classrooms of amazing teachers, to include myself.


Support the guidelines

I am happy that my state is helping trans and non-binary students feel safe at school. Although my children are past high school age, I know the pain their trans classmates felt during high school. We need teachers, administrators and staff to get the training needed to help make schools safer.


Support

I support this guidance.  It is so important to the well-being of our youth.


This parent Overwhelmingly supports

As a mother of 3 school aged children, I very much support these guidelines.


Opposed for various reasons

As a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in and living in Virginia, I oppose these model policies, as I believe they will have an overall negative effect on students. Allowing students of the opposite natal sex into restrooms and changing areas will cause distress for many children who struggle with anxiety, girls who are menstruating, and especially girls who have been traumatized in certain ways. These policies would govern not only restroom use but also everyday speech. (See Model Policy draft, pp. 12-13.) Because the policies would apply to the entire student population, they would create confusion in impressionable minds, and needlessly: even among children who do experience gender dysphoria, most of them will accept their natal sex after adolescence. (See my footnotes 1, 2, 3.) I find it reckless that these policies generally prohibit staff from disclosing a change in a student’s gender expression to his/her parents (draft, p. 12). Given the increased rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in children with gender dysphoria (see my footnote 4), parents should be notified and involved if their child exhibits gender dysphoric ideation or behavior. Rather than adopting these policies, which eliminate protected areas for natal girls and mandate transgender-informed grammar for everyone, schools should instead persist in zero tolerance for bullying and provide individualized accommodations as needed for students with gender dysphoria, such as more single-user restrooms and changing areas, in easily accessible or discreet locations, depending on student needs. James V. Rives, M.D. Arlington, Virginia 1. Steensma, T.D. and Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., “More Than Two Developmental Pathways in Children with Gender Dysphoria,” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Vol. 54, No. 2, February 2015, pp. 147-148. The persistence rate in this study was 27%. The authors’ survey of other studies suggested a persistence rate averaging about 16%. 2. Steensma, T.D., et al, “Factors associated with desistence and persistence of childhood gender dysphoria: a quantitative follow-up study.” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , 2013, June 52(6) pp. 582-590. The persistence rate in this study was 37%. The authors’ survey of other studies showed persistence rates ranging from 2% to 27%. 3. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), Arlington, VA, 2013, p. 455 – note the various study outcomes considered by the APA DSM-5 task force regarding persistence of gender dysphoria beyond adolescence. 4. Garcia-Vega, E., et al, “Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in persons with gender dysphoria,” Psicothema , 2018, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 283-288.


Oppose

I strongly oppose this legislation.  All other students should not be subjected to being seen or seeing the opposite sex in locker rooms - no matter how they see themselves.  Teachers already have so much to do to make sure our students are prepared for the future - they should not have to worry about getting disciplined for accidentally calling a student by the gender said student doesn’t identify with.  This is a slippery slope.


statewide transgender policy

strongly oppose


transgender policy

I strongly oppose the transgender policy.


strongly oppose transgender policy

strongly oppose


Strongly Oppose Policy!

Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. It is necessary for children to be comfortable at school. Majority of children would be uncomfortable to have to share the locker room, bathroom, etc. with members of the opposite sex.


support

Hello, I support policies that protect transgender and non-binary youth in schools. It should go without saying that all our students deserve polices that work to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment. If kids are meant to learn while in school then we must have policies that will allow trans and non-binary youth to be safer from bulllying, harassment, and discrimination at the hands of their peers, teachers, and school staff and administrators therefore, I support the VDOE model polices.


Oppose

I'm strongly opposed to these measures as an injustice to children and parents. It is laudable to want to ease the sufferings of others, but this proposal in seeking to accommodate one group, cuts against parental rights, student safety, and freedom of speech.


Oppose


“I support the guidance.

As a parent with children attending our public schools we strongly support this guidance!


Support Trans Student Protections

As a primary care physician who treats trans and nonbinary patients of all ages, I see how discrimination directly impacts the health of my patients.  Trans and nonbinary students are subjected to physical violence and bullying in schools at far higher rates than non-trans students.  A trans friend of mine was beaten when they were in high school - for using EITHER the men's or the women's bathrooms.  Lack of acceptance at school and at home leads to a significant increase in suicide risk.  With a higher proportion of students identifying as transgender or nonbinary than ever before, having clear protections for them is more important than ever.


Support!

As parents that should love our kids unconditionally for who they are, we should all support this. What if this was YOUR child? If you don't want the best for them, then shame on yall.


Support Transgender Student Protections

I support the guidance on transgender student protections.  I have friends and family members that are transgender, and it breaks my heart to hear their stories of unsupportive parents and bullying.  If it weren't were for their friends, I'm not sure where they'd be.  We can't change their home life, but we can make sure they are safe and welcomed at their schools. I want every child to have the same chance at a happy and successful life, and that starts with their education!


Strongly Oppose! Medical Decisions without Parental Consent

I strongly oppose the transgender guidance document. Minors need their parents’ consent and protection for their health and psychological well-being. If a student is struggling with their gender identity, PARENTS NEED TO KNOW, so that they can proactively support their children in healthy ways. We know that people with gender-identity struggles often suffer from depression and other life-threatening conditions. Depriving parents of this knowledge about their children ENDANGERS THE CHILDREN’S LIVES! All students also need protection from unwanted sexual contact. Students who feel uncomfortable sharing bathrooms and locker rooms with people who have different sexual anatomy MUST NOT BE FORCED to do so. If this measure goes through, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL LOSE ENROLLMENT from families who refuse to force their children to expose themselves in this way, and who refuse to send their children to a school that is committed to deliberately deceiving the parents. Furthermore, children who go through social gender “transition” without proper medical and parental support WILL SUFFER PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM.


SUPPORT this much needed legislation!

This bill will save lives.  I have worked with students for years and this legislation finally fills in a gap of support that has existed for years.  Science based and comprehensive this provides exactly the kind of guidance schools need to make sure that local policies are being made with the interest of students in mind and not just capitulating to the vocal religious minority who want to insist that everyone must do things their way while demanding that they be allowed to use their faith as a weapon to hurt children.  Protect our kids and pass this legislation.


Strongly Oppose

This proposed approach is more about ideology that actually helping those who need help.  It will cause polarization and negative results - please try a different approach and absolutely


Support

As a healthcare provider to youth, I support this guidance. This guidance would allow all schools to be equipped with the policies and procedures they need to confidently provide a safe and inclusive educational experience for all students, especially our LGBT youth.


