February 2, 2021 Dr. Samantha Hollins Virginia Department of Education 101 N. 14th Street Richmond, VA  23219 RE: Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools Dear Assistant Superintendent Hollins, I write to you on behalf of GLSEN, the leading national organization on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) issues in K-12 education, to express our strong support of the Virginia Department of Education’s Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. GLSEN believes that schools should be places of liberation where every student can thrive and reach their full potential. Two decades of GLSEN research documents the fact that LGBTQ+ students disproportionately experience school climates that are hostile to their overall well-being and educational attainment. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ students who are Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), transgender, nonbinary, and students with disabilities. All students deserve a K-12 education system that allows them to learn and grow free from harm. In order to achieve that goal, LGBTQ+ students must be afforded the equal opportunity to learn in a liberated and liberating school environment. A majority of transgender youth experience discrimination at school related to bathroom and locker room access. Transgender students experience the following types of discrimination (and %): Accessing bathrooms 58.1%; Accessing Locker Rooms 55.5%; Improper use of Names/Pronouns 44.5%; Inappropriate enforcement of wearing Gendered Clothing 20.5%. On this basis GLSEN supports the adoption of the proposed guidance, however we believe that a few revisions and clarifying edits in line with our recently updated State Education Agency Recommendations on Nondiscrimination Protections and Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Students in K-12 Learning Communities , would strengthen the impact of this laudable proposal: Throughout the proposed guidance we recommend replacing several repeated phrases with updated or best-practice phrasing: Replace “transgender status” with “gender identity” wherever it is possible. In some places the document makes use of the acronym “LGBT” and in other places the document uses “LGBTQ+.” We recommend using the more inclusive and affirming “LGBTQ+” as the standard throughout the guidance. In instances where the document refers to “gender-based” harassment, bullying, or discrimination, we recommend replacing this with “sex-based” because this language is most aligned with the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. In several places the document makes reference to a student’s “asserted name” or “asserted gender identity.” We recommend removing the word asserted in each of these instances. Qualifying name/gender identity with the word ‘asserted’ gives the connotation that these may not in fact be the student's true name or identity, which is dis-affirming and not accurate. There are several instances throughout the guidance where reference is made to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) policy from 2001, we suggest updating these sections to reflect the most current, relevant OCR policies that will be updated under Biden Administration’s Executive Order on implementation of the Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. decision on nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in multiple dimensions of life. [1] In the Section titled Background (p.6) we suggest including a brief explanatory paragraph about the rapid evolution of language around this topic to inform readers of the need for clear definitions but also flexibility as the terminology changes. We suggest including the following: “Transgender and nonbinary students may use different terms to describe their lives and experiences of gender. Terminology and language differ and evolve based on region, language, race or ethnicity, age, culture, and many other factors. Some examples of terms used by some youth include: trans, trans girl, trans boy, nonbinary, genderqueer, gender fluid, demi girl, demi boy, Two Spirit (amongst Native American, American Indian/Alaska Native, First Nation, or Indigenous communities only), and many more. Some trans youth prefer simply to be referred to as boys or girls except when their gender identity is specifically relevant. These terms often mean different things and refer to different gender identities. Staff and educators should reflect and use the terms that students use to describe themselves, and avoid terms that make students uncomfortable.” We suggest under the terminology section (p.6) updating the definitions of cisgender, gender identity, and gender nonconforming, as well as adding a definition for nonbinary to reflect the most affirming language currently in use. The updated and additional definitions that we suggest are: Cisgender: An adjective describing a person whose gender identity corresponds with the gender society typically associates with the sex they were assigned at birth. The majority of people are cisgender, while a minority are transgender. For example, a cisgender woman was assigned female at birth and identifies as female her gender as a woman. Gender Identity: A person’s deeply held knowledge of their own gender, which can include being a man, woman, another gender, or no gender. Gender identity is an innate part of a person’s identity? One’s gender identity may or may not align with society’s expectations with the sex they were assigned at birth (male, female, or intersex). Gender Nonconforming: A term sometimes used to describe people whose gender expression differs from social expectations, such as “feminine boys,” “masculine girls,” and people who are perceived as androgynous in some way. Being gender nonconforming is distinct from being transgender, though some trans people may consider themselves to be gender nonconforming. For example, a cisgender woman who has short hair and likes sports might consider herself gender nonconforming, but may not identify as transgender. Nonbinary: A term used to refer to people whose gender identity is not exclusively male or female, including those who identify with a different gender, a combination or genders, or no gender. Nonbinary may be considered a subset of transgender or a distinct identity. Other similar or more specific terms may include genderqueer, gender fluid, agender, or Two-Spirit (for Native American students). In the section titled “Related Laws” (p. 7) we recommend the following additions : First Amendment : The First Amendment protects freedom of speech and expression. Schools may not prevent students from expressing their identity including through dressing in a manner that otherwise complies with school rules. