Strongly Oppose

While I believe that each person should be considered valuable and shown kindness and respect, the basis for many of the guidelines in the proposed policies really have nothing to do with this at all. They will not really benefit the transgender students in any way, and are based on promoting deception of one kind or another. It is encouraging students of all ages, from the very young to the often tumultuous teenage years, to question the truth of the biological sex that they were born with and to possibly make life altering and harmful decisions based almost entirely on "feelings" alone long before they are mature enough to understand the consequences of such decisions.  The teaching and promoting of this ideology based on the definition of gender identity, (Definitions, P.6) will not help to reduce the confusion that some students have with their own feelings.  It will however, add confusion to the majority of students who accept that they are the biological sex/gender that they were born with and would never have even thought of questioning it. Studies show that a large percentage of children suffering from gender dysphoria have the feelings alleviated when they go through puberty.  Stop focusing on gender so much and start affirming the qualities of the individual as a human being. As well the proposed policies promote the idea of secrecy from their parents which is another form of deception which is also infringing on parents' rights.  It assumes that the school officials know what is better for the child than that child's own parents and encourages the child to trust them more than their own parents. This is harmful to the unity of the family. The parents have the right to know if their school age child is involved in a behavior that may be harmful to their child or goes against the religious or moral convictions that they are teaching them. There are many cases with children, that if their parents had known in time what they were really doing they could have addressed it and helped steer them away from far worse consequences than "parental disapproval". The premise that gender identity is based on the innate sense of the person, regardless of the biological truth (male and female chromosomes and reproductive organs), and that it does not require proof of any kind and can change after any duration of time (Recommended Standards, P 12), means that basically the entire school staff, student body and parents have to adjust the entire way that classrooms are run based on the personal feelings of a very small minority. Not to belittle their emotions, which are a very real source of concern to some of them, but no other people group has required the entire surrounding population to change the grammar of the language that they use (referring to pronouns) to avoid offending them. While the common use of good manners, kindness and respect toward others should be observed by all no matter what race, gender or religious belief or the lack thereof, expecting teachers and other students to begin to learn and memorize a  possibly endless and constantly changing list of new pronouns, which can apparently be made up at will and on a daily basis by the transgender students, and try to remember who gets called what each day is not only impractical, it is pretty much impossible. Teachers will be in danger of losing their jobs if they do not refer to a student by the chosen pronouns, causing some to have to go against their conscience and lie when they call what they know to be a "he", a "she" or else face serious consequences.  This is discrimination against their religious convictions and a form of harassing.  Students of both sexes are in danger of having no privacy from having the opposite sex in restrooms or locker rooms with them.  All of this is caused by the "innate sense", i.e. feelings, of a student, that cannot be proven and which are not required to have any substantiating evidence, and which they can then claim to change at any time, no questions asked.  And based on the definition of "gender identity," how can anyone really know that a biological teenage boy, for example, is actually truly identifying as a girl and is not just claiming to be so that they can get a peek in the girls' locker room?  Having gone through public school P.E. class and having had to strip down, shower and dress just with other girls, I can say it was extremely difficult being that exposed even to people of the same sex, especially during the time of puberty, and I dreaded it every day.  I cannot imagine what the students under these policies would feel having to be in those conditions along with the opposite sex.  Is all of this really what public school is to be about? It seems to be creating a very self-centered society that is overly sensitive and offended by everything.  How about using the hard earned money of the taxpayers who support the school system to actually teach academics such as reading, writing and arithmetic, along with true history, science, (remember biology in which, for thousands of years, people were born male or female?) and the Bible, which used to be taught, and which contains a wealth of wisdom which is sadly lacking in the educational system, as well as good character traits like honesty, integrity, honoring parents, hard work and excellence? I say no to this proposed policy and very strongly oppose it.


strongly support-- support trans kids

Trans kids deserve to be protected in schools.


Opposed on Ethical Grounds - Encourage Dialogue instead of Silencing Concerns

As a dedicated FCPS teacher with a love and care for all students, I have significant ethical concerns about the guidelines proposed in this document. By instructing all school staff to take a student's gender identity at face value without any kind of supporting documentation, these guidelines minimize the possibility of exploring underlying psychological factors that may be contributing to a student's experience of gender dysphoria, and further, invite schools to keep this information from a student's parents. These guidelines also would compel speech from school staff who have good-faith concerns and reservations about a student's social and/or medical transition. This document pits teachers against students, and silences concerned voices, rather than encouraging a healthy and pluralistic school dialogue about what is best for students. I would ask our legislators to please think further about this topic, and as one example, examine this testimony from de-transitioner Keira Bell, whose witness led the United Kingdom to ban hormone treatments for minors: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7926675/Witness-court-battle-against-gender-clinic-reveals-happened-cry-help.html


OPPOSE - No statewide mandate!!

Communities should get to decide how they handle these sorts of situations. This is absolutely wrong and I oppose the state taking such a blanket one-size-fits-all approach to this. Trans/gender issues are not the state's business. It has no right in this arena. These are PARENTAL issues.


The proposed Virginia Department of Education transgender policy is wrongheaded and evil.

This policy will give schools more say over a child’s complicated sex life than parents. It will enable or force children to make decisions about their personal sexual, and therefore, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual identity, without their parents help or knowledge, when many or most are not mature enough to understand the full implications of their decision. It will also trample the rights of others.


SUPPORT

strongly support!


Strongly support

Strongly support


No! Strongly oppose.

Strongly oppose! How many of you that agree and support this are actually parents?!?!? How many kids will be violated in bathrooms and locker rooms because of this? How many children will get pregnant or get stds because of this? How many kids will end up in foster care because of this?   You’re not thinking this through!


Please stop

Please don't do this. Students are children and this could have a serious negative and lasting impact. Let them choose as adults once they are developed.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

I strongly support this bill. Those crying infringement upon their religious rights do not understand their actual rights. Transgender students have the right to be free of YOUR religious IMPOSITION. There is infringement or imposition upon you by folks for being trans and existing in this world. Organized Religion is a cancer to this world.


Absolutely Not

This is wrong on so many levels, why are we even taking this into consideration?  A child has to be reminded to make his bed, brush his teeth and do his homework.  Why would we think they would have the mindset to make such a big decision and it is just to be accepted? What about the Child who is content with how God made them, do they have any rights left?  What about my child or grandchildren?  Does it matter that he would be uncomfortable going into a Men's Restroom with a "Girl" because she has decided to be a boy this year?  This is just so wrong!  We kick God out of the schools, yet we accept this as right?   This makes me so sad that we have to worry about something like this,  a place where a child is supposed to be learning to read and write.  I Strongly oppose this!


strongly agree!!! this is so important for students in our schools

this is so important!! strongly agree.


My Identity is NOT up for Debate! Trans student


Opposed

This bill has too many gray areas that can cause problems when used by overzealous individuals.  Virginia can do better.


Extremely Opposed

This is wrong on so many levels. This violates the rights and privacy of every student. This violates parental rights. By forcing specific terminology, this violates the first amendment right to freedom of speech. This will not create a safe or healthy learning environment for all students, as it discriminates against the majority. I see lawsuits in Virginia’s future


No we don’t need that.

No, we don’t need that in our school.


I strongly OPPOSE

There are already laws in place to protect children at school. This law removes parental rights. This would take away the rights of the children who may not feel comfortable being subjected to sharing restrooms with others of the opposite gender. I completely disagree with this idea!!


No for transgender

it is not loving to add the opposite sex to sports bathroom showets it is complicated issue and it will make the consequences worse. schools should be teaching academic studies and not social warrior issues. School is failing because you are getting away from the purpose of the school system. You are encouraging confusion


STRONGLY SUPPORT

I am extremely supportive of this!!!!!


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose. This strips parents of basic rights to do what they think is best for their children. It is an infringement on religious beliefs.


OPPOSE - bad people will lie about being trans

I have experienced men lying about their sexual preference and have abused it to commit perverse and disturbing acts in women's restrooms, etc. High School boys (i have 2) are just as prone to perverse behavior and I see no way in this bill that a school could penalize appropriately if someone abused these well-intended policies.


Support

I strongly support this guidance, as K-12 school has no value if it does not maintain a safe learning environment where all students, faculty, and staff are respected, heard, treated with dignity, and empowered to be their best, most authentic selves. As much as I want to write an entire novel in this space to express how this affects my life and my loved ones, I feel it is important to acknowledge that Trans rights and LGBTQIA+ rights should be respected by all, regardless of whether or not you take it personally. Protect every single person. Trans and non-binary students are vulnerable and can be supported.


concerned

Generally support, but am concerned about the locker room /rest rooms question in schools without adequate facilities for privacy.


Oppose

I believe this should be something that is adressed at home, and not in the school setting. Additionally, in the interest of women's sports, I strongly support limiting the participation to biological women.


As a taxpayer I oppose this.