Fully Support Protections for Transgender Students

We must ensure a safe learning environment for ALL students, especially those who are vulnerable because they are atypical. Please implement additional guidance that protects transgender students rights to access a safe leaning environment


OPPOESE

A young impressionable child is strongly influenced by those around him. To lock a child into an identity at such a young impressionable age a crime. Transgenderism is a SYMPTOM like alcoholism of a deeper emotional problem. Just as AA works wonders for alcoholics so could treatment for a troubled confused child from surely a difficult family setting. You/We have NO Right to bend God's laws. God created Man and Woman.....Let me suggest that you read Genesis. If you think a day of reckoning isn't coming to each one of us.... perhaps you might want to think again. Blessings to you


Support

I have a transgender brother, and I see the struggles he faces in school every day. He is scared to change in the proper locker rooms, use the bathroom, or even speak in class. Transgender people are NOT predatory. Going to the bathroom in a stall is not hurting anyone. And while we do have freedom of speech and religion, I would like to think that we also have empathy. And care about supporting our peers in any way that we can, instead of just worrying about our own benefit or how we may need to change.


new transgender speak guidelines for schools

Strongly oppose


OPPOSE

I strongly oppose.


OPPOSE - this is a mental illness issue

Facilities and activities should be based on gender someone was born as.  Transgenderism is a mental illness and should be treated compassionately as such.  Stop subjecting our children to these idiotic  liberal ideas .  If someone identifies as a person of another race, it is rejected.  But someone decides to  be a different gender and is embraced?  Follow the science!!!


I support the model policies for Transgender students. I think it is important that we respect transgender students. They should be able to use their affirming name and pronouns without parental permission. ? Allow transgender students to use their chosen name on non-legal records without legal intervention and provide a consistent, clear, and publicly available path for students to notify the school to update their chosen name on non-legal records. ? Ensure that all documentation which identifies students maintains their confidentiality ? Require school staff to consistently use a student’s chosen name and hold them accountable when they do not. ? Allow transgender students to use their chosen pronouns, including non-binary pronouns such as the singular form of “they,” in school without legal or medical interventions. Provide a clear path for students to notify the school to update their gender identity on non-legal records. ? Require school staff to consistently use a student’s chosen pronoun and hold them accountable when they do not. We should not delay implementing these policies. We need these polices now before more harm is done to transgender and gender nonconforming students. In the absence of a clear policy regarding using chosen pronouns at LCPS, teachers have been advised to report students to guidance when a student asks to use pronouns different from their registration. The guidance counselor then contacts the parents to confirm the use of the chosen pronouns. This not only "outs" the child, possibly creating an unsafe home environment but forces LCPS staff to misgender students. This is contrary to best practices which state that chosen names and pronouns should be affirmed. We must be proactive in supporting LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families. We need clear and consistent policies and practices across LCPS that affirm and support LGBTQ+ students. Sharing trans status with families p. 12 School divisions will need to consider the health and safety of the student in situations where students may not want their parents to know about their transgender status, and schools should address this on a case-by-case basis. If a student is not ready or able to safely share with their family about their transgender status, this should be respected. There are no regulations requiring school staff to notify a parent or guardian of a student’s request to affirm their gender identity, and school staff should work with students to help them share the information with their family when they are ready to do so. Names and pronouns if parents and students disagree p.13 We should respect the student's request. In the situation when parents or guardians of a minor student (under 18 years of age) do not agree with the student’s request to adopt a new name and pronouns, school divisions will need to determine whether to respect the student’s request, abide by the parent’s wishes to continue using the student’s legal name and sex assigned at birth, or develop an alternative that respects both the student and the parents. This process will require consideration of short-term solutions to address the student’s emotional needs to be affirmed at school as well as the long-term goal of assisting the family in developing solutions in their child’s best interest. For example, a plan may include addressing the student at school with their asserted name and pronoun while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians. Names and pronouns in school records and daily use p.14 School divisions should develop solutions to support a transgender student’s wishes for privacy. For example, schools could consider maintaining the student’s legal name and sex assigned at birth as sensitive information in their student information system that requires additional privilege to access. The student information system can then separately include the asserted name and gender identity as additional information that is used to the greatest extent possible to populate school-related documents and are available to other users. The protection of the student’s legal name and gender as sensitive information would prevent a student’s transgender status from being disclosed, such as by a substitute teacher. In situations where school divisions are required to use or to report a transgender student’s legal name or sex assigned at birth, such as for purposes of standardized testing or student data reporting to the VDOE, school staff should adopt practices to avoid the inadvertent disclosure of such information. Additionally, schools should eliminate gender markers from their forms, documents, and records when feasible. Gendered activities for all students p. 16 School divisions should review any gender-based policies, rules, and practices to determine whether they serve a legitimate educational goal or otherwise non-discriminatory purpose. Any single-gender activity or program should not be premised on generalizations or stereotypes about the different talents, capacities, or preferences of any gender. For example, the composition of choruses should be gender-inclusive and based only on vocal range or quality requirements. Overnight trips p. 16 For overnight field trips, the school should not force the student into single-occupancy accommodations that are not required for other students; however, such alternative accommodations should be made available to any student requesting them. It is important that school divisions adopt policies and procedures that are focused on the safety of all students and seek to address privacy interests in situations involving individuals undressing or showering. School divisions should ensure that all students who participate in extracurricular activities that involve overnight trips are aware of the school’s policies and options available to them in advance. Restrooms and locker rooms p. 17 Students should be allowed to use the facility that corresponds to their consistently asserted gender identity. Menstrual supplies in all restrooms p. 17 Additionally, § 22.1-6.1 of the Code of Virginia requires each school board to make menstrual supplies available at all times and at no cost to students in accessible locations in each elementary school and in the bathrooms of each middle and high school. Accordingly, these supplies should be made available in all bathrooms to be gender-inclusive. Professional development p. 18 Periodic professional development should minimally be provided to school mental health professionals (SMHPs), such as school-based counselors, psychologists, and social workers. p.19 Local school divisions should coordinate the various professional development activities for consistency, including incorporating LGBTQ+ student considerations into training opportunities of other topics. Forms and processes p. 19 processes, including forms or templates, should be developed to support students or parents requesting a name and gender change and requesting an action plan to support the student’s transition. Inclusive curriculum p.20 We need to include our LGBTQIA+ community in curriculum, we need same sex parents included and pictured in Family Life Education, we need them included in history and literature. We need to ensure every library contains books students can identify with, including positive LGBTQIA+ characters and plots. School divisions may take an inclusive approach by incorporating educational content that is transgender affirming into the general education curriculum, such as history, literature, and science. . .. School divisions should also initiate efforts to curate an inclusive library collection. Student clubs p.20 We need GSA's at the middle school level. too many students are afraid to approach school staff to sponsor a GSA because students don't know which staff members are allies. schools should support the formation of student clubs or programs regarding issues related to LGBTQ youth such as Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender & Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), ensuring that these are equally easy to establish in relation to other student clubs.


I support Transgender student bills

I support equal rights for all genders. No discrimination in America!


Strongly support!