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 : The US Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. that under Title VII discrimination on the basis of sex in employment discrimination “inherently” includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 : Title IX is a federal law that prohibits schools that receive federal financial assistance from limiting or denying a student’s participation in any school program on the basis of sex. Under the reasoning of the Supreme Court in the Bostock ruling , this may be understood to prohibit discrimination, including sexual harassment, based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, and gender identity or transgender status. The Equal Access Act : This is a federal law that requires public secondary schools to treat all student-initiated groups equally, regardless of political, philosophical, or other subject matters discussed at their meetings. Its protections apply to groups, such as GSAs (Gay Straight Alliances or Gender and Sexuality Alliances) that address issues relating to LGBTQ+ students and matters involving sexual orientation and gender identity. Federal Disability Laws : Some transgender students may have additional rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, based on a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or related conditions such as anxiety or depressive disorders. These students may be entitled to Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that address their gender-related needs. Virginia Values Act : This state law expands the Virginia Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This includes the prohibition of discrimination in K-12 learning communities. In the section titled “Guiding Principle to Support Transgender Students” (p.8) we suggest amending the first sentence of the second paragraph to read: All students determine their gender identity that may or may not correspond to their sex assigned at birth. Examples of gender identity include transgender, nonbinary, two spirit, and cisgender. Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six (Lamb & Lerner, 2015). In 2020, the American Psychological Association (APA) and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) declared in a resolution that “all persons, including children and adolescents who are diverse in their sexuality and gender identities, expression, and/or presentation, have the inherent human right to equal opportunity and a physically and psychologically safe environment within all institutions.” The American Academy of Pediatrics (2018) also acknowledged that, “variations in gender identity and expression are normal aspects of human diversity.” In the first paragraph on page 9 we suggest amending the last sentence as follows: Sex-based harassment may also include the disclosure of the student’s gender identity without their consent as this presents safety concerns for the student. On page 10 in the fourth paragraph we suggest replacing the phrase “specifically related to transgender issues” with “ specifically related to discrimination based on gender identity .” On page 11 re recommend rewording the second paragraph as follows: Regarding student privacy within the school community, a student’s gender identity may be public or private, and the degree to which others are aware of the student’s gender identity will influence plans to support the student. Given the potential for discrimination, sharing this information could expose a student to harassment and abuse from peers or adults within the school community. School staff should discuss with the student about how they prefer information about their gender identity to be shared. Students should make the decision about what information about their gender identity is shared publicly within K-12 learning communities . If the student is in a setting where they have been known by their assigned sex at birth, options for privacy may be limited. In some situations, the student’s move to a new school setting (e.g., starting middle school, transferring to a different school) affords the opportunity to confirm their gender identity with more privacy. Regardless of the circumstances, the school should support the student’s need for privacy and safety and not disclose a student’s gender identity to other students or parents. Additionally, school staff should treat a student’s gender identity as being particularly sensitive information that should not be shared even internally among school personnel except to those with a legitimate educational interest or need to know. When a student comes out as transgender, nonbinary, or otherwise gender-expansive , schools should work proactively to set clear boundaries about being gender inclusive and respond to negative reactions from the school community should they arise, keeping students safe and ensuring there are no barriers to their educational opportunity . Refer to additional discussions in the Other Considerations section regarding the process for school personnel when a student or parent informs the school about the student’s transition. Also on page 11, in the third paragraph, we recommend inserting the following after the sentence “Disclosure of that information may violate the school’s obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).”: Such violations may include disclosing whether a student is transgender or a