As a taxpayer in Fairfax County, we believe that the focus of education is to teach our kids on normal subject matter, not material that should be handled by parents of "transgender" students, not the teachers and school officials. Our schools should not be assigning gender designations. One of those subjects is Biology which teaches that we have 23 pairs of chromosomes that are identical except for the 23rd which distinguishes between male from female.  The female has 2 X chromosomes and the male has an X and Y.  If there is some variance of this normal biology, then the parents need to consult a medical specialist in that area, i.e., chromosome irregularities. Too much time is spent in our schools on student social issues and not enough time on standard classroom education and discipline. Our schools should be teaching our children to advance their knowledge and abilities in things like math, science and technology because the US is ranked lower than other countries in the world and needs to improve. In addition, school budgets are always tight and the funding provided (in Fairfax County - $3B) to educate our children should be used for that, not on material that should be addressed by parents and family. Schools should provide parents with names and contact information for professionals who can address this issue with them. Schools should always provide a safe environment for all students no matter what gender, nationality, race, etc., they may be.


Strongly Disagree

This violates rights in so many ways, this is dangerous and 100% wrong!!! A child cannot support themselves let alone make this kind of decision! This should NOT even be top priority or even a concern. Please do notove forward with this!


Strongly oppose!!!!

This is psychologically and physically dangerous for girls to have biological boys and young men in their bathrooms and changing rooms.  This is an invasion of privacy.  And what about girls who have been sexually abused?  Even the thought of being invaded by boys in the bathroom would trigger flashbacks/ severe anxiety/ complete avoidance of the bathroom ALL DAY!  What about the rights of 99.9% of the population to feel safe and comfortable?!! Based on these guidelines, there’s no way to determine whether someone is genuinely experiencing gender dysphoria or just exploiting the situation “for fun” or to prey on young girls and young women..... or to get a teacher whom they don’t like fired (for not using their “preferred pronouns”).  There’s nothing measurable/ verifiable in the guidelines.  A biological male can simply say they feel like a girl.  That’s all they need to say to compel others’ speech.... and invade girls’ changing rooms.... and play girls’ basketball?!!! The whole idea that “gender identity” is different from biological sex (determined by chromosomes and anatomy) is a pseudoscientific bogus THEORY.  This is absolutely NOT PROVEN. The vast majority of children/ teens who struggle with gender confusion come to accept/ be comfortable with their bodies.  This is something that can be worked through with parents, children, counselors, spiritual advisors.  This is not something for the school to deal with with the student APART from the parent!  Encouraging gender confusion at school and keeping this secret from the parents is absolutely WRONG and just invites lawsuits! Enforcing these guidelines would result in CHAOS and CONFUSION.  Stick to teaching MATH, READING, SCIENCE!  Taxpayers do not give you permission to indoctrinate children with the latest fad ideologies and perform social experiments on their children!


Opposed There should be zero tolerance for bullying

There should be zero tolerance for bullying. This proposal pushes a singular agenda for a particular issue and fails to pursue the wellbeing of all students-equally. It also undermines a parent's ability to pursue the best interests of their child.


Opposed

strongly opposed to this.


I have a grandchild who has been diagnosed as transgender.

My heart breaks for his future. Our children have been through so much counseling and medical consultants to help them guide him. Today he is a happy girl that his parents have encouraged him to be. This is hard in the family today. Can you please put you selves in their position of how my beloved grandchild will face the rest of her life. Let here  be for now as she identified with and help her sustain her successful life


PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN!!

Please don’t let this flop. Support our children. All rights matter


Draft model policies for the treatment of transgender studentsD

I strongly urge that nothing be done to encourage declarations of transgenderism or to further the trend of denying parents information that they need to rear their children responsibly. This is a subject for parents, children, and their medical & spiritual advisors to deal with, NOT governmental entities including public schools.


Oppose to the highest degree

These are children we are talking about, not adults.  Boys and girls should not be sharing the same bathroom or locker room!  Boys and girls should not have to marked with a pronoun.  Lastly, we send our children to school to get an education not be coddled by a teacher who doesn't see it in the best interest of a child to reach out to their parents and let them know what is going on in their child's life.  I honestly cannot even believe this is being proposed by the VDOE.


Strongly Opposed!

These policies are against all religious teaching and basic human morality. Anyone that is for these types of policies in our schools is promoting pedophilia and supporting child abuse and should be arrested, confined and kept away from any child. Any law maker that publicly supports these policies should be immediately impeached and incarcerated for pedophilia in order to protect all of the states children. Should this be passed, all supporting State Legislators, Governor, State Officials, all School Board Officials, Teachers and all School Personnel will be held accountable should any single child be abused as a result of these policies. All area churches will see that this happens quickly and to the greatest extent of the law. The lawsuits will be endless.


VERY STRONGLY OPPOSE

I very STRONGLY oppose ALL aspects of this Statewide Transgender School Policy as proposed by the VDOE.  These proposed changes are extremely short-sighted and very harmful for children, and the authors of this bill have not thought through the implications.  In particular, the proposition of boys or young men being in the presence of undressed women will cause rape and other sexual violations.  How are faculty and students able to remember "preferred pronouns for many different student, which may change from day to day?  These policies also violate the U.S. Constitution, in that there are no exceptions for students, parents or teachers whose religious faith prevents them from conforming to transgender ideology and policies. Thank you for considering these comments, William J. Long Jr.


Strongly Opposed!


Strongly Agree

Strongly agree - we need to protect and include our trans children


VOTE NO!  OPPOSED!

I am here to ask you to NOT add the sexuality-related language, particularly "gender identity," to the Equal Opportunity policy.  I ask that you not include transgender boys in my daughter's locker room. OR transgender girls in my son's locker room. I am against this because I feel like you are taking my children’s innocence away.  I cannot support biological males being in my daughter’s bathroom or locker room nor can I support girls in my son’s bathroom or locker room.   It will damage more children than it saves. It creates tremendous confusion and I blame liberals for this.  All of a sudden you have power and you are going way overboard! Aside from the kids that may have an issue, what about the kids that don’t?  Do they have to suffer with a different gender invading their privacy? Will it be a male teacher in my son’s locker room monitoring the transgender girl getting changed or the Female teacher monitoring a boy in the girl’s room? In this environment we live in today, how could you possibly think this is okay? I want you to think about your own kids and how you grew up.  Did you have the opposite gender in your bathrooms?  Why do this now? I think this is absolutely absurd and should not even be a discussion.  I am sure if you go into bathrooms anywhere, you are appalled when someone from the opposite gender walks in.  I do!  and several people that voted on this in the past have regretted their votes.  I can remember one encountering a man in the same bathroom with her 6 year old daughter!  She couldn't believe she voted in favor of this.  I guess unless it happens to you directly, you don't care??? Go ahead, destroy our kids even more with this garbage.  They have been out of school for almost a year and then you throw this crap at them.  It will only backfire in your face! My children won't be taking gym class then.


Guidance for trnasgenders in the public schools

Totally NUTS!  Why the hell cannot the DoE get down to delivering quality education and forget about drool like this.  Our public school systems have failed many generations of students.  VA and the US is way behind even underdeveloped nations and we spend probably more per student than most countries.  A failure of leadership in the system AND in the state legislature but the libs just keep it up and things keep getting worse and worse.


FULL SUPPORT

I am in full support of the protection of nonbinary and trans kids. I wish this protection and this opportunity was available when I was in grade school. There is life-long impact from trauma around not being able to participate as your authentic self, especially at school, which is many kids escape from dysfunction at home. We must protect ALL children. They are our future.


Strongly Agree

Trans rights are human rights!!!!


Support our trans students and their families

I am very proud of Virginia just to get to this point of having this policy discussion.  I am fully supportive of creating policy around best practices that promotes an open and free education/school environment for trans children. This is needed to support them and their families, allowing those children to get an equal education with protections against bullying and discrimination.


This disgusts me

I am so sadden by this. I am not discriminating against anybody that wants to change who they were born, but my daughter should not have to worry about seeing a penis when she is in the bathroom having to deal with her own issues. God gave us different body parts and this is how we need to identify which bathroom a child uses. Also if a child identifies as something else then that is up to the parent and the child to let the teacher know. Yes the child might not feel comfortable telling the parent but that gives no right for the state to take them away from the parent. I am sickened that the teacher would get into trouble with not using the correct term. But if a child identifies as one or the other then they need to understand that most individuals do not know these terms or how to use them or can remember to use them. I will be taking my daughter out of public school if this passes and cannot imagine what doors you are opening up if this passes. I see rape, i see children having sex more in the bathrooms I also see teachers getting blamed for something that they might not be comfortable in doing or saying


Strongly opposed

I am opposed to the proposed legislation. I believe in equal rights but I also worry about the environment this creates for my children who are being raised with traditional Christian values. School is a place for learning. I'm not sure I want my children learning about such things or being distracted by such an environment. It makes me strongly consider enrolling my children in private school.


Strongly oppose transgender

Keep our girls safe.  I,as a grown woman, would not feel comfortable changing in the locker room with a man.  Don't make our young girls feel like they need to hide or change elsewhere.  If you are biological male, regardless of how you identify, you use the male locker room.