I am a teacher and the mother of five. I strongly support this guidance. This guidance will allow schools to be equipped with the policies and procedures that they need to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students, especially LGBTQ youth. These policies will help to keep our LGBTQ youth safer from bullying, harassment and discrimination at the hands of other students, as well as school staff and administrators. I strongly support this guidance that will be so important so so many LGBTQ youth across Virginia.


Transgender/Non-binary Health and Well-Being

Many people may or may not know people around them that may identify as Transgender or Non-binary.  There are around 2 percent of the population (Children who are questioning with persistent dysphoria, and adolescents and adults).  It's a small group, but a vulnerable group who face hateful comments and discrimination which affects their mental health and ability to thrive in our community.  If you would like--I have been involved in educational initiatives at UVA, VCU, and Georgetown and beyond on national and international levels and my belief is that the voices of these individuals (personal and moving) would have anyone who listened--change their minds about whatever they think they know about these wonderful people.   My clinical practice has approximately 2500 health visits a year and I am one of the founding members of the Transgender Health Care Alliance of Central Virginia. Happy to educate or share the authentic voices of these wonderful people with their permission.  Thank you for representing all people!


Trans Student Policy

I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. I write in support of the Trans Student Policy that was passed in the 2020 legislation session. Children are precious. We must all stand up to protect them. These guidelines are for all children.They are to protect our Trans student population. To insure that the guidelines for all Virginia's children have the same protection. That they are safe at school. That no one will be allowed to bully and discriminate against them. That the schools will not tolerate bullying by students, teachers or staff. It is also for the entire student body of Virginia's schools. It teaches our children to be good citizens. It teaches all students to be caring, supportive and inclusive. It teaches them the bullying is wrong and will not be tolerated. Our children learn to be good citizens and caring human beings. All children must be safe in our schools so that they are free to concentrate their energies on education. In out America there is NO ACCEPTABLE reason to be against these guidelines. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make a statement in support of our children and the Trans Student Policy Guidelines.


Strongly Opposed

This misguided policy tears down many of the explicit existing policies that protect the safety and wellness (both physical and emotional) of students.  To say that physical  characteristics now have limited bearing on the gender identity of a student is insane.  The human species are born either male and female for a reason.  To turn this upside down is both an insult to science and to the common sense of millions of Virginia residents.  To allow males to compete in female sports and activities and vice versa is an insult to all of these young men and women strive to compete and be the best they can be relative to fair competition. What in the name of normalcy are you law makers thinking!?!  Those lawmakers who are supporting this unbelievably ridiculous document make it easy for me to cast my vote at the next election.  Look yourself in the mirror and ask "does this really make sense".  I think you know the answer...... NO!


Transgender School Policy

Strongly oppose this gender confusion agenda


No

I strongly do not support this proposal. This proposal breakdowns and dismisses Family’s    well-being and trust for children. Family is the core the child feeling loved and cared for, which is Paramount.  School and teachers are there for education and yes some safe environments around that. But to say teachers Could guide their students correctly in gender identity, is basically saying a plumber to do electricity. Teachers are not parents and there strictly to do education. This proposal makes it confusing for all kids. I strongly believe all peoples have struggles with identity and sometimes gender identity. But to leave the family out of it, will be detrimental to society and it will break down families – – which are the back bone of a good society.


Transgender

OPPOSE


Thank You

After thoroughly reading this document I can say that I feel hopeful for my future life in Virginia. I am a first year educator who moved here from out of state and I was quite afraid that moving 'to the south' would put me at a higher risk of interacting with policies and people who were against the existence of LGBTQA+ individuals. These policies give me hope that my students, my future family, and I wilI be given the compassion owned to all humans despite our gender or sexual identity. I feel confident that the Virginian government is solidly pointed in the right direction with these policies and I am excited to encourage my administration to adapt and exceed them. Thank you and keep up the hard work!


NO.  NO.  a thousand times NO!

Transgender confusion warps a child's mind. Girls sharing bathrooms with boys who think they are girls violates the privacy of both sexes. Girls competing in sports with boys who think they are girls (and boys competing with girls who think they are boys) is an unfair competition.  It compares apples to oranges. This confusion is not healthy.  This confusion will lead to more teen suicides. Strongly Oppose.  Absolutely not.  The solution is to mentor the child through their difficult stages of adolescence in healthy and purposeful ways. Model policies disregard role of parents The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses. For the following reasons, the Conference opposed HB 145 and SB 161 during the 2020 Virginia General Assembly session and now urges the Department of Education to reject the proposed model regulations drafted in response to that legislation: Schools have a duty to protect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex. Many children would feel uncomfortable when they encounter a member of the opposite sex – particularly adults – in gendered facilities or when entering a shared hotel room as part of an overnight school activity. Children, particularly adolescents, can experience hypersensitive and traumatic reactions to these situations. The model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children. Schools should not be accommodating the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions”. For a school system to facilitate a child’s, particularly a young child’s, “gender transition” is not leadership but rather irresponsibility. Role of parents Just as parents must give consent for over-the-counter medications, field trips and extracurricular activities, they have the constitutional right to guide the healthcare and education of their children. The U.S. Supreme Court has noted: The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations. [1] Parents know their children better than anyone and have their best interests in mind. When children find themselves struggling with gender dysphoria, they need their parents’ support and counsel. Yet, t he Department has premised its regulations on a blanket endorsement of gender identity theory that diverges sharply from the views of many parents. In doing so, it has made a policy determination not referenced anywhere in the underlying legislation and therefore not delegated to it by the General Assembly; that unauthorized policy assumption states: For many people, their gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. For others, their internalized gender identity does not necessarily correspond to the sex assigned at birth, where the gender identity may be one in a range such as transgender, nonbinary, or gender-expansive . Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six (Lamb & Lerner, 2015). Alarmingly, the proposed regulations assert as fact that children declare their gender identity by kindergarten or first grade. Moreover, the document would virtually codify gender identity theory into statewide educational policy without acknowledging that there are undisputed scientific truths to the contrary. For example, neuroscientist and author Debra H. Soh, Ph.D. , has written, “Biological sex refers to whether we are female or male, based on our anatomy and reproductive functions. The concept of sex is, by definition, binary.” Dr. Stephen B. Levine, M.D. , a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, has testified that : Sex as defined by biology and reproductive function cannot be changed. While hormonal and surgical procedures may enable some individuals to "pass" as the opposite gender during some or all of their lives, such procedures carry with them physical, psychological, and social risks, and no procedures can enable an individual to perform the reproductive role of the opposite sex. The Department’s proposed policies would pit children against their parents when it comes to important questions about sex and gender identity: “School divisions will need to consider the health and safety of the student in situations where students may not want their parents to know about their transgender status … There are no regulations requiring school staff to notify a parent or guardian of a student’s request to affirm their gender identity...” (Recommended Standard, p.12) Dr. Levine has also noted: For a child to live radically different identities at home and at school, and to conceal what he or she perceives to be his or her true identity from parents, is psychologically unhealthy in itself. The DOE proposal thus undercuts open and honest conversation between parents and their children. It also obstructs parents from active involvement in the life of their child at school. Moreover, the proposed guidance document violates the presumption of parental autonomy in Virginia. Code Sec. 1-240.1 provides that a parent has the fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education and care of the parent’s child . Finally, the proposed regulations provide no accommodations for students and teachers whose sincerely and deeply held religious beliefs and understanding of matters of gender and human sexuality do not accord with the views underlying the proposed policies. This tyouth educator, therefore, opposes the proposed “Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.”