student’s gender assigned at birth to other students, to parents, or media without the parent/guardian’s consent (or, if 18 or older, the student’s consent), or using a student’s legal name in school directories, yearbooks, or other publications where a parent or student has requested otherwise. On page 12 we recommend clarification of the meaning of the last sentence in the first paragraph under “Student identification.” The phrase “a casual declaration of gender identity” is not clearly defined, so this portion could be interpreted in a manner that runs contrary to the LGBTQ+ affirming purpose of the guidance. Also on page 12, in the last paragraph after the sentence, “In accepting employment with a school district, a school staff member agrees to abide by and uphold their school board’s policies and procedures, as well as federal and state laws,” we suggest inserting the following to ensure a clear understanding of school staff’s obligations, “ A public school employee is acting as an agent of the state in the course of their professional duties, including in addressing students, thus school staff shall not be permitted to discriminate on the basis of their personal religious or moral beliefs .” On page 13 in the third paragraph we suggest amending the language in the sentence, “Whenever school personnel suspects or becomes aware that a student is being abused, neglected, or at risk of abuse or neglect by their parent due to their transgender identity, they should report those concerns to Child Protective Services immediately,” by replacing the word “should” with “ must ” and adding “ as mandated by law ” to the end. On page 14 in the second paragraph we recommend replacing the sentence “While the topic of transgender students usually focuses on transgender males or transgender females, there are students who identify as gender nonbinary, gender-expansive, or gendernonconforming,” with the sentence “ There are students who identify as nonbinary or gender-expansive. ” In this same paragraph we also suggest amending “Since the concept of gender is increasingly being viewed as a gender spectrum,” to say instead, “Since medical and other experts have demonstrated that gender is a spectrum .” This latter phrasing reflects the accurate, up to date scientific findings on gender. On page 15 in the second paragraph of the section titled “Dress Code” we suggest striking the phrase “sex-segregated” and replacing it with “ gender-specific .” On page 16 in the section titled “Student Participation in School Activities and Events” we recommend the following amendments to the first paragraph: In general, school divisions should make efforts to reduce or eliminate gender-based practices to the extent possible. Gender-based policies, rules, and practices can have the effect of marginalizing, stigmatizing, and excluding students, regardless of their gender identity or gender expression . Examples of practices that may be based on gender include grouping students for class activities, gender-based homecoming or prom courts, limitations on who can attend as “couples” at school dances, and gender-based events such as father-daughter dances. School divisions should review any gender-based policies, rules, and practices to determine whether they serve a legitimate educational goal or otherwise non-discriminatory purpose. School activities should be gender-neutral and avoid dividing students by gender in the absence of an important, evidence-based educational purpose . For example, the composition of choruses should be gender-inclusive and based only on vocal range or quality requirements. On page 17 in the section titled “Access to Facilities” we suggest striking the words “consistently asserted” from the first paragraph. Insisting that protections be conferred to students based on a ‘consistently asserted’ gender identity risks denying protections to students whose process of identifying or transitioning is not linear, but who nevertheless must have those protections to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential alongside their peers. On page 18 in the section titled “Professional Development and Training” we suggest striking the word “minimally” from the first paragraph and amending the second paragraph as follows: The goal of professional development for all staff is to ensure that they understand the rights of all students to a safe learning environment and the local school board’s expectations regarding the treatment of transgender students. Additionally, professional development should include high quality, culturally affirming, accessible LGBTQ+ competency training . It is recommended that training provided to school staff cover the following components: Finally in Appendix A: Resources, under Model and Existing Policies and Guidelines, the last entry on page 21 is a link to an outdated version of GLSEN’s Model School District Policy. GLSEN has recently published an updated Model Local Education Agency Policy on Transgender and Nonbinary Students . This updated GLSEN resource reflects the most current LGBTQ+ affirming language and incorporates the 2020 Supreme Court Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga . decision. GLSEN supports the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools, and we urge you to consider our suggested revisions in the course of adopting this important proposed guidance. Thank you for your dedication to adopting robust protections for transgender and nonbinary students in Virginia public schools. GLSEN commends the Virginia Department of Education’s comprehensive approach to ensuring that transgender and nonbinary students are not subject to discrimination, bullying, or harassment in Virginia’s K-12 learning communities. To discuss GLSEN’s suggested revisions please contact Tessa Juste, State and Local Policy Manager, by email at tessa.juste@glsen.org . Sincerely, Aaron Ridings Director of Public Policy [1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-preventing-and-combating-discrimination-on-basis-of-gender-identity-or-sexual-orientation/