In support of equal rights for all, maintaining the equal rights of women and girls

The legislation directs policies for a " safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for ALL students ".  Women and men have equal rights.  Women are physically different than biological men.  In order to maintain equitable opportunities in sports, they must be limited to a single biological sex. Biological females/males should have the right to change and use the bathroom in a single biological sex space as sharing a space with the opposite biological sex would promote a intimidating environment. Childhood and adolescence can be a confusing time. While some children experience gender dysphoria, even the World Professional Association for Transgender Health reports that this feeling does not inevitably continue into adulthood. Children should receive accurate information about human biology and reproduction. Educational policies can support all students without promoting and reinforcing this feeling of anxiety, uncertainty and discomfort with ones' own biological sex.


Strongly Opposed - Dangerous for Both Cis and non-binary Children

I am strongly opposed. Not only is it not safe for cis-gender students, but for non-binary students as well. Cis-gender students may feel uncomfortable in the bathroom or locker room when a member of the opposite biological sex enters. Cis-gender students may not know without doubt that the other student identifies truly as non-binary. Students who identify as non-binary are at risk of being accused of falsifying their identities to gain entrance to bathrooms and locker rooms of the opposite biological sex. Students who identify as non-binary risk bodily harm when entering bathrooms and locker rooms of the opposite biological sex. I believe that non-binary individuals should be loved, supported, and accepted in our community, but not by adding risk to themselves as well as cis-gender individuals. There must be another way to practice inclusivity for the non-binary population without excluding cis-gender individuals.


STRONGLY DISAGREE

I strongly oppose this legislation. It’s a mechanical thing. If you have male parts you use men’s bathroom. If you have female parts you use women’s bathroom.


Strongly oppose!!!!

I strongly oppose the proposed transgender guidelines.  It is wrong to spend my tax dollars to promote issues that I disagree with.


Very strongly opposed

Keep your virtue signaling to yourselves. Don't push your morals on others. Stick to reading, writing, and arithmetic.


Strongly support

This is a compassionate and thoughtful document. I support making our schools a safe and welcoming place for trans students.  I support this document.


Trans - students

I strongly oppose this demonic filth being taught to our children, it’s


STRONGLY OPPOSE

Children, especially those in elementary school, have a hard enough time growing into their bodies and knowing the difference between boys and girls.  It is ok if they want to share bathrooms and bedrooms at home, but in a public area there should be strictly separate areas.  For those children in middle and high school, their bodies are developing and children are adjusting to those changes.  For some girls, changing in front of another girl is very embarrassing, but to have to change in front of a boy who thinks for the moment he is a girl could be very traumatic!  And does that boy really think he is a girl or is he just saying so so that he can go into the girls room/locker room to see girls in all stages of undressed.  Think!!!  Would you want your teen aged daughter to share a locker room with a boy!  I think not!  Use your heads to change this back to separate girl/boy/family rest rooms and locker rooms.


Strongly opposed

I strongly oppose this. I dont believe it is the schools place to guide my child in deciding there gender god decided that for the moment they were conceived. Also I should not be criminalized because i encourage them by letting them know that was the way god made them. The government is quick to tell me i cant call my boys but they are not worried about real issues like real child abusers, or drug addicts that keep having babys that are addicted to drugs.


I oppose this policy (provisions for counselling, safety, hypocrisy).

This policy will not alleviate nor resolve their fears, depression or confusion (p.9 P13) as brought on and manifest due to their chosen new identity.  This policy lacks any provision for counselling youth (nor their parents) who choose not to walk out a life of gender confusion.  It provides safety for transgender students at the expense of the safety, security, privacy and wellbeing of female students who are an equally vulnerable population (p.8 P14, p.17 Access to Facilities P1).  This policy negates and strips parents of their influence in the shaping and nurturing of their children while mandating that this shaping take place in a public, governmental controlled environment (p.13 P1 abuse, neglect).  It is already mandatory that abuse be reported by staff, but to be compelled to report parents because of their "lack of support at home" (p.13) is a very grey area and cause for alarm.  This policy violates the premise that textbook learning is based upon factual physical, biological and social science (p.6 Terminology-Sex Assignment- presumed to be male at birth).  To perpetuate what is known to be false information (p.12, p.6 Terminology) and to indoctrinate children into a preferred ideology (p.8 Guiding Principles-Cisgender binary) is hypocrisy at its best.  This policy is proposed as a means of providing a safe learning environment for transgender students, but its sole purpose is to mandate an ideology for those students deemed to be in need of a transformation of their thinking.  Transgender students need our support and love in the form of counselling and therapy to bring them to a better and more satisfying place not a policy which enables their confused behavior.


Strongly Oppose!!!!!!!

This will open the door to even more bullying and problems in dressing rooms and bathrooms!


Resounding support from a teacher

I am proud to teach at Virginia high school, and I will be even more proud when these proposed guidelines empower educators to protect and nurture trans and gender expansive students in the Commonwealth. These kids aren’t an abstraction. They are in my classes, as funny and brilliant and bright as all their peers. But the sheer nerve and bravery it takes for them to get up each day and proclaim their identity floors me. They know the world hasn’t made room for them yet, but they are sure that it will. And how lucky are they to love in Virginia, now, when we’ve finally opened up more room in our hearts? These proposed guidelines will give trans students an incredible resource, which they should have had at school all along: dignity


department of education transgender policies in schools

Biological males need to be in sports, locker rooms and bathrooms with other biological males.  And likewise for females.  Stop taking away womens rights by allowing non-biological women in our sports.  Respect the rights of males and females and do not mix us in the school situation,  We are there to learn academic subjects and that is what schools/ colleges should focus on.


Compassion, not harmful ideology

The compassionate approach to gender dysphoria is empathy and concern for the affected individual not confirmation of objectively and scientifically erroneous ideology which has caused extensive, well-documented physical and emotional harm to children.


Opposed

I have a Master's degree in psychology.  A key principle in psychological practice is that to encourage, endorse, or deepen an individual's psychological disorder is deeply unethical.  Thus, the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students are unethical in that they encourage gender dysphoria rather than promoting support and healing for its victims. Moreover, the Model Policies defy basic biological science.  In psychology, the inability to acknowledge reality is defined as a "psychosis," making the Model Policies fit the definition of "psychotic" (or the writer(s) is psychotic).  No one who denies science has any business doing anything related to the education of children.  The Model Policies should be rejected immediately and those involved in their development released from any education related employment. The elimination of gender based practices such as single sex sports teams and father daughter dances denies our basic human design.  Indoctrinating children into such unscientific madness could be considered child abuse given the deep harm it can cause. The Model policies should be wholly rejected save for the principle that students suffering from gender dysphoria should be treated with compassion and not bullied.


Strongly Support

Strongly Support, Protect trans kids.


Full support!!!

We need to provide our trans kids a place that they feel welcome and safe. This is a good step towards giving them a seat at the table.


Sexual Gestapo

I am strongly against what I see as a sexual gestapo that pits government school systems against parents and children.  Children are victimized into addressing sexual issues well before it becomes necessary or desirable.  They are not mature enough to understand the long term ramifications.  If  biological males was allowed into my locker room when I was attending school, the girls would have ganged up on them and thrown them out.  Hopefully that kind of street justice will prevail.  It is more of an assault on girls then boys.  This type of tyranny must not be allowed to prevail.


mental illness

is this the mental illness forum??  or which one is this?? all the headings say 'strongly oppose' to mental illness..or, is this the blindness one. I want to expresxs my oppose to blindness. I don't think anyone should be blind, unless you were born blind and ther's no cure. I'm lost.. where is the swim pool regulatiopns forum? ' is there anyone hear?  i cant here nuttin


Science is 2 genders XX and XY Chromosomes

I have 3 school aged children.  They will not be returning to a government school if this policy is implemented.  Further, I demand my tax dollars are returned to me to educate my children in an institution that understands science.  the Virginia government apparently does not.  Let me explain. Science indicates by study of DNA and in particular, the chromosomes that are made up by it.  There are two, XX and XY.  The clothes some wear nor genital mutilation constitute a change to the chromosomes.  Therefore, "transgender" individuals do not exist in the human population.  I understand that this situation may exist in some reptiles and/or amphibians.  However, I know of no mammals, including humans where this has been observed or verified. So in summary, my child will never attend a government institution where XX and XY individuals are allowed to comingle in compromising situations such as bathrooms or locker rooms. Moreover, if this legislation is enacted I will make it my mission in life to organize similarly concerned parents to demand an educational voucher program be implemented in Virginia.  Further, I will contribute to the any candidate that opposes an incumbent taht supports this FAKE SCIENCE. Best Regards, Bulldog


Support 100%

I just wanna say that im down 100% with this one because i feel that it's important for everyone and that nobody should get excluded


Strongly support the protection of our transgendered students.

Transgendered children are extremely vulnerable to bullying and discrimination hindering their academic and social participation. Ethically we need to do our part to protect and advocate for this population.


Strongly Opposed

No child should be discriminated against, harassed or bullied! Parents are responsible for raising, teaching values and respect to their children, not the state. That’s it! “Policies” like this only divide & separate children, categorized & confused!