Oppose!!!!!  Don't be fooled by misguided compassion.  This leads to teen suicide!

Transgender confusion is just that confusion. The truth will set you free! The truth is that each person is created either male or female.  Respecting that truth sets one free! Transgenderism leads to confusion.  Such that teens no longer know who they are!


In essence, this does more harm than good.


support this bill

As a pediatric endocrinologist, I strongly support the protection of trans youth.  Please save lives.  Please support this bill.


NO to Transgender Policy

This policy crosses the line into mandatory promotion of politicized, sexualized ideology.  Furthermore, scientific studies and medical experts make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach adolescence. Another aspect of this being bad policy is that it opens the door to defining Christian, Bible believing parents, or others of faith who don't agree with or comply with transgender politics as "abusers."  It encourages schools to deceive parents by telling the students they can hide vital information from their parents that could make a life-saving difference in the students' lives.


No!

Strongly oppose on every level.


No! No! No!

Stop indoctrinating our kids!  This is child abuse.  Stay out of sex related education.  If a kid has gender concerns, guide them talk with a social worker or psychologist.  Don't punish my child for the sake of a small percentage who may or may not have gender dysphoria.  You all are going to loose a lot more than the 9,000 you've lost this year if you keep pushing this ungodly agenda.


Oppose

Strongly oppose this will do more harm then good for all involved!!!


Support for equitable access to education

As a child and adolescent, I was bullied because my peers believed I was a lesbian and that was not tolerated in my small town. People literally followed me  home from school regularly as they physically assaulted me. I'd like to think in our "woke" culture that this isn't the case anymore, but I know this is not true. In fact, I am close with a family whose transgender daughter was assaulted right outside her classroom - to the point that she lost consciousness. She was assaulted after her peers confirmed that she had been assigned male at birth. The response from the school was disgustingly negligent. The child and her family? They felt the need to move, yet again, having already changed schools three times in the previous two years. From a developmental standpoint, gender identity aside, every time a child changes schools it sets them back academically at least 6 months. This is alarming. Let's add in the challenges that occur when a child is bullied, and compound that with the comorbid issues of anxiety and depression, possible body dysmorphia, and the fact that GROWN ADULTS are telling CHILDREN that they are monstrosities...and you can see a rapid spiral that undermines any effort the larger society might be making to educate our young people. There is no space in education for institutionalized discrimination, regardless of status. The children aren't going to school to be judged on anything other than their academic merits. The fact that there are parents on here who are opposed is appalling to me, as a parent of 5 myself. It is pure ignorance to think that another child who is struggling with their identity has to also incorporate the pressures of their greater society's judgment as well, in a space that should be reasonably insulated from those same pressures. The thing is, those young people eventually grow up. They grow up, and they remember all the terrible things people said to them and about them. And then they change the world.


Oppose VDOE Transgender Policy for 2021-2022

First of all, I absolutely support the policy that no student should receive unfair treatment by students or faculty in public schools due to their sex or sexual orientation.  I am writing to oppose the proposed VDOE policy for the treatment of transgender students in Virginia Public Schools for the 2021-2022 school year regarding the following issues: If students are to be treated equally, then there should be no distinction between how students are treated consistent with their gender identity.  To treat someone different because of their gender identity is by definition discrimination. Forcing school staff to refer to a student by the student’s preferred pronoun violates the school staff’s freedom of speech.  This violates the first amendment by prohibiting the free exercise of religion and abridging the freedom of speech.  How can a person’s perceived emotional needs restrict someone else’s rights, and possibly effect their own emotional needs? “It is important that school divisions adopt policies and procedures that are focused on the safety of all students and seek to address privacy interests in situations involving individuals undressing or showering (pg 17).”  If this is true, then allowing students that are biologically different from their gender identity to access a restroom or locker room that is designated for students of the opposite biological sex, violates the privacy interests of the cisgender students.  Why should a transgender student’s preference, violate multiple student’s privacy interests?  This would restrict cisgender student’s “access to restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities that are sanitary, safe, and adequate, so that they can comfortably and fully engage in their school programs and activities (pg 17).”   If a cisgender student’s privacy interests are violated by this policy, will a “multi-disciplinary school team meet with the student (and parents/guardians) to develop a plan to accommodate the student’s needs and requests (pg 20)?


No to Transgender indoctrination in our schools

I want my objection to Transgender indoctrination in our schools to go on record.  I believe that all children should be able to receive an education free of bullying for any reason.  However I do not believe it is the school's job to teach, promote or encourage any child to question or reject their gender, or teach them that somehow the gender they are born with is wrong.  No one is "assigned" a gender, unless one is born a hermaphrodite, which is rare.  I believe it is the basest of child abuse to confuse children about their sexual identity or make them feel guilty about to which gender they were born, not assigned.


Strongly Support Consistent, Compassionate Guidelines

All students, regardless of their gender identity or expression, should be permitted to attend school without stigma, bullying, or discrimination.  All school districts should be required to adopt policies to help eliminate those negative behaviors, on the part of both a student's classmates and the professionals with whom they interact. As a cisgender gay man, I well remember the negative experiences tied to my refusal to conform to gender stereotypes - I would not repeat primary or secondary school for anything because of it. For example, the fact that I enjoyed playing with My Little Pony during elementary school was clearly something I had to hide from everyone but my closest friends, of whom there were very few. The isolation I experienced has unquestionably shaped my life - while I am happy as I am, I cannot help but wonder how differently my own life would have turned out were I not forced to hide large portions of myself until college. I cannot imagine how much worse the experience would be as a fully transgender or gender-nonbinary individual. I take great exception with the idea that people do not know who they are at a young age - we accept without argument that cisgender people understand their gender identity. As far back as elementary school, I understood that I was gay.  I may not have known that there was a single, encapsulating word that articulated why my male friends had crushes on girls and I had crushes on boys, but I certainly understood that I did. Gender behavior norms are taught; the prejudice against those who do not conform to them is taught. It is time that we established a framework that allowed people to express themselves on whatever side of those gender norms they would like without fearing for their safety (mental or physical).  Consistent standards across all school districts is one key way to ensure that the best available approaches are being used to benefit the most people.  Our schools should teach science, math, english, history, art, sports - not hate, division, or discrimination. As a Virginia cisgender man, I strongly support this guidance.