I Object the approval of the proposed transgender policies being considered by Virginia Schools

The policies that are purposed are in direct violation of my religious and personal beliefs are in an infringement of my and my family’s rights. Furthermore, the purposed polices will place our children in potential harmful situations.


Transgender Education in Schools

STRONGLY DISAGREE


Oppose

Beyond reasoning, try reading the Bible. I am totally against this!!


Transgender policies of the D.O.E.

God created/designed male and female, and no one can change that (we are neither God or gods). Please don't confuse these precious children about their God-given identity, or put them in vulnerable situations. Thank you.


Strongly oppose

I strongly oppose the transgender policy


I do not agree with this policy.

I do not agree with this policy.


Strongly **OBJECT**


Strongly Support

Trans kids deserve to be respected in schools. Trans rights are human rights.


Strongly oppose

Good afternoon. I am writing this comment because of my concern for the future of my children. I strongly oppose the allowance for biological males to act as females and biological females to act as males. It is my firm belief that there are only two genders - male and female. However, I do not wish for my comments to be taken as bigotry or hatred. I realize that some individuals struggle with this more than others and I truly sympathize with you. We all have our struggles, but I believe identifying as the opposite gender is a mental disorder. However, accepting transgenderism as normal is not the answer. I urge you strongly not to give into this perversion


Gender confusion in schools

I strongly disagree with gender confusion in schools


Open Restrooms!

I strongly(100+%) oppose any and all of this proposal!


Strongly opposed !!

The confusion and harm caused by this policy is not acceptable.


STRONGLY OPPOSED!!!

I very strongly oppose the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. I feel this is a very very dangerous path to take. It will cause safety issues and serious confusion. It saddens me that this is even being considered.


Support Transgender Students

I wholeheartedly support having human beings being treated like so first of all.  Additionally, we are talking about children who in the process of becoming the beautiful gifts that God   has chosen them to be.  God has created everyone, does not make mistakes and asks that we love one another and this is inclusive of everyone no matter what. Fear mongering is not a healthy way of dealing with persons who are different than ourselves. We should be examples of embracing each other instead of being afraid of who is not familiar.  By not being open and accepting, it only continues to breed more confusion and in some cases hate. Take a moment to love and live. Love that transgender child who deserves to be treated with dignity and grace every day of their lives just as the child who identifies as straight. Everyone is entitled to live their authentic lives without fear of retaliation, bullying and hate.


Strongly Support!

VA can show that we are not the backwards thinking conservative state afraid of any positive change with this - please take this action!


Strongly oppose

i strongly oppose this


Oppose this policy

From a Christian perspective, this violates all that we believe. From a simple common-sense perspective, all-inclusive facilities is an open invitation for dangerous situations for girls of all ages.  Would you want your daughter to be at risk for any boy or man to be allowed, or encouraged, to enter the women's locker room or restroom?  I'm appalled.  DO NOT SUPPORT!


Strongly oppose

This must be rejected!


Strongly support trans rights in schools

I strongly support trans rights in school!


Strongly Oppose!!

I strongly oppose. I don’t believe the school should discuss sexual or personal issues with students.


Support... anyone opposing this is close minded

Hate is taught. We need to teach our youth that everyone should be accepted no matter who they are or how they identify. It is the same people opposing this that are the very root of the problem. I, therefore, support creating inclusive and safe environments for our transgender youths.


Strongly support!!!

I fully and wholeheartedly support legislation to promote the health and well-being of trans youth


Trans Rights are supporting healthy growth

Transgender individuals have shown incredible growth when supported by those that are around them, and in the community. These people just want to survive and in no way are a mental condition, or any less than who they say they are. Science has backed that Transgender people are who they say they are. These kids deserve to live their life with just as many options as their fellow cisgender classmates. For those that say that transgender athletes will make it unfair, there is literally not one state that has a transgender athlete dominating any high school sports. We are a diverse group of people that encompass the Untied States and we need to allow each individual to grow with the same chances and the same opportunities for experiences. Thank you!


Opposed

I strongly am opposed to creating transgender policies.  We are opening the door to many potential dangerous situations for children.  People to take advantage of these transgender policies to enter into areas that they should not be in, to be around privately someone of the opposite sex.  Potentially setting children and/or young adults up for unwanted sexual situations.  To change, for the worse, sporting & recreational events and what is accepted as far as team sports / players on a team.  Parents have the right to teach their children their beliefs, religious and other.  School's have already interfered too much with religious beliefs.  Parents have a right to know about their children, have a right to send them to receive education where they are not being "taught" something from a school system that goes against their beliefs, religious or not.  It is not the school's responsibilities, nor right for the DOE to develop a policy to negatively effects more than it positively effects.


Please Vote No

Although I believe in the protection of all individuals in the school, this policy is a vast overstep that undermines/threatens parental authority, hinders teachers ability to focus on academics, and puts non-transgendered students in emotionally-charged situations that "handicaps" their ability to do their best at school.   If the goal is to truly protect all students, then this policy needs to be written in a way that best meets the needs of all without harming others in the process.


Strongly Support

I strongly Support the proposed policies. To suppress who a person feels they are as a human can have damaging psychological consequences. The APA has recently revised their guidelines on transgender persons and the negative affects suppressing who they are as a child can have. Their born gender should be kept in kind to HIPPA guidelines and as for playing sports, we allow females to play male gendered sports. A transitioning male who is on hormone therapy through the support of their parents and physicians will not have an advantage over a female athlete as they will have testosterone blocked and estrogen levels boost. Leaving them perhaps at less of an advantage as they're adjusting to new and different hormone levels.