Draft transgender educational policies

Dear Elected Representatives, the proposed educational mandates go far beyond the civil rights concerns for transgendered people.  No school should ever make decisions about a child's health without the permission and knowledge of parents.  That has nothing at all to do with civil rights.  This is not the kind of policy that should be decided and passed without the general public being made aware of all the details and given the opportunity to vote.


Strongly oppose

Biological sex is the only reasonable means of assigning bathrooms.  It is not safe to do anything else.


Nicholas Brinen, James Madison University

SUPPORT!  Anyone who disagrees is dumb

We all belong to each other.  This action needs to be supported and begins with our young ones.  The hate and narrow mindedness of well intentioned parents should exit the conversation.  The future is up to the young ones and more inclusivity, equality, diversity, and community equals strength for all of us. Don't be dumb. Evolve. Support this.


Please support trans rights!

Trans people deserve to be heard and supported. I support this policy of beginning to give trans kids the respect and acknowledgement they deserve.


STOP!!!

These policies threaten the safety of students!!! These policies promote keeping parents in the dark and even threatens RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES to parents. students, teachers who don't agree with the policies or the EXTREME LGBT agenda it pushes.


Vehemently OPPOSE this legislative abomination!

Parents are an integral part of their children's education and formation.  This legislation takes that God given duty and responsibility away by restricting the rights of the parents and failing to keep them informed. Boys should not be using girls' restrooms and vice versa.  Abuse of this will occur; it's not if, but when. Education is about educating our children, not indoctrinating them or using them as guinea pigs in a novel experiment, all while labeling this with politically correct vocabulary such as equity or social justice. This is unconstitutional!  God created man and woman and when students cannot articulate that without fear of repercussions, than both the parent's and their rights of freedom of religion have been stripped! This cannot stand!  Please do not pass this legislative abomination!


Oppose

As an educator, I strongly oppose this movement. At a time when children need stability and safety, this movement causes internal and purposeful conflict and harm. There is zero reason to cause children to dive into a world of confusion and self doubt.


Support of our Transgender Children & Their Futures

Identity is important. Sex and gender are complicated and not as straight forward as we tend to make them. Both are crucial to the development of one’s identity. We must support students who do not fit what has too long been consider the “traditional” identity mold. The world has changed and we must update policies to reflect those changes. Students spend majority of their days at school and we must create spaces in which they are safe, comfortable, and accepted. By continuing to force students to use their “sex assigned” bathrooms, locker rooms, sports, dress code, etc. we are inherently teaching them we do not value who they truly are as individuals and perpetuating outdated ways of discrimination through a series of falsehoods, misinformation, and stereotypes as excuses to not put forth these needed policies. This can only lead to continued harm to identity creation, social-emotional development, and unjust treatment I support the practices and updates outlined in the VDOE document and look forward to the progress we can make together for the future of our transgendered students.


Strongly oppose

No school should surpass parental discretion and the right to raise their children as they see fit in morals and Faith. The school is acting like a parent. Many Christians do not agree with the agenda proposed. It is their right under the constitution to practice their faith and for their children in said Faith. furthermore, we as Americans have the right to disagree with the lgbt movement, which is not done out of hate but in love and Faith for neighbors, God, family and country.  This country was meant to be God fearing, it should remain so. Such actions are sadly out of line with Godly ideals and the reason this country was founded. Lgbt stuff is not for schools...it’s very controversial and should not be brought into schools. Again, what right does a school have to impose their morals on the children and families it serves, that sounds more like a dictatorship. I would never advocate being mean or ill treating any lgbt person, but can not support this action. I pray that it is not put into practice. Certainly it will not please God and He sees all...


Full Support for Protection

No one asks to be trans, the same way no one asks to be gay. This isn’t a choice someone makes, it’s an internal crisis they have for years before growing to accept themselves as who they are. Trans people are people, and these students are children. They deserve to feel safe and accepted, just like anyone else.


No

No!


Transgender bill for public schools

Vote NO!!!  This is wrong! Puts our children at risk of abuse.


Insanity

This is a recipe for disaster.  This policy will be abused to sneak peeks in the locker room/bathroom.  The only bathroom or locker room that should be allowed to be used is the one their sex chromosomes align with.  This is ludicrous and there will be plenty of harassment and sexual abuse complaints to follow if this goes through.


Strong approval from an educator

As a public school educator, I have seen firsthand the very real consequences these decisions make for some of our most vulnerable children who deserve all the love and support in the world, just as any child. I have seen far too many children over my lifetime deal with depression and suicidal ideation - and worse - when they are required to reject their true selves. This is an easy choice to make. Treat people with fairness and dignity.


Oppose

While we must protect all students, including those who identify as transgender, this document establishes unhelpful and dangerous precedents. Parents are the primary protectors and educators of their children, not the school system, so they should not be misinformed or uninformed about what is happening with or around their children. The only exceptions to this are in cases of actual child abuse/neglect, which is a separate and urgent matter to attend to. What is protective to one is harmful to the other and vice versa. This document requires all children and their families to essentially be lumped into one category, again leading to both unhelpful and potentially dangerous results. Additionally, careful attention needs to be paid to conducting and adhering to actual research regarding transgender identifying youths. There are balanced ways we can support every child working through their own identity, etc without moving so forcefully in the direction of special interests groups that push an agenda that often is unaware of, undermines, or ignores the nuances of child development. Strongly oppose this document - we can do better for our children, their families, our schools, and community.


Strongly Support!

Trans students deserve a safe and accepting learning environment. It is the duty of the state of Virginia to provide this and continue moving towards the path of justice.


Strongly opposing the public school system failing society

I am sickened by this proposal to allow children to keep secrets with the school system from their parents.  The school system does NOT have the authority to "parent" my children.  A school system is simply in place to help my children learn basics in life to allow them to provide living in the future.  Stop trying to gain more control over our children when you dont have the right to do so. On another note, if you think for one second I will allow my children to be exposed to the opposite gender in a locker room or bathroom then you are sadly mistaken.  I WILL 100% sell everything I have to put my child in a CHRISTIAN PRIVATE school rather than to keep them in a public school that is failing society. Transgender individuals need help for an issue they have with themselves.  The entire world does not and should not be asked to conform to something that is immoral.  Those who need help should get help.  I'm blown away at the idiocy of even thinking this is logical.  Dont you understand that making a few feel "comfortable" will make millions uncomfortable?  Do you want to see the rate of teen pregnancy increase?  Do you want to see the rate of mental illness increase? By passing this you will increase the rate of both.  You WILL lose MANY children to the public school system and you WILL have many who lose their jobs.  This is a snowball to the end of public schools.  I promise I will be the first to withdraw my children and watch it fall.  Good luck.


Not for all

This is not fair to all.


Trans rights are human rights and trans kids deserve protection

Exactly what the title says. Whether or not people think it’s “right” doesn’t matter. Trans kids are real and they deserve to be protected by our school system just as much as any cisgender child.


Support

I support this.


Strong support of legislation that protects children and saves lives

I am disheartened by the number of comments who are opposed to providing Virginia students with the ability to know that there are professional adults who will protect them from harassment and violence focus on learning and healthy socialization throughout their formative years, rather than survival experience mentorship and guidance as their full selves spend almost 50% of their waking hours with adults and communities who know their names and use them correctly (It is wild that this is being contested!) These are not even best practices for schools—they are the bare minimum. By supporting this legislation, you are supporting protective factors that enhance learning, strengthen the ties between schools and families, and help prevent the rampant suicidality that affects transgender youth disproportionately.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

STRONGLY OPPOSE!!!  To accommodate one you need to accommodate ALL...where is the “protection” of my child who is not confused?  How is it right to force these policies onto him and others??  I think are DEF goin and gave have gone WAY to far on this


Full support

This will provide necessary protection and validation for trans students in Virginia. I urge you to pass this bill.


support AND protect trans students.

support trans students.


Strongly oppose

Speaking as one who has daughters, I am in constant fear that something could happen to their health or well being. When it’s scary enough for a girl to possibly be picked on or abused by another girl, it’s


Transgender

I oppose your transgender proposal.  Parents need to be informed of their children’s welfare. Full transparency between the school, parent and child. Parents are responsible for their kids not the school.


Support transgender protections - trans rights are human rights

Transgender people are people and should have all the same rights, opportunities, and protections as all other people.


Finally!! Very much in support

When I was a student of Virginia public schools, I served on the student advisory group to the superintendent and represented my school at many events including a panel about dress code. This was back in the early 20teens. Then and now it was a topic of conversation and importance to address rules regarding dress code, preferred pronouns and preferred names. I'm glad it is finally happening. School is supposed to be a safe space. It is supposed to be a place to learn not only facts and critical thinking, but social skills and compassion. How are we teaching compassion if we can't work to eliminate descrimination in our rules and set an expectation that our educators model acceptance?