No agree with transexual in bathroom

I do not agree with this new upcoming law because then people could enter the bathroom acting like a transsexual but could end up being a seducer or could do something wrong to our children.


Strongly support this bill - has basis in best evidence

As an obgyn in Virginia, and expert in transgender health, I strongly support this bill.  It is based in science and current based evidence.


Support

I support the guidance because Virginia schools should be safe and inclusive environments for all of our students.


Strongly opposed to transgender policies, bathroom and classroom indoctrination.

Please kindly protect the rights of all individuals. I strongly oppose the transgender policies,  transgender bathrooms, and classroom indoctrination. Our children have the right to be protected in their most vulnerable environments which are unsupervised. Parents should be the primary educators in the matter of sexuality, morality, and health. We have the right to opt-out of programs that are pushing an agenda and immorality on our children.


Transgender rights guidabce

I support the guidance on transgender rights.


Importance of supporting trans youth

As at therapist I can speak to the fact that the most important thing we can do to protect the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth is offer then support and acceptance. This type of change can be scary, but the risks of not supporting young folks (suicide attempts, inner turmoil and self loathing) are so much larger than the risks that might come along with being "too supportive" of young people as they are trying to figure themselves out. Thanks to everyone who is working on expanding protections for LGBTQ youth!


No to gender confusion

Keep boys out of girl's restrooms/dressing rooms.


Thank you

Thank you for your efforts to protect our transgender and gender non-conforming youth, who have higher rates of depression and suicide than their gender conforming peers. The evidence has demonstrated that those who are supported in their identity have better mental health outcomes, and presumably become more productive members of society, which is ultimately the goal of teaching in schools. The concerns of many on here are unfounded--this is not indoctrination, it is simply allowing students to express themselves in a safe way.


Opposed

I oppose the transgender policies proposed by the Virginia Department of Education. These policies would be harmful to everyone involved, going against science, reason, and the well-being of everyone involved. Also, regarding sports, having biological males compete against biological girls is so obviously unfair.


Gender is a construct

Gender is a construct. Gender is the assignment of character attributes that are equally distributed among all human beings (strength, leadership, weakness, compliance, et al) to one gender or the other. Gender compliance maintains a binary division of power that keeps women from having rights and privileges equivalent to men. Trans is an expression of rebellion to the constraints of the binary. Trans may be a transitional phase for the dominant culture, as we move towards a society that respects each of us as individuals, instead of constraining and policing us as members of one or the other of the genders The individuals who express themselves through "trans" are no less deserving of respect than those who cooperate with their gender assignment. We have much to fear from the binary, which polices men into "winners and losers" mentality and diminishes women into fear of walking out alone at night. We have nothing to fear from trans - trans-folk need our support. They are vulnerable and more likely than gender compliant individuals to be harassed, discriminated against, and killed.


Support this bill

As a pediatrician, I am certain that the proposed policy will make ALL students safer.  Everyone deserves a right to a safe learning environment.  There is no "down side" here - this policy is critical to the health and wellbeing of students.


Applaud these proposed policies that support all students

The school policies proposed for Virginia's public schools show commitment to making school a safe, supportive place for all students. I am a pediatrician with over 10 years of experience working with transgender adolescents and have seen first-hand how students can thrive and excel in school environments that allow them to have gender expression that matches their gender identity.  This type of environment protects the rights of all and shows all students that school is a welcoming and inclusive place. I congratulate those who put these important policies together and hope that lawmakers understand that support and protection of transgender youth truly saves lives.


Absurd

This gender bill is lunacy and disgusting. Like it or not there are two genders. The fact that this made up nonsense is actually being considered especially for kids is a shame. I do not support and will pull my kids out the first chance I get.


Supporting Transgender Kids in Public Schools Saves Lives

It is plain, simple, and evidence-based that affirming and supporting transgender youth in public schools works to mitigate the risk of self-harm and death by suicide among a most vulnerable population. I strongly support all policy that affirms and empowers transgender youth. Protecting these kids will in fact save lives. It is well documented that policies which contribute to the neglect or mistreatment of LGBTQ+ youth often lead to increased substance use disorders, suicidal ideation or action, mental health concerns, homelessness, and a number of other health and wellbeing disparities among this population. These kids are worth affirming, celebrating, and protecting.


support this bill

As an endocrine nurse practitioner, I strongly support this bill. I believe it will have a positive psychological impact on trans students and could save lives. Please support!


Strongly Oppose

Strongly oppose  Parents are the primary educators not the state.


Promoting Gender Confusion

Gender instruction is in reality based on DNA science and biology. Virginia has a good anti-bullying law. Scientific studies and medical experts (Psychology Today) make clear the majority of children outgrow gender confusion by the time they reach adolescence. Pushing involuntary promotion of gender selection is irresponsible and actually damaging to kids who are still developing.


Opposed!

I'm strongly opposed to the "one size fits all" transgender mentality policy.


Please Oppose

Research process that 80 percent of kids who struggle with gender dysphoria in their youth, outgrow it in adulthood.  Yet, the recent trend toward approval of such dysphoria is causing youth to take hormones and permanently alter their anatomy which causes permanent harm to their reproductive abilities.  Suicide rates among this population are high and it's not because of a lack of acceptance since acceptance is at an all time high.  It is dangerous to the health of our youth to promote this risky behavior. In addition, while no one should be harassed in terms of physical harm, it is an extreme and radical step to punish teachers for speech that misuses a pronoun. Finally, it is the schools job to protect all students and not to cause harm or discomfort to those students who choose to identify with their birth sex by making them share bathrooms with those of different anatomy.  We should have anatomically correct bathroom policies so that kids can focus on learning reading, writing, and arithmetic and not be distracted or confused by things of a sexual nature at a young age.  The parts are different, the bathrooms should be different.  No matter what your belief about your anatomy is, if it looks different from each other, it should be afforded different space for changing, showering, etc. Please oppose this legislation.  It's not healthy or safe and does not promote a learning environment that will excel our youth in bettering the technological advancement of our country. Thankyou for listening.


Support

I support the guidance.  We must support and protect our transgender youth.


Absolutely NOT!

Children do not know enough about their own bodies to be exposed to such an intense subject. Exposing young minds to this will only lead to further confusion and if they are led to make decisions about their sexual orientation too young, they may make choices that cannot be changed when they are finally able to make sense it.


guidance document for supporting transgender kids in public schools

I'm a father of a 1-year old boy and a 4-year-old girl. It is really important that the state implement policies that support students who are transgender and gender non-conforming throughout their primary and secondary educations. I support trans-affirming policy guidance for our educators.