Completely WRONG!

As a mother, this completely violates all parental rights I have. This garbage removes all rights I have to what I share with my children, plus encourages my children to do things without parental knowledge or consent. This is just one step further to completely removing any and all parental rights when it comes to protecting and raising our children!


Oppose

I oppose any policy/mandate promoting gender confusion to children.


VERY OPPOSED

This is just another way to confuse our children. They do not have the mental capacity at their ages to decide these kinds of things! It should be illegal to allow this!


Transgender rights in public schools

I’m strongly against transgender rights in schools. It is confusing to young kids, and not mentally or morally right to instill these sick, child abuse actions, in their brains. How about talk about Jesus and Gods word, and not off the wall immoral issues?!!


Very strongly oppose

While I believe that all students should be cherished and valued regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual preference, etc., I am extremely concerned about these particular new rules. Allowing students to decide their own locker room, change gender identities on any given day, and do all of this without any proof beyond their own words is folly. We do not let students choose things like their bedtime, whether or not they go to school, if they finish their homework, and countless other things, yet we are willing to let them determine not just their own identity, but how the entire school is run based on the day. This is dangerous and will have dire consequences.


Absolutely disgusting!

Disgusting does NOT even come close to what this really is. First off let me start by saying God created man and woman, he did NOT create a "thing" so it could decide what it wanted to be later on in life. Secondly I have a 13 yr old son and a 17 yr old daughter, they most definitely know right from wrong and if a GIRL would come up in the bathroom/locker room, my son would flip as well as my daughter if a BOY would come in the bathroom/locker room. Have yall even thought of the possibility that sexual assaults could talk place in that type of situation?? Maybe the trans kids should have there own bathroom/locker room! Just because they made that kind of choice does NOT mean that should be pushed on not just my kids but ALL kids..period!


Oppose, schools should prepare students for workforce, not sexualizing students

Virginia already has a bullying policy to protect children.  Matters dealing with child sexuality should be handled by the parent, not a school employee.  Schools should be focusing on preparing students to enter the work place.  Loudoun students are falling behind during this pandemic and you're so worried about pushing your agenda rather than helping these kids succeed.


Oppose

I am opposed to this over reach by indoctrinators. I agree that no one should be descriminated against due to POLITICAL, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SKIN COLOR or RELIGIOUS REASONS. These policies can be abused and will be. Gender Identity dysphoria is a real condition and those in the trans community have spoken out on it. I also believe there are those are "born in the wrong body". Ive met and spoken with a few. The mothers body decides sex even if the chromosomes disagree. To mandate or force things is a bit ridiculous. I think other options are needed or better yet stay out of it. My daughters teacher refers to everyone as "friend". Im absolutely fine with that. Speak with the even keeled educators as to what they think and stop listening to the zealots. Ive had my fill with all the amped up folks on each side of the line as both sides make us all dumber. Ive traveled through Japan and South East Asia and Trans folk are generally accepted. Why cant we look to other cultures whom have already addressed the issues? My main thing is stay the hell out of how I raise my kids. My families religious beliefs are not for you to scrutinize. Our way of life is none of your concern or buisness. You may find yourselves in a class action lawsuit should you press the issue further. Your rights end where mine begin and vice versa. Im moving out of this show of a state either way and wish you all the best of luck with a fair and reasonable solution that accomadates all.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

I strongly oppose this. It is a parents job to teach this to their children, not the schools. The confusion and harm by this policy is unacceptable.


Strongly disagree

Strongly disagree with supporting transgender!!!


Absolutely not in support of this in our schools

I am absolutely not in support of this ridiculousness.  Teachers  work hard enough and are already under enough stress.  Now you want to add more pressure by calling discrimination if they can’t figure out what some confused kid wants to be identified as. This is absurd.


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose


VDOE transgender policies

I am wholeheartedly opposed to this! Our young children do not need to be subjected to anything related to transgender acclamation at such young ages. They do not understand anything that older people go through. I will not tolerate my daughter being around this and our public school systems are here to educate and not be indoctrinated with this matter. Put education above everything els .


I strongly oppose

Not only is this change completely unethical, school age kids aren't legally psychologically sound enough to make these life changing decisions. You are putting the power in the kids hands and are taking the rights of the parents and teachers away. You are also putting them in danger sexually by not keeping the bathrooms, locker rooms and any other designated area separate to male or female. This is wrong. Instead of the kids being able to make these decisions and you keep this pertinent information from the parents, these kids need psychological help to understand why they are feeling this way in the first place. Most of the time they have been through traumatic sexual abuse and it is awful. This is not normal and it will not be taught in schools.