I strongly support

It is imperative that there is protection for trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students in Virginia. All children deserve a safe and affirming environment to learn. Creating a truly inclusive school environment will help children become socially conscious & aware adults. I remember in high school we had a transgender young lady in my gym class. She was beautiful, she was funny, and she was such a good hearted person. I remember being so appalled when I found out she was not allowed to dress in the girl’s locker room with us. She had to get dressed in the boys bathroom down the hall because the boys would beat her up if she went into the boy’s locker room. I remember thinking back then, as a kid....”She’s clearly one of us, there is no reason she shouldn’t be in here with us. We’d accept her.” Our society has this all wrong and it needs to change. Our children need to be protected for the person they truly are. And this is the first step in how we can undo the obsolete prejudices that plagues our society. It’s time for change.


CHOO CHOO TRANS

I think diesel trans pollute the air with filth. Wwood fired uses too much wood, wasting trees, and coal burns blacker than Governor Ralph Northam's racist blackface. So you tell me.. Put a big old windmill with some solar panels that were assembled by oil riggers instead of solarium flags and get some big fans to blow a big wind... and you'll be doin great


Needs serious reconsideration and modifications

While I support one’s right to decide/identify  their own gender, I do not support the use of school bathrooms according to which gender a student identifies with. My concern is misuse with intent to harm. As a former high school nurse, I have seen and dealt with the problems that this causes by both “sides” of this very hot issue. There needs to be one or several separate gender neutral bathrooms for these students that identify as a different gender than what they are physically born as. It is not fair to those who identify as “straight” to be made uncomfortable by transgender students and vice versa.  Quite a few of my former transgender students expressed the desire to have a separate bathroom and locker room for their use. I suggest everyone involved in this process to tread lightly and to look at all pros and cons. And to keep in mind that there are still very many conservative areas/localities in the state of Virginia.


XY and XX - it’s science y’all; GOD says so!

I’m tired of the overkill and overt measures to inject social agendas into our children's Educational curriculum. Transgender students already have enough protection from bullying and harassment via the Anti-Bullying structures and systems in the school. It is beyond the realm of ridiculousness to think that teaching the FALSE indoctrination of multiple genders outside of XY and XX makes any logical or good sense. It is rather promoting confusion and abusing the naïveté and pliability of impressionable school-age children. I understand that is exactly your intention...to exploit the naïveté of these children with a false notion of gender fluidity. It’s anti-science and it’s anti-humankind, not to  mention anti-God. Enough already. Let parents teach their kids as they will on social issues at home, at Girl Scout meetings, wherever...but keep your inane, insane and unnatural ideas out of the educational system. Male and female. That’s it. No more. No less. Protect all the students. Advocate for all students equally. You cannot give special treatment to one student to the detriment of all the others. Think about it. You cannot elevate one theory or social agenda to the ousting or canceling of another point of view.  Why should a biological male be undressing in a girls’ bathroom?  Why should boys give space to a biological male who identifies as female in their locker room? What about the rights of ALL the other students in the room?  Stop pushing this agenda. It’s dangerous and fringe thinking and is not appropriate in the public school system. Period.


Support Our Trans Youth

It's our human duty to protect and support our youth, regardless of gender identity or sexuality.


Opposition to transgender

Regarding Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools: It is difficult to know where to begin.  This proposal is egregiously one sided. Fortunately in the United States we live under the freedom of expression-available to every citizen. This proposal is giving too much power an control to one social group.  By requiring enforcement of these ideals in our school system, it is completely alienating the rights of the non transgender  population. If every person is equal, then every person should be given equal say.  Is the general public able to vote on such proposals? How is opportunity being provided to balance different viewpoints? A school could easily provide special accommodation for students with transgender identification issues.  As a parent I have grave concerns about the opportunity for a young man to be able to enter a female locker room or bathroom, and vice versa. Some questions are not addressed.  For instance, if a school does not participate, does this limit them from receiving government support? We must be cautious that such proposals do not become based in agenda: they must be representative of the entire population. This could force teachers and educational staff members at all levels to make drastic decisions based on ethical and moral values that could end professions for which they have been trained.


Strongly Oppose

This guidance prescribes forced and compelled speech and therefore undermines ones right to free speech. It also shows a disregard for the rights of parents and religious freedom. One stated reason for this guidance is to fight against bullying, but that is exactly what this document is advocating. If you do not talk a certain way, dress a certain way, and act a certain way, you will be punished and possibly taken from your parents. This is wholly unconstitutional and wrong. It should, and will, be challenged in the courts.


I support these model policies for LGBTQ students in Virginia. It is essential that children and youth be able to learn without suffering discrimination or harassment. A national survey by GLSEN has found that 75% of transgender youth feel unsafe at school, and those who are able to persevere had significantly lower GPAs, were more likely to miss school out of concern for their safety, and were less likely to plan on continuing their education. According to the Trevor Project LGBTQ youth are FIVE times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual cisgender peers. I spent many years working with the Virginia Anti-Violence Project and heard from diverse community members about their lived experiences as transgender youth in Virginia. I saw the need for Virginia schools to have model policies to protect LGBTQ youth as many of the youth experienced bullying/harassment/ and discrimination. These policies will promote the critical goal of keeping students safe to the best of our abilities. Schools have a moral and legal obligation to protect their students from this kind of harassment at school. These policies are necessary. The policies lay out how schools can prevent gender-based harassment or address it effectively to support and protect students if harassment occurs. These policies will help transgender students feel safe and respected at school, which is necessary for them to have equal access to education.


#protectourkids

Regardless of what gender someone identifies with, if they have a penis they need to use the men’s locker room and bathroom and if they have a vagina they need to stay in the women’s locker/bathroom. Stop putting children at risk by trying to make all things equal. #protectourkids


Oppose

I oppose this wholeheartedly. Please do not indoctrinate our children with the notion that children can change genders. The school systems should not be involved in this issue. This is a private matter between families.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

While I support any childs sexual orientation (not preference), I do not believe that there should be genetically endowed boys in the girls locker and bath rooms and visa versa.  Nor should genetic boys be allowed to play on girls athletic teams.  EVER.  Have separate teams, separate locker rooms and separate bathrooms for those who believe they are transgender.


Support

Please offer support for our transgender students in Virginia. As a high risk group for dying by suicide, support from the community is exactly what is needed.


Support

I’ve been a teacher for 14 years, and I’m proud to support this guidance. My school is very inclusive but most of my colleagues do not have any experience with transgender youth. I know they would want to do everything right for them, but it is a learning process and teachers will need to know how to support them. 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.


strongly support

Strongly Support


First Amendment Violation

First, this bill is drafted to virtue signal, to pander, and nothing else. While I am for letting people live the way they wish to, for people having difference of opinions, and for people of different beliefs and perspectives, this bill does the opposite. By the government mandating a penalty for expressing ones beliefs or demonstrating freedom of speech, it’s in essence is at odds with it’s purported intention of inclusiveness. Make no mistake, there is a strong case to be made that this clearly violates the First Amendment, and lawsuits will come. This bill pushes far beyond the envelope of the role of the school, totally blowing up the lines between parental rights and the role of educators. Perhaps, the Democratic lawmakers pushing this bill, alienating the majority of constituents will pay the price come re-election.


Strongly support transgender youth rights

I strongly support this legislation.


trans discussion

In the 60's and 70's there were no kids confused about their sexuality. liberalism brought this on. Imagine some girl watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 1964 going, I thi nk I wanna chang my sex to a boy/


Transgender bill

Strongly opposed!  Puts our children at risk.


You get what you vote for Virginia! now, your child will be disciplined for saying wrong pronoun

Most of us have a hard time remembering names... and now you want our children to remember what pronoun a child wants to be called ( that can change from day to day)? Or they will be reprimanded????  This is to be taught in schools???? and you worry about keeping your school accredidation? VA Schools will all be discredited for this foolishness! Will be interesting to see the stats of children and teachers who leave the VA public school system! and to see the decline of people moving to VA due to this reverse discrimination policy.  No one is going to move to a state with a school system that tries to over ride parental rights. What happens to Biological Male and Biological Female rights? They just get thrown under the school bus? and exchanged for the opposite biological human to be exposed, in front of biological called children,  in the locker room (and vice versa)! Of course, VDOE is just following what the irrational, ignorant politicians in our General Assembly told them to do.  No one is doing a reality check and thinking of consequences of the rights of BIOLOGICAL male and female rights and PARENT rights. They are just pushing a "woke" agenda, to please .4% of the population.  Pure insanity!


STRONGLY OPPOSE

STRONGLY OPPOSE


strongly agree!!

strongly agree.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

This language and bill goes against everything we have fought for - respect, freedom from fear of sexual predators, privacy of our bodies.  If an individual opts to outwardly change their body, that is their choice. However, their choices should NEVER cross out the rights of the MAJORITY. Build a transgender bathroom if you wish but don’t take the rights of the rest of us.


Oppose transgender

I oppose legislation, line item(s), or any form (written or oral) which promotes or explores the transgender lifestyle.  Furthermore, those who promote such issues should be removed from office and someone who boldly adheres to the traditional family unit should be installed.  A husband, wife and children lead by God and the bible will lay the foundation for a society which excels.  Rome's demise started with these types of issues set before you.  True the moral compass while you still can or your children and grandchildren will be lost to disease and mental anguish.  Are you not trying to eliminate Covid-19, but consider this disease instead?