Support for ALL children

Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. Just because someone doesn’t look like you or subscribe to the same ideals as you doesn’t make them wrong or bad. ALL children should be treated with love and respect. A supportive environment is surely better than a hateful one. We must teach our kids inclusion and love.


Absolutely not in favor of proposed transgender policy

Use of bathrooms should remain segregated by biological male/female. If someone claims to identify otherwise, make available a separate bathroom that is not shared with those who are biologically different. For a child to declare a separate gender identity, evidence should be provided and coordinated with parents.


support human rights

Children are not going to be confused by learning about other people's differences from themselves--that is how the become compassionate, caring human beings. Giving each child the right to feel safe and comfortable at school is imperative, and ensuring equal rights to all children will not take away anyone's rights.


Approve!! This is great!

I am very much in favor of these changes! All students will benefit from these changes (don't get me started about dress codes!), but I am glad for our transgender students that they are being heard and thought about. These changes won't hurt anyone, but will benefit so many! I fully support anything that will help our students feel more comfortable, accepted, and safe. Thank you for this!


strongly oppose.  This is better called "the destroy children" policy

Parents cannot be left out of any school policy that affects their children.  Nor should the religious freedom of children and families be disgarded from any legislation or policy.


strong support of inclusive, evidence-based educational environments

As a healthcare provider, I applaud the Virginia DOE for establishing guidelines for the support and inclusion of students of all genders. The proposed guidelines reflect best practice as recommended and endorsed by a wide variety of medical, psychological and educational experts including (but not limited to) the American Academy of Pediatrics , the American Psychological Association , and the National Association of Secondary School Principals . It is in the best interest of students, families, schools, and communities to build academic environments that foster non-discriminatory communities and prioritize the wellness and safety of many over the discomfort and bigotry of few.


VDOE Model Policies on the Treatment of Transgender (Trans) and Non-Binary Youth in Schools

I fully support the VDOE proposed model policies on The Treatment of Transgender and Non-binary Youth in Schools. Children are assigned a gender at birth that is based upon their physical anatomy. Transgender (trans) children are born with a gender identity that is not based on their physical anatomy, rather, is based upon the very soul of who they are. Transgender children can begin to express their inherent gender identity during preschool years or even earlier, an age at which they are developmentally incapable of understanding the concept of gender identity. Other children come to terms with their gender identity at a later age or even as adults. These innocent children quickly learn that some children & adults in their lives do not accept and support them because they are transgender. So, these children wake up every morning and live every minute of every day in a state of being on constant guard in their encounters with others in their environment in order to be safe from emotional, verbal or physical harm. Their only respite/relief is when they are present with the loving, unconditional support of those who are "safe" in their lives such as parents, family, providers, teachers or, if they are lucky enough, other transgender children and adults. However, far too many transgender children do not have the loving, unconditional support of significant "safe" people in their lives. These kind, creative, friendly, bright, talented, capable, loving children deserve to grow up, develop and learn in an environment that is safe, protective, supportive, and nurturing. Their school and community environments must be free from unkindness, harassment, bullying, and potential physical and emotional harm. According to The Trevor Project's survey of 40,000+ LGBTQ youth, transgender and nonbinary youth who report having their pronouns respected by all or most of the people in their lives attempted suicide at 1/2 the rate of those whose pronouns weren't respected. Respecting the pronouns of our transgender and nonbinary youth saves so many lives. It is essential that our schools are safe for all.


oppose

I'm for women's rights and this policy is contradictory to this.  This policy would take us back to a time when only the male view was predominate.  Biologically there are only 2 sexes (this is based on science) male and female.  Just because someone psychologically believes they are other than their sex at birth does not change their biological being.  It also does not give them the right to insist that all others accept what they think. What about the psychological harm and possible physical harm to girls who identify as female finding themselves sharing the same bathroom, sharing same gym  and competing in sports with birth males who identify as female.  As we have already seen transgender boys/men out perform  girsl/women in "women's" sports.  They are taking title and scholarships away from girls and women.  This is a big step backwards not forwards in women's rights.


I fully support this guidance!

ALL children deserve dignity, respect and equal access to a safe and affirming educational environment.  As a facilitator for two LGBTQ+ youth groups in Northern Virginia, I know that the challenges and dangers that these youth face are real and are potentially life threatening. Please protect our most vulnerable, the youth, who are counting on us as adults to do the right thing! You have the ability to save lives right now.


OPPOSE this sexist policy

Beyond the elimination of restroom/locker room privacy, girls will no longer be able to compete for scholarships in sports.  This policy is sexist!


House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161 (from 2020 session)

According to the Human Rights Campaign, "Over a majority ( 54% ) of trans people have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, 47% have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime, and nearly one in ten were physically assaulted in between 2014 and 2015." Please support House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161 (from the 2020 session). These two bills act as protective factors that can further reduce violence and harm against the LGBTQ+ community and create a trauma-informed, inclusive environment. By building and promoting healthy inclusive relationships, empathy, and respect, educational institutions will influence and transform norms! Trans rights are human rights!


I strongly oppose these proposals for "transgender ideology"

I strongly oppose these proposals for "transgender ideology."  Of course these transgender children need to be helped if in need, but this is not the way to do it!


YES! As a future educator

As a future educator I believe every child deserves to be respected, safe, and confident. As schools, role models, and society we can do this by addressing them how they desire. By respecting their decision and making a way for their decisions to be respected and validated by others


Strongly oppose new proposed transgender policies

We are concerned parents who are very opposed to the new proposed transgender policies.


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose to this and it makes me sick to my stomach. We has parents should have the same  to right as everyone else. It can’t be safe for our children. I will remove my children from school and homeschool them if necessary as parents we need to protect our children.


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose the drafted transgender mandates for many of the reasons already stated.  In addition, I do not believe these mandates will help any of our children, even the ones struggling with transgender issues.  These mandates will only end up isolating and ostracizing them more while adding much confusion and distraction to the overall school community.  Is there any proof that these mandates will make them feel more loved, less harassed, and safe?!!  Once again resources and attention are being taken away from the main goal of our education system to provide services that could be better supplied by other professionals. The goal of our education system is to develop the academic skills of our children in the areas of math, science, history, and English, NOT attempt to meet all the various needs of our children.  It is the job of the parents with the support of local churches, community groups, and specialized gov't agencies to meet the other needs. At least 80% of the department's budget/$, resources/people, innovation/energy, and time should be committed to the academic goal defined above.  Every time we ask the education system to take on another service other than the goal of core academics, we dilute it's effectiveness.  And we are currently experiencing the results!  Many of our students are failing and worse, graduating without the education they deserve!  Why are we surprised? The VA Department of Education should stop trying to increase the scope of their job and focus on providing excellent academic education to our children.