Achim Jeremiah Howard,  Transmen Rising (Founder

Support

Can't Say Black Lives Matter without including black Transgender individuals in the equation


Strongly Approve Life-saving Policies

All children deserve the opportunity to learn and thrive without fear. As an educator, it is my responsibility and my greatest joy to create a space where my students are safe and loved. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals deal with violence every day. If it isn’t apparent from the comments on this public forum, our transgender and gnc youth are facing horrible discrimination.  These measures are necessary and life-saving. We cannot expect our students to learn and succeed in an atmosphere where they face the same vitriol so easily spewed on these pages. Please give our students a fighting chance. If they are to be the next artists, scientists, athletes, or teachers we have to give them the space to grow. We have to give them the space to be resilient, extraordinary, unique. We have to give them hope.


Very strongly oppose!!! This is absolutely ridiculous!i

This is wrong! I want to know that my children are safe at school and not exposed to predators. I want my children going to school getting an education and learning values. I do not need the school system making them confused or going behind my back to force opinions and thoughts not of their own. If the public school system adopts this policy, I will be removing my children and either home schooling or placing them in a religious bound private school. Never in my life have I heard of such ridiculousness, it makes me sick to my stomach to see how society is going downhill.


Strongly Opposed!!!

This is totally unnecessary!! Liberal BS that’s being pushed on everyone no matter your beliefs.


Enabling confusion doesn't solve the problem.

It it obvious these children are confused. So supporting this confusion by pretending it is ok doesn't help these students. There are two genders. Science has determined this and if you believe in God, then science then supports God's position. Forty percent of transgenders regret their decisions to transgender. Transgenders have the highest percentage of suicide. The list goes on that these people are confused. Please think of these people and their dilemma and not make it political.


I extremely oppose this motion.

I strongly oppose this motion. Our vulnerable impressionable children shouldn’t be exposed to these types of issues. We are altering our values for a minority and while I do believe people struggle with these types of issues my child, our children should not have to struggle with them.


I oppose this policy

I strongly oppose this policy!


I urge you to please vote NO!

Please don’t take away the parental rights and duty to raise our own children. A child is not capable of making a drastic mature decision like this until they are at least 18. Thank you.


Transgender Policy for Public Schools

I strongly oppose!


Strongly Oppose

I am standing up for kids' right to feel safe in their locker rooms and for young children to not be encouraged to pursue a new gender identity.  Parents have the right to know if the schools are using different pronouns for their children and also encouraging them to change genders.


Strongly Oppose

You should oppose this policy of gender mandates. It is the parent's duty to educate their children on such matters as these. The DOE needs to stop reaching beyond their boundaries.


Basic human decency - a tough concept for slime balls everywhere

Teacher of 10th & 12th grade students - I have at least 3 students currently who identify as transgender, and its EASY AS PIE to respect their existence. There is no excuse for a dissenting opinion on basic human rights such as these.


Absolutely not. Strongly oppose.

My children have not yet entered the public school system, however I can assure you that if this is to happen they will not. This is absolutely outrageous and dangerous. This opens the doors for a great deal of dangerous things to happen, especially to our young women. What happened to developing STRONG AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN and WOMENS RIGHTS?


STRONG OPPOSE!!! Do not bring this to our schools!

This is not something that should forced on our children, not even considered


STRONLGY OPPOSE!

As a parent and teacher, I STRONGLY OPPOSE the Virginia Department of Education's draft proposing a new policy regarding transgender ideology in our schools. Parents have the right and freedom to teach or not teach (and when to teach) their kids about such sensitive topics. Teachers need to stick to teaching academics and parents are the ones that need to teach morals and religious values based on their own personal faith. Virginia is no longer the state that I have loved for over 50 years.


Strongly opposed

Do not pass this legislation. Using gender neutral pronouns will do nothing but undermine the developing minds of children, creating an environment of lowered self worth and increase in mental health cases. The proposed idea is evil as it strips away a child’s God given pronoun just so you feel they should be on a level with the sin you are trying to bring forth. Shame on anyone who votes for this.


STRONGLY SUPPORT!!

I strongly support the Model Policies for Transgender students and would like the Government to support this within our school systems.  These students need our support for their emotional and mental health.