While I love all people, I strongly CANNOT support this Bill as it hurts the rights of many.

I love all people but I strongly do NOT support this bill. While it gives some rights to a few it does not support the rights of many. Please vote NO.


STRONGLY SUPPORT! You can not pick and chose which children to protect

I'm saddened that we are still having these kinds of debates. While I am all for people having their own opinions about their own beliefs or religion...it does NOT allow for the exclusion of others. There is NO HIERARCHY when it comes to human rights. And when it comes to our children, we need to be especially mindful and protective... as it's obvious from reading comments left by others on this forum that there are still too many people laboring under a societal construct of gender. How do people not realize that what these children need protection from is THEM?! There needs to be evolution.


Opposed to transgender bill for public schools

Ties the hands of teachers to protect our children from those who abuse the system.


Strongly oppose

We cannot continue to blend the genders. Biblically and biologically there are 2:  xx and xy - male and female.Sports, restrooms, policies should be directed to the scientific definition of gender. Period. Anything more than that in a public school setting, is asking for MORE bullying and issues - it’s not just kids - you will have to deal with the adults/parents/your constituents that voted you into office and can vote you out. Make you decisions wisely. We are watching.


Strongly oppose


We need legal protections for trans children

All children deserve to live happy and healthy lives. Trans children face increased bullying and scrutiny in their schools and communities and it is our obligation to protect them and make sure they feel safe and secure.


Strongly opposed to transgender policy

If the male & female teachers use the same bathroom ... we will have a 3rd bathroom for the trans kids.  But the bill in the house, the dept of education, defying the parents moral, religious, health rights to decide for their children is even MORE DISTURBING than this bill!!!  They want to vaccinate your child without your permission & without ever notifying you!!!  DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION! REMOVE YOUR KIDS NOW !!!!


Support for Transgendet Students

The research supporting the idea that inclusive bathroom policies somehow endanger cisgender women simply does not exist... there is no evidence of an increase in inclusive policies is in any way tied to an increase in related harassment. According to the US Transgender Survey in 2015, 59% of transgender people who responded had avoided using public bathrooms in the past year for fear of confrontation. This country has a serious issue with regard to the safety of transgender people, and inclusive policies are the first step towards making educational spaces safe for everyone.


yes for trans protection

IN STRONG SUPPORT <333


Support Transgender students!!

Transgender students deserve to be supported just as any student.


Brainwashing overstep parents have rights

this a complete overstep and it is time that the board be step down and realize we are rural people with Christian beliefs. Wake up we are not liberal nor a big city. Take your re- education and shove it!


Transgender ed in schools

Adamantly oppose!


Support

Of course I support this, it’s a restroom.... duh, let people pee in peace


Oppose! Stop confusing children

Strongly oppose! Stop confusing our children!


I strongly support this!

I strongly support this!


Strongly oppose!

Strongly Oppose!


Strongly Opposed

I am strongly opposed for multiple reasons. Parents are the primary educators of their children not public schools. Schools do not have the right to keep any information from parents regarding their children. Somewhere along the way public schools stopped promoting discipline, education, and the support of their teachers and began to promote a victim mentality, excuses, and caving to demands. The sheer amount of students moving to a homeschool/private school atmosphere should be an indicator to public schools that they are broken. If public schools continue bending to wayward progressive agendas, taking away the rights of parents, and subscribing blindly to the victim mentality, they are actively contributing to the decay of our society. Public schools are not helping younger generations, they are betraying the blind trust of young minds.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

STRONGLY SUPPORT


Adamantly oppose!

Adamantly oppose!


Model Policies for Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia Schools

Strongly support LGBTQ community. Strongly against bigotry and discrimination.


I strongly support the model policy. We need to protect and care for trans youth so they can succeed

I support the model policy and think it’s great Virginia will be enacting policies specifically to protect trans youth in schools. Please do not listen to the transphobic  commenters. This model policy is necessary and important. Thank you.


Strongly support equal rights for transgender students

I work with transgender and nonbinary youth, many of whom have faced blatant discrimination in schools and have had to deal with bullying and unsafe environments without support from school leadership. It is time for that to change, and I applaud this step in the right direction.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

Strongly support for treatment of all kids!


Transgender - Opposed

I am a parent of two.  I strongly disagree with "schools will be permitted to help a student explore, facilitate and make decisions regarding their gender expression of sexual identity while at school, without a parent even knowing!" as well as many of the other points listed. It is disgusting that the school/teachers are becoming responsible for the duties of parents. The foundations of families are crumbling due to many failures but schools are handed another assignment--sexual identity. Society needs to focus on families, not "who/what do you feel like today?" In my opinion, school is for ACADEMICS. Sexual identity and transgender issues should be discussed and handled by parents, families, and medical personnel, not school personnel.  I do not want issues like this discussed with children. Let the parents handle this.  If a child/teen is "confused", the doors to the guidance should be open for assistance. I am offended and appalled that this topic is even being considered. Please, please do not let transgender or sexual identity issues be allowed into the school curriculum--at any age.


STRONGLY OPPOSE transgender policy

THIS DISGUSTS ME!! It will only cause more problems and don't boohoo when innocent children start getting bullied more and even raped! God forbid! Being a parent myself, I would be beyond angry if I was not notified of anything happening to my children at school. This is nonsense!!!!!!!


OPPOSE! OPPOSE! OPPOSE!

If passed I am certain the VA standard of public education will CERTAINLY decrease. Teachers will lose jobs. Schools will close due to negative enrollment numbers. Private schools will be the course for Virginia parents. Opening "Pandora's Box" will ultimately create failure.


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose. Stop confusing children


Strongly opposed

Schools started originally to educate children academically. When did it become ok for institutions to educate children on racism and sexuality. These things should be left to families to handle. how do you expect to keep children safe when they are forced to use the bathroom with someone of the opposite sex claiming to be transgender or having a overnight field trip and being forced to share a room with a student that claims to be transgender? All children have the right to safety and privacy.


New Transgender School Guidance Guidelines

Basic anti-bullying policies are already in place and acknowledged in school rules.  I am absolutely opposed to these new guidelines for transgender students.  At birth we are born either male or female and grow into bodies with distinct attributes and abilities.  Changing a name or identification does not change the biological makeup of the birth gender.


Strongly oppose!

Strongly oppose! Non-transgender people have rights too


Absolutely not

Not good for children


Very strongly support

As a transgender student, our rights are basic human rights. Our existence doesn't need to confuse you, and it certainly doesn't need to frighten you. Our rights also do not tread on your own.


Oppose proposed transgender policies

Our public schools have a critical responsibility first and foremost as educational institutions. As such, they need to respect natural law and natural science. Controversial social initiatives are guaranteed to serve as significant distracting elements within the educational framework. Our public schools are are inappropriate forum for conducting social experiments. The details of the purpose guidelines violate the responsibilities and rights of parents on many levels. Although it is important for public officials to protect children, it is absolutely a violation of public trust for public officials to have secret and privileged interactions with a minor which may be in direct contrast to the parents rights and responsibilities. The spectrum of abuse by public officials that such guidelines would open up is vast in reach and scope, and truly chilling. There is no legitimate moral or legal foundation for the privileges that the proposed guidelines grant to the public school officials vis-a-vis the students parents. The proposed guidelines contain insufficient safeguards against immature or malicious abuse of the proposed privileges to be granted to minors who wish to identify as transgendered or other-gendered. There is no objective science that supports these proposals, and the preponderance of human experience over the millenia contradict the recent support offered by subjective academic disciplines. This issue is one that needs to be worked out in the public sphere over time (generations) and is inappropriate for imposition with the force of law in our public schools.


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose!!


Vehemently oppose

It is not harassment to use a gender-proper noun/pronoun in referring to a person, per the gender God gave them.  It is, however, harassment and discrimination to punish someone for using common sense, and the  eyes with which the Good Lord blessed them.


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose


NO NO NO

This bill puts teachers in a terrible position! They need to talk to parents. They can’t be threatened with punishment if they accidentally use incorrect pronouns. No!!! Protect teachers. Protect students. I’m all for anti-harassment, but this too extreme!


Oppose this. Let parents be parents.

Education is the job of the schools. Parenting is the job of parents. This is way overstepping those boundaries.  This is ridiculous!


Strongly opposed!!!!

I am strongly opposed to this!!!


Transgender rights - or non transgender rights

Transgender rights end when they trample on the rights of others that are not transgender like using the bathrooms or locker rooms of the opposite sex from their own biological sex.  Also transgender students should not be allowed to play on sports teams who are of the opposite biological sex.  Very unfair because of the physical strength of the opposite sex. No teaching or reading or discussion of transgender materials should be allowed without the parent's permission.