I strongly support this policy

I strongly support this policy Discrimination based on gender identity or expression is damaging to the health of children, families, and society. Schools must actively affirm and support the safety and rights of transgender students. Diverse gender expressions, regardless of gender identity, and diverse gender identities, including nonbinary, are normal and positive variations of the human experience.


Strongly Oppose

Children, ALL children, should have the right to a free, appropriate, and safe public education.   This so called bill is a disaster and by no means is trying to protect the rights of children. It is trying to push an agenda and is in no way trying to create a safe and unified educational system. In no way should this bill be supported or pushed through. This will be detrimental to all children.


Protect those who need protection

Treat all as equals.


Full Support for Protection of Trans and Nonbinary Students in VA Schools!

From the document: "Schools should provide a safe educational environment for all students and treat all students with dignity and respect." This document explains terminology, outlines statistics related to transgender youth, and suggests practical ways to mitigate bullying, suicide rates, and discrimination. How anyone could be opposed to making our schools safer for all is beyond me.


Protect children

The danger of allowing transgender ideology to be fully supported in schools is the risk of not being able to properly enforce the blurred lines of what is or is not acceptable. The intention is to protect the transgender rights of children but the tolerance will also be given to staff, adults, teens, volunteers & potential predators who may exploit what is seen as a goodwill gesture toward transgenders. Full use of school facilities...meaning restrooms, leaves children vulnerable to sexual predators and groomers. Protecting children from those who wish to prey upon them is more important than self expression.


Strongly Support. Protect trans youth.

Strongly support, protect the health and well-being of trans youth.


STRONLY OPPOSE

STOP YOUR DIRTY GAMES. THINK ABOUT HOW TO BETTER EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. GET TO WORK.


Support and love our trans students!

What kind of monster doesn’t support to protect children?! Trans rights are human rights. Stop teaching your children to hate others.


Oppose transgender policy.

I appose this new transgender legislation for schools. Keep children safe and innocent.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

I strongly oppose of the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. First, the public school system should not be put in this position. School should be a safe place for children of all ages. That includes boys and girls feeling safe to go to the bathroom without the fear of a grown man or woman being in the next stall or in the same locker room. Second, leave our children out of your political agenda. Let them be kids without having THIS pushed down their throats. When they turn 18 and become a legal adult, they can think and make decisions on their own. If they choose to be gay or trans, then that is their choice, not their parents or the schools. These children's brains are still developing. They don't know what they want for supper or what to wear in the mornings, they surely are not mature enough to decide if they are gay or not. Which for the record God chose you to be the sex that you are. Why don't we teach these kids to love themselves the way they were made, the way God loves them. Thirdly, what happens when someone starts yelling sexual assault or rape? Do you realize you are paving a golden path for pedophiles? Do you realize how much this is going to hurt our children mentally, physically and emotionally? If this gets passed through my child will not be involved in this insanity. I pray for this country. God help us. Daniel 9:3-7


strongly support

I strongly support this policy that would add protection for trans youth. Trans youth attempt/complete suicide at a much higher rate than their cisgender counterparts. Combatting bullying and discrimination is one absolutely vital step in giving these kids the safe space to learn that they deserve.


Strongly support. Transgender lives matter.

please help protect our transgender youth. This is long overdue and those opposed to this action misunderstand this legislation as pushing transitioning onto cisgendered youth. Please dispel this myth and help support our students and children who want to live in a safe and non-discriminatory environment.


NO - Well-intentioned, totally misguided

I have read through the entire proposed transgender student policy and think the authors have good intentions but completely trample over the rights of parents, staff, and other students. The proposed policy drastically elevates one group above all others, hurts young girls (not to mention students who have suffered abuse at the hands of the opposite gender and then would be forced to give up their safe spaces of locker rooms/restrooms to that same opposite gender) , and opens wide the door to abuse of this policy by any student. Schools should not be hiding things about students from their parents, students should not be able to go into opposite restrooms and locker rooms without being questioned, and the transgender ideology should not be forced down everyone's throats. It's one thing to support the rare individual who struggles with gender dysphoria; it's another thing to make transgenderism seem so cool and special and elevated to impressionable,awkward kids that they become convinced that they are transgender when they aren't. Affirming them only cements them in that confusion and sets them on the path to irreversible medical interventions. Additionally, the policy cites lobbying/resource groups who all are echo chambers of each other and the policy doesn't cite views that challenge its shaky premises including that gender is being increasingly viewed as a spectrum. These guidelines reveal how the VA department of education cares more about being the ideological darling child of the woke transgender lobby groups than taking care of ALL the Commonwealth public school students. I absolutely oppose these guidelines and will be keeping my kids out of Virginia public schools because of them.


Protection of Trans Youth

I fully support legislation that promotes the health and well-being of trans youth.


Protect and SAVE youth, students, families, and schools - vote NO!


Strongly support

I strongly support the rights of trans youth. All children should be accepted and supported throughout their development, regardless of sex or gender identity. It is the duty of schools and communities to foster safe and nourishing environments for ALL students.


Strongly Oppose

As a concerned mother of two school-aged children, I feel this guidance has some pros and cons. I want all children to feel supported and loved as they navigate through such tricky times as adolescents and young adults. This guidance, however, seems punitive and discriminatory of those who are not transgender. Concern is also raised over potential exposures via the broad dress code definitions during sports activities. There has to be a better way to help all children feel supported than with punitive guidelines and forcing uncomfortable situations on anyone, no matter their beliefs. We have the opportunity to lead the nation in a unifying guidance document without allowing politics dictate the policy. Let’s do better than this!!


Support - Protect Trans Kids

LGBT+ youth are at increased risk for suicide, especially transgender and non-binary kids. Allowing these students to safely express their identity will decrease this heartbreaking epidemic of LGBT youth suicides. Doing so would only help transgender and non-binary students without impeding on the rights of others.


Oppose this proposed policy

Our family strongly opposes this proposed policy. We fully support a safe and nurturing environment for all children to learn. It just seems that in this proposed policy there is very little consideration for ALL children and what they feel to be safe and nurturing.  There must be a better way to provide a good environment for ALL children to feel comfortable learning in.


Strongly opposed

Strongly oppose


Retired Educator Offers Perspective

If there was a "Support with Qualifications" button I would have chosen it. In reviewing these guidelines, although inclusive and praiseworthy, they are going to be a very "heavy lift" for many school districts in this state.  I am speaking from the experience when a 20+yr colleague of mine in the school became transgender and as a 20+ year teacher. The biggest issue was around shared lavatory and locker room facilities.   Single occupant changing/lavatory facilities should be available for any student who would wish to use them.  In an ideal world, a student should be able to use the facilities of the gender of their choice.  However, I can't imagine any anti-bullying program being good enough to ensure the safety and well being of a student making this choice for a gender that is not biological.  If this was my child, I would be terrified for their safety.   Another option has to be available.   Likewise, as contrary to ideological purity that this may be, I am opposed to requiring a student to undress in the company of a student whose biological gender makes them uncomfortable.   This is no more "right" than requiring a student to undress in the company of students whose gender they don't identify with.      This needs to be reconsidered to find a different solution than one based in the "ideal" world that we don't live in, and the actual one that many, many school districts to.