Strongly Oppose

The State Legislature and Department of Education (DoE) should have worked to produce policy guidance that supports and protects children experiencing gender dysphoria within our public school system without throwing out scientific reality and common sense.  In myriad dimensions, it is an empirical fact that the physiological and psychological imprints of human binary sexual nature play a significant determinative role in our individual identities.  The physical realities of being male or female are not interchangeable.  Setting forth policies that encourage and insist that our children believe otherwise (or at least force them to outwardly acquiesce to such notions),as done in this document, does them no service, but will do great damage. Most directly, encouraging children experiencing gender dysphoria down a path of transitioning to their supposed gender identity exposes them to significant health risks, especially as drastic medical and surgical interventions are being more regularly employed for these individuals during early puberty in an attempt to conform biological appearance to supposed gender identity.   The long-term health side-effects of these interventions are not well known (to the point that the British Court system recently ruled these treatments were both experimental in nature and lacked evidence that they provide intended benefits) but appear include increased risks for developing cancer, irreversible changes to bone health, removal of healthy body parts, and loss of fertility.  In addition, the individual is set up to require a life time of medical intervention to maintain the fight against their own biology.  Given the weight of the implications related to a decision to transition---and given the fact that the vast majority of gender dysphoria cases tend to self-resolve by late adolescence/early adulthood---DoE school policies that truly serve gender dysphoric students would be oriented towards helping these students navigate childhood and adolescence towards integrating their biological and emotional realities to the greatest extent possible while protecting these individuals from true forms of bullying. The policies and language set forth in this document further do a disservice to the entire student population of our schools. Scientific and technical literacy are of central importance for our student's futures, and yet anti-scientific claims and language form the basis of this policy document.  For example, sex is a measurable, biological scientific fact.  It is not something that is "assigned at birth".  The above mentioned clinical fact that most gender dysphoria cases self-resolve raises significant objections to the implied claim that gender identity should be the determinant factor for all external understanding of and interactions with an individual because it (one's gender identity) is an "innate part of a person's identity".  We cannot expect that our children will take seriously our efforts to form their logical and technical faculties (or develop an accurate valuation of the scientific enterprise) if we insist on contradicting the scientific corpus and their own observations of reality in other portions of the curriculum or within administrative policies. This policies in this document do not serve the best interests of Virginia's public school students and should be tabled.


Please SUPPORT - this is very important for mental and emotional health of our children

As fellow high schooler - I strongly support


Strongly OPPOSE!!!

I strongly oppose this bill. I feel the "safe for all" definition is not taking the safety, of biological male or females into consideration. According to this policy, schools will have to allow boys identifying as girls, to use the girls’ bathrooms or change in female locker rooms, and it can be done without parents being notified! Sadly, no one ever talks about the harm done to very young girls, for example, who feel powerless to expect physical privacy in the present of biological males—not to mention young men who don’t want to change in front of biological girls. Our kids have enough to worry about and enough changes to be adapting through as they are growing, we don't need to add this on to them. This is a huge mistake for the school system to take on this agenda. The kids aren't even back to in-person learning and you all are considering such foolishness as this bill. Parents are struggling to work, some from home and some can't now because of kids not being in school. The kids are struggling with their school work and just wanting to get back with their friends, meanwhile you all are choosing to focus on a topic like this. Please vote against this bill!


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose.  Please consider the science.


Strongly support!

I strongly support the Virginia public school system in the protection of Trans youth.


Strongly Support!!!!

From Great commonwealth of Virginia


STRONGLY SUPPORT from Concerned Parent

I am parent of high schools and support any policies that prevent bullying and other discriminatory practices.


Strongly support! These children need support from everyone. No matter your beliefs or opinions.

The students need to know that they have the support of everyone around them. All children need to be treated equally. How you support them and act towards them now is going to greatly affect their future emotional and mental health. Don’t be the reason these children become depressed/anxious/suicidal at such a young age! They need your help and support not your judgment, beliefs, and opinions.


555% in support!!!!!

Regardless of personal belief, people and their rights should be protected at all costs. I know that conservatives agree with that statement, only as long as it's applied in line with their beliefs. If that can be understood on one side, then it can and should be understood (and applied) on another. That being said, protections put in place for transgender students/staff can only bring positive change which will then create much safer and enjoyable learning/work environments, for ALL. No child left behind, right?


I OPPOSE these and any policies that withhold information from parents about their own children.