Strong Support from Pediatrician/Child Health Advocate

The mission of VDOE is to advance equitable and innovative learning. EQUITABLE. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that "Transgender and gender-diverse children face many challenges in life, but, like all children, they can grow into happy and healthy adults when supported and loved throughout their development."  Furthermore, making civil rights accommodations for transgender students is a life or death issue. "While the data is limited, population-based surveys estimate that 0.7 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 identify as transgender, according to the report. In this rapidly evolving clinical field, physicians play a role by offering a safe and inclusive place for transgender and gender-diverse youth, who have high rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders , substance use , self-harm and suicide .  Children who are supported by their parents and family are more likely to experience better physical and mental health, according to the AAP. In one study, 56 percent of youth who identified as transgender reported thinking about suicide at some point, and 31 percent reported a previous suicide attempt. That compares, respectively, to 20 percent and 11 percent of youth who identify as cisgender, a term to describe a person who identifies a gender consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth." It is essential for our schools to be a safe haven for transgender students, many of whom lack support at home. While some parents may speak out against this non-discrimination policy, it is critical for the Virginia Department of Education to stand firm with the facts, the science, and the ethical mandate. Education is not a democracy. Best practices are not a democracy. The vision of VDOE is to maximize the potential of all learners, this requires protecting ALL learners from discrimination.  Trans minors should be afforded every protection from the adults in their communities who may not otherwise understand or support them.


Strongly oppose

You are either born a female or male. This is biology and genetics. Transgender is a psychological disorder called gender dysphoria. Doctors can make you look male or female but that is just appearance and your biology doesn't change.  How a person feels doesn't alter reality.  No one should be bullied.  People fear speaking up because they fear the backlash.  This is educational indoctrination.  Schools should just stick to educating the students in subjects like math, science, English, history, and government etc.


A Big NO!!!!!!

Why in the world I want to put my child in a position to be violated or raped!!!!!  It is the job of the parents to raise, nurture, teach our children morals and values, and support them in every way. Not the school. The school is to teach my child social studies, math, history, language arts, and that's it!  If a kid reaches out that's one thing.


Strongly and Adamantly Support

Lots of comments about what this proposal purports to do. Separate the emotion from the purpose – this bill ONLY wants to make the school environment a safe, respectful and educational environment for EVERY child – no matter their gender identity. It may be about your child – if they are trans. Otherwise, it’s about how your child respects others around them. Those kids matter every bit as much as your own, and they deserve the same opportunities. Absolutely support.


Fully Support

As a non-binary person myself, I fully support this proposal and its policies. Schools are meant to be places of education, but a student can't learn to the best of their ability if their school isn't giving them a supportive environment. These policies would be a large step forward to that environment, and allow trans students to grow and learn better than they have before.


Protect trans students and staff!

Protect the trans community. They are human and deserve to be treated as such.


Strongly Oppose!

I strongly oppose Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. This proposition is a violation of the religious freedom, a Constitutional right, of Virginians.  It does not allow staff or students of public schools any religious exemptions.  This policy ultimately is not about discrimination. It imposes a transgender agenda on our students and school staff. Do not make this proposal into policy. Sincerely, a taxpaying citizen of Warren County, VA.


Absolutely not

Not good for children


Strongly support protecting trans kids

I strongly support protecting trans kids


I strongly oppose the transgender policy and transgender education!


Support

Transgender rights are human rights. All kids should feel safe and welcome at school.


SUPPORT

I don't understand the opposition. Everyone should feel accepted in the academic area. After all, this is an institution where they will spend at least 15 years of their lives in. Those who identify as trans should receive support from the government 100%


Opposed, if we belive in equality.

Preferential treatment for those students who believe themselves to be different is in no way the job of the school board to enforce, any more than it is the job of the school system to teach anything outside the purview of science. Rules are already in place for the conduct of students, in general, and there should be no appearance of favoring one group of people over any other. If our students are to grow up understanding the idea of equality, then they should be treated equally, no matter what race, creed, background, or gender.


Total support for this model for non-binary and trans students

All students deserve consideration and deference. Our children who are non-binary and trans need this now more than ever.  Simple accommodations, adding a data value here or there, can make the difference between a healthy child and one who is struggling with gender dysphoria.  Please support our non-binary and trans children be their authentic selves especially in school.


Strongly disagree!

How can you promise my daughter will be safe in a locker room or bathroom when teachers cannot and will not be monitoring them? Are you suggesting middle schoolers won’t take advantage of this? You’re saying teachers have no rights to intervene without fear of punishment? No! You’re making broad laws that simply will NOT work in a real life setting.


This should not affect all students!

As a person who has many educators in my family, I feel there are other ways around this drastic change that would still support everyone's rights. If there is a transgender population of students, specific accommodations can be made for them, without affecting all students. For example, arrangements could be made for them to use certain bathrooms that are comfortable for them to use. They should not be allowed to enter a restroom with people of the opposite gender due to the embarrassment and discomfort that it could cause all parties. There are times where sensitive material, such as Family Life Education, is taught to elementary aged children where they have to be separated by gender to help them feel more comfortable when learning about their bodies, as well as, the opposite gender's. We must think about ALL children and not just focus on the transgender population. This is going to cause many families, many I have already heard from, to pull their children out of our public schools which will take money away from our education system and that is unfair to all. I strongly oppose this. This will cause more problems in our schools and students than it will help. You must think about ALL students and not ONLY a certain group. That way of thinking is completely unfair!


Strongly oppose. This is tyrannical.

The Constitution affirms our freedom of religion, speech, and equal protection under the law. You can not punish parents and students for refusing to participate in this political charade which we know to be scientifically false and inconsistent with our religious beliefs.  We will continue to address people according to how they appear to the observer, and will not be intimidated by your games.  We will continue to teach our children what is right, and not allow you to subvert their minds.


Opposed educator

A common thread among people that support students who suffer gender dysphoria is that anyone who dares disagree is an intolerant bigot; that those that support the comfort, mental health, rights, opinions, etc... of those who do not agree with or who are subject to the effects of modern transgender ideology pushed in schools, are bullies and abusive to transgender students.   I teach in VA public schools, and I never once saw a person get bullied because of these matters.  Can you not acknowledge that those of different opinions than yours can still treat students with respect? I would like to ask, if I were 50 years old, but I felt like I was in a 65 year old body, should I be entitled to social security benefits just because of "how I feel?" Can a 14 year old identify as a 21 year old and buy a bottle of bourbon? I'm sorry to offend some, but there is a reality outside the realm of feelings.  There is a truth that is not altered by the way one feels.  With the rare exception of people with an unusual number of sex chromosomes or faulty expression of genes, transgenderism for the vast majority is a psychological condition that needs to be treated.  Keeping the students condition private and not informing parents is neglect and should be unlawful.  Promoting minors to explore gender which often ultimately leads to the use of puberty blockers, cross-hormones and/or surgery is child abuse ...especially when the results of such therapy lead to permanent infertility and a myriad of known and unknown health effects.  Do you seriously think students are old enough to make decisions that permanently effect their body and mind, and scar oneself emotionally? These students (again, not those with chromosomal abnormalities) need help to accept reality, not encouragement to self-mutilate, and to make others uncomfortable in dressing rooms, and cheat genetic female athletes out of awards, etc... STOP THE ABUSE!  These are not matters to be addressed by a school guidance counselor behind a parent's back. Finally, as a teacher, I chose my career to profess the truth ( profess ion, profess or).  I don't teach 2+2=5 just because Johnny feels that it is so!  Now I am expected to encourage a student to be someone who he or she is not, and forced to call one a boy when he is a girl (and vice-versa) and address a student by his or her "preferred pronoun" under penalty of dismissal.    I intend to teach truth and reality, even if it is perceived as disrespectful.  I prefer to care for my students, not lead them into harm. If you are upset about these matters, get involved!  Take a risk and don't worry about people who promote child abuse calling you a bigot!


Strongly against

Strongly against this.


Strongly support

The amount of ignorance and hate in these comments is vile. As the parent of a trans person, it is heartbreaking to watch your child deal with the extra weight and negativity they must wade through, on top of the normal confusion and hurt one can experience being a child/ teen. All because of misinformation and sheer unwillingness to better educate yourselves and your own children. Being trans/ LGBTQ+ isn’t something that should carry the negative assumptions many people place on that title. After all, it’s a title. These children/ teens are still just children and teens, who are going through the same you went through as a kid, and that your kids and grandkids are going through now, only magnified. Any resources to make school more accessible and safer for our students are appreciated, but action is needed to ensure that ALL students have a safe, constructive, and nurturing environment on the classroom. We have to do more to deconstruct the institutional barriers we have long propped up against the LGBTQIA+ community.


Treatment of transgender students

Nowhere in this document do you address the medical issue of gender dysphoria. Instead, bureaucrats have seized yet another opportunity to advance a political agenda, using impressionable youth for political gain. “Follow the science,” as our elected officials like to say. If you do, you would focus on helping the youth who display gender dysphoria, rather than using them as political pawns. Shameful!


Transgender school position

I strongly oppose.