I support children and PROTECT them by opposing this!


Please protect the students!! Virginia should be a place for all to thrive!!


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose all proposed changes or adoption regarding sexual orientation except for the God given sex of any and all children in public schools. If any of this is passed, my kids WILL be pulled out of public schools and I WILL end my career at Rockingham County Public Schools. Whatever gender was given to each person by God at birth shall be the deciding factor in what bathroom to use, what locker room to use and what sports to participate in. Also, schools should never have the authority to guide kids into life changing decisions ESPECIALLY without parent notification.


Strongly support

Strongly support


Strongly oppose. Jesus is the answer.

This is absolutely ridiculous. My child will NOT be forced to be ok with having to get undressed in front of another gender. God made you how you are, there isn't any ifs, ands or buts... Satan is at work. God will prevail.


Oppose! You will severely hinder VA public schools with this foolishness

This policy will begin the decline of VA public schools as people, like me, will pull their kids from your facilities.


Vote no so that schools will tell you if a boy is in your girl's changing room!

Don't let your little girl get flashed! Or...at least...don't give the school the authority to keep that information from you if/when it happens! That's what this would do! It will protect the school administrators, and harm you and your kids!


Strongly oppose

education starts and continues at home. This policy is invasive and crosses ethical and religious boundaries and is a clear vector to use children as leverage to intimidate parents into compliance. we strongly oppose these bills.


Fully support protections for transgender kids and freedom of gender expression!

It’s not up to a bunch of stuck-in-the-past, rigid “Christians” to decide whether or not children have a right to their own gender expression. All children deserve fair protection within the school system, and right now those protections only serve cisgender students. You have the support of the generation of students you’re currently serving. No one else’s objections should matter.


Strongly support this guidance document

As a parent I strongly support this guidance document and it’s importance in ensuring a safe learning environment for all students. Thank you to all that collaborated to put this together.


Strongly Oppose!!!

This needs to stay far away from our schools!! This is harmful to our children and if this happens i will be pulling my children from public school. I can't believe they would even think of such a thing!!


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose.  Higher risk of sexual harassment / rape with shared restrooms lockers/ etc.  not protecting all students.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

STRONGLY SUPPORT


Support

I am in FULL SUPPORT of this policy. Many people are commenting on the "objective, observable facts" of what gender is, as if gender isn't a fluid concept in the first place. Some are arguing that this policy reinforces the idea that "gender is meaningless," as if this policy will directly derail their own gender identity, to which I highly suggest they take a Gender Theory class. The real objective, observable facts are this: Transgender students will continue to be bullied and feel unsafe in their own place of education if there are no consequences put in place. I find it pretty childish, heartless even, that so many adults find it necessary to argue the right of students who are simply being themselves. To be in support of this policy is to be in support of basic human decency and respect.


What about my childrens safety and well being?

This proposed change is disturbing to say the least. I believe if these changes are implemented that my children (and family) will be the ones facing discrimination. I would not feel safe sending my young daughter and special needs son to school if this policy is passed. My son has faced discrimination from the public school system just this year. He has autism and anxiety, among many other medical conditions. I was notified 2 weeks before the start of school that he would not be allowed to attend in person. Even though that is the choice we had made months prior. The only reason they did this is because he was not able to wear a mask. Tell me that isn't discrimination. Because of his disability, they were not allowing him at school. The only response I got from the director of special education basically said sorry we have to think about our staff and other students. Which, to me, said they didn't care about my childs needs enough to try working it out. I don't even have the words to say how strongly I feel that these policies should not be passed.


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose, this removes the rights of parents.


Strongly Oppose

As a parent and tax payer in the Commonwealth, I am strongly opposed to the policy involving transgender students and the forced acceptance of the LGBT agenda. Public funded education should be just that. Open to all. This proposition directly violates the Constitution, as well as the religious beliefs of Christians and practicing Catholics. I will not adhere to this policy. Nor will my 4 children.


Strongly oppose.

I strongly oppose. Please protect our children from this abomination. This will cause major problems and make the schools unsafe for our children. You cannot deny biology. Please do not impose other people's fallacies on our children.


Strongly Support Transgender and nonbinary students

Transgender and nonbinary students are at a higher risk for bullying and even for suicide. If we are to prevent this, then we must implement protections for at risk students including gender and sexual minorities.


Strongly opposed!!!

These policies are ridiculous by any standard. Children are not responsible enough to make appropriate decisions and will take full advantage, for the wrong reasons....because that's what kids do!!!!!!   Boys and girls sharing bathrooms and locker rooms (transgender or not) will only result in MORE complicated scenarios such as teen pregnancies!  WAKE UP AND SMELL THE HORMONES!!!


Strongly support

Every student has the right to feel that they are represented, included, and safe in their classrooms. This will make a real difference in the life of trans students. It’s also important for every student to a part of an equitable class environment.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

STRONGLY OPPOSE because I PROTECT children from predators - like this ungodly government agenda interfering in the lives of children with the manipulative lie of sexual confusion


Strongly Support

It is vital that we provide protection and inclusivity for all students, especially trans students so that they can feel safe and supported in the educational environment. In the absence of such guidelines trans students lose their rights to be treated equally and respectfully in the classroom by teachers, by school staff and their peers. These guidelines are essential for their safety and well-being. Fully support as a licensed mental health professional.


I strongly disagree

I strongly disagree with this. Its against reason science and normal American values.


Strongly disagree!!! This is not how our children should grow up or have to see such things!!!

This is not something that should be broadcasted for children to see. People may feel these ways growing up or feel different but that doesn’t mean we have to put this in everybody’s face, put ideas in peoples heads, make people feel certain ways about seeing things like this or feeling comfortable going to the bathrooms or locker rooms. This is an absolute disgrace to even see that our world is coming to something like this. This is from somebody who has gay friends and has for a lifetime! This is not how we have to live. This is not how God intends for us to live!


Support and Affirm Trans Youth!

Trans students deserve to have access to bathrooms and other facilities that correspond to their gender. The gender binary was constructed to further the cause of white supremacists eugenics, and many studies have proven that gender affirmation saves the lives of trans and gender nonconforming students and youth. When LGBTQ+ youth see their identities accepted and celebrated, it improves their mental health enormously. I have known so many queer and trans people personally who are terrified to exist in public because of the hate that is often thrown at them. As elected officials, you have the power to change this. Our government has a responsibility to its citizens, and not allowing trans people to use the bathroom goes directly against the federal nondiscrimination policy that aims to protect all LGBTQ+ people.