All parents have the right to raise their children according to their own personal convictions and beliefs to the extent that they do not infringe on another's right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.  Public schools should focus on educating ALL students equally in the areas of academics, career skills, and positive conduct/behavior.  Public schools should NOT create policies that indoctrinate students with social, political or religious agendas.  No policy should violate a student's individual rights to privacy and safety.  Allowing boys to use a girl's bathroom or locker room violates a girl's right to privacy and may make them feel unsafe at school.  I would support individual/private bathrooms and changing rooms for all students.  Additionally, parents should always be informed of issues regarding their children as they are the legal guardians and primary caregivers.  No policy should allow for the withholding of information pertaining to the health, safety, or well being of a child from their parent/guardian.


Strongly Support from Parent who worries about children that might face bigotry

I am concerned parent that would like to support my son and all children.


Strongly Support!!! Accept all students with open arms!

Please do this! These individuals need to be held up and treated with love and acceptance!


Strongly SUPPORT on behalf of parents who care about children

Please support for mental and emotional well being of children.


Disapprove of Transgender Forum

Firmly stand against evil - oppose of such ignorance


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose this bill. I feel the "safe for all" definition is not taking the safety, of biological male or females into consideration. According to this policy, schools will have to allow boys identifying as girls, to use the girls’ bathrooms or change in female locker rooms, and it can be done without parents being notified as other parents have stated. Young girls are at risk of being exploited or potentially harmed by young males.  Please think about the potential for sexual assault or teen pregnancy.  This can cause more harm than good. If a child wants to identify as transgender that is fine, I understand privacy or rights, but children needs safety and as a mother of a daughter I am concerned that if this passes you are putting my child and any parents child at risk for being harmed.  please vote against this bill!


Strongly support

Do the right thing.


Srong Support from Grandmother

Please support from proud Grandmother of Fairfax County students


Strong support for trans kids!

VA Public Schools should support and include trans youth!


Strongly Oppose

I strongly oppose this bill. I feel the "safe for all" definition is not taking the safety, of biological male or females into consideration. According to this policy, schools will have to allow boys identifying as girls, to use the girls’ bathrooms or change in female locker rooms, and it can be done without parents being notified as other parents have stated. Young girls are at risk of being exploited or potentially harmed by young males.  Please think about the potential for sexual assault or teen pregnancy.  This can cause more harm than good. If a child wants to identify as transgender that is fine, I understand privacy or rights, but children needs safety and as a father of a daughter I am concerned that if this passes you are putting my child and any parents child at risk for being harmed.  please vote against this bill!


Potential violation of the first amendment - STRONGLY OPPOSE!

The proposed regulation violates freedom of speech. The government should not be in the position to dictate how people communicate. I support programs to raise awareness about the challenges facing transgendered people and help people understand, sympathize, and respect transgendered people. However, to force people to oblige to the whims of others on how they should be called, which can change from time to time, is absurd and unconstitutional.


I Strongly Support for health and emotional well being of our students

Please vote and support this Model Policy


I do not agree with some of this.

I am opposed to schools usurping the rights of parents to know about what their children are planning in regards to gender and health related decisions. I am opposed to biological males, no matter if they choose to be called female, being in the restroom with biological female students unsupervised. I am opposed to allowing biological males to compete against biological females in sports where the biological male has an advantage due to physical ability linked to the fact that there is a male chromosome which gives them a different build and physical ability that biological females cannot overcome. I have no problem with anti bullying, calling the person whatever they or their parents choose or allowing them to dress however they wish. I do have a problem with punishing a teacher, staff member or another child for inadvertently not using the preferred gender or name. The school board should concentrate on academics for all children and let the parents deal with gender issues and any other health or sexual issues. Help should be provided for any child being bullied and also for any child who is perceived to be a bully. Again, usurping parental rights in order to promote an agenda many parents disagree with is not acceptable and has no place in our schools.


Strongly Support

As educators it is a responsibility that all teachers create a space in their classrooms where all students are able to learn comfortably and successfully learn and grow.  Discrimination of any kind in schools is repugnant and all teachers should be working to eliminate any and all discriminatory actions.  One of the biggest things we teach students is that they should feel confident in being who they are and should be proud of their individuality.  If this goal of teachers does not include a student's right to express themselves and identify as they best see fit than the education system is choosing to act with intent of hypocrisy and are actively not putting the effort in to make every student's educational experience the best it can be.


Strongly oppose!!!

I am a concerned voter and parent of many young children. The school system is their to teach math, science, language arts, history, and physical education. It is NOT their to instill beliefs, which differ from our household beliefs, into their studies. And this is a belief, not fact.


Please Support from Parents Concerned about Discrimination in our Schools

Please support on behalf of parents and families.


Oppose

Oppose


Trans rights are human rights

These children need guidance/assurance of their safety and well-being <3 please protect these kids


STRONG Support from Teacher

We