Opposed - VDOE needs a reality check

The very first thing to note is the names of those on this proposal.  By looking at the job titles or positions, it is clear that the majority of the people who created this document are not in direct contact with students on a daily basis or even in the school environment.  I’m a counselor in VA public schools and I have the opportunity to see how many parts of a school are operated.  My opposition to this policy is simply a reality check on how this will cause more trouble in the schools than the writers of this document probably even acknowledged. My biggest concern is confidentiality.  The only time I break confidentiality is when a student wants to hurt themselves, hurt someone else, or they are being hurt.  What I could see happening is a student struggling with their gender identity and that being the reason that they are suicidal.  I’m required to inform the parents that their child is suicidal.  However, this policy would prevent me from informing the parents of any part of their child’s mental state if the child does not wish me to tell their parents of their gender identity struggle.  Am I not supposed to help this child?  Am I not supposed to get them the help that they so desperately need?  Any mental health professional knows how important it is to have all the information when trying to treat mental illness.  It’s the same in the medical profession, when you leave out crucial medical information, it can be detrimental to that person’s health.  Side note: schools are not equipped to handle counseling to this degree.  We do not have licensed Psychiatrists’ on our payrolls.  Also, this document notes that schools should work to follow up with the families and essentially perform counseling between student and parent.  We also don’t have licensed family therapists employed in our schools. Overnight trips.  The way that this reads to me, is that biological males and biological females could potentially be allowed to sleep in the same room.  Reality Check: Does this committee honestly believe that students wouldn’t take advantage of this to have alone time with their significant other? Bullying/Harassment Policy.  Our school has one in place.  Each year we teach all of the students about bullying and what it is, but also what it isn’t.  There’s a great deal of confusion sometimes between conflict and bullying.  I have never had a student report being bullied for their sexual orientation or gender identity, but I have had plenty of students in my office upset over another student sending or showing private photos.  I would bet instances of this would only increase by allowing the boys who falsely claim to identify as girls into the girl’s restroom and locker room. Maybe reflect on how you were in middle school/high school and if you had the opportunity to get into the girls’ locker room, would you have taken it? It’s stated that “All students…so that they can comfortably and fully engage in their school program and activities.”  I believe the key word is ALL and this includes the cisgender students as well but they seem to be completely forgotten in this document.  What about their comfort level? Reality Check:  I can name all of the boys in my school that would take advantage of this policy to be able to venture into the girl’s restroom or locker room to get a peek.  The policy set forth by the VDOE wouldn’t allow us to question them and what their true intent is.  What will happen when those boys start taking photos and then spreading them around?  Of course, we have rules of no cell phones in the locker rooms, but how many middle/high schoolers do you know who follow every single rule?  Have you even considered the can of worms that this will open?  The document notes how school personnel can’t even tell parents when a student of the opposite sex has been changing in the locker room, but what’s to stop the students?  How will the parents who feel that their children’s privacy has been violated, react?  Has this honestly even been considered?  The rumor mill is alive and well in middle and high schools.  If a student doesn’t want their parents to know, it is only a matter of time before they will find out. This policy would require staff to address students by their preferred pronoun, which could potentially change every day.  How are staff to know?  I have two issues with this.  First, students can barely remember to do their homework – do we really expect them to remember to tell their teachers their preferred pronouns each day?  Second, what is to stop a student from taking advantage of this and using it as retaliation against a teacher.  What I mean is, a student claiming that their teacher is not using their proper pronouns (the document identifies that as a form of harassment), in an attempt to get the teacher fired.  And you would be naïve to believe that students wouldn’t try to get a teacher fired if they didn’t like them. My last point is in regards to “menstrual supplies should be made available in all bathrooms to be gender-inclusive.”  I read the document and it notes that these products would be free so they would be easily accessed.  When I read this, all I could think about was the absolute waste of these products.  I could absolutely see the boys taking these products and playing with them and making a complete mess in the bathrooms and using them as a huge distraction in the classrooms.  What a waste of money, too.


Stop the abuse of our young women

Stop the abuse of VA young women by not allowing those with male hormones to physically dominate and push them around in competition in the name of gender diversity.  It is nothing more than bullying.


ABSOLUTE NO! DO NOT SUPPORT

I absolutely agree no one should be bullied or harassed for their personal life choices. This does little if nothing to bring reform. Furthermore all other persons have their right to privacy in single sex facilities. Most children have not had enough life experience to comprehend a decision this large, and the ability to do so without a guardian's knowledge is absurd. These policies pose a real danger to our children, both physically and psychologically. Our leaders have truly lost their way as is evident in many of the bills, laws, and mandates we see in present time. I could expound so much here, but in the end I see such a lack of morals and it's truly disheartening.


I vote against

I vote against that transgender kids can go to school.


No Such Thing As Transvestite Children

If schools can ban the wearing of hats indoors they can also ban dressing as the opposite sex. As children we would all have loved for every school day to be Halloween. Thankfully we had responsible parents and educators that prepared us for the real world and how to dress properly in public. The simple fact that kids want to dress as crazy as possible isn't surprising. THEY'RE KIDS! What's surprising is that any serious educator would encourage this. No child is truly a transvestite. They don't need mental help. Their parents do for allowing their children to act this way.


Opposed!!

This is just asking for a whole list of harassment for both sides. More people will be bullied, but could also open up for more sexual harassment.


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose.


This is not science

Please do not allow the “care” for transgender youth to endanger both them and the others around them as well. Children need their parents, not their friends and school counselors encouraging them to overlook their actual problems and change their “gender” to solve their problems. This is insanity. A transgender woman is not an actual woman. Never will be. A transgender man is not an actual man. Never will be. Because SCIENCE.


Absolutely not

Not good for children


Strong support: protect trans teens!

As a proud educator and member of the LGBTQ community, I strongly support this guidance. Protecting trans students and their mental health saves lives. 1 in 4 trans teens will attempt suicide, and having a supportive environment and adults is absolutely impertive to changing that statistic. I have had trans teens as students and campers. While they have felt safe with me, I know that isn't the case for all adults in their lives. This guidance would go a long way towards protecting some of our most vulnerable students. I cannot overemphasize how much I support these mesures.


Strongly oppose

strongly oppose


Opposed to this policy

This policy goes beyond protection of transgender students rights.


Not moral, or scientific

Fact, not moral from a biblical standpoint. Fact, not scientific if looking at the evidence and facts. Suspect, it sets children up for failure in a world market. The financial waste of taxpayer money on a system that is already struggling. Suspect, you will find the brightest students with the wealthiest parents will remove their children from public schools, and possibly move to other locations. Strongly and Biblically against.  Not our of hate but love.  No loving person will support or encourage destructive behavior.


Dimitri Demarcus Bartholomew James Jr. III

Absolutely not

Not good for children


STRONGLY OPPOSE!!! This is wrong on so many levels.

It is a disgrace that this is even a possibility. So much for the “land of the free”. I guess we should let our children vote and drink alcohol too if they can make such decisions without a parent’s knowledge or consent. And to think that I’m supposed to send my child to school everyday and trust they’re in a safe environment when meanwhile they’re being put in a locker room or bathroom with the opposite sex? Preposterous! And not to mention they’re being brainwashed to believe that they don’t have to be the gender they were born. There are too many despicable details of this plan to even begin commenting how disgusting and disheartening it is to think this is the world we're living in. Not only taking away our rights as parents, but also our freedom of speech and freedom of religion. This is completely demented.


Strongly disagree

strongly disagree


Strongly Opposed

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


Transgender protection

Way to go, Virginia!  You're leading the way for all of us. Please follow through on this action.  You could save lives!


STRONGLY OPPOSE

Do not do this it is tyranny


Support for the proposed guidance document

As a parent of children in Virginia schools I strongly support The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools Guidance Document. I greatly appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into carefully crafting the policy. All students should have a safe, inclusive environment in which to learn.


Absolutely not! And all of you that agree are disgusting.

As a female student myself, this is bs! I don't feel comfortable with anyone being able to use whatever bathroom without any proof of it. I've been raped and sexually harassed in school. Nothing was done about the male sexually harassing me due to the fact he never admitted it. This is just going to allow more of this bs. To you sickos out there who think its okay, I hope one day you rethink.


I vote no

i vote “ no”


NO. This is wrong. Focus on getting kids back into school!

The legislature should be focused on getting kids back into school and making up for all of the lost learning because of the governor's spitefulness and hatred for one man.   Focus on real instruction and forget about the private agendas of fringe groups.


Support trans Rights!

Remember Luna Avril Fouad? Using the correct pronouns for trans kids is suicide prevention!


Absolutely opposed

It is absurd that we even have to discuss this.  The biological markers matter.  Stop trying to bend the world to suit your Marxist narrative.


Strongly support

“1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-23.3 as follows § 22.1-23.3. This is long overdue.  As the parent of a 13-year-old cis boy, I can tell you that he and his friends could care less how their fellow students identify, and accept other kids as they are,  Affirming a child’s gender identity is critical to their development, and school support is extremely important, especially if kids face hostility outside of the educational setting for simply embracing who they are.  Schools should be safe havens for all students, and this policy can go a long way in ending any bullying and encouraging empathy and inclusiveness.


Strongly Opposed!!!

Strongly opposed this! Against every moral and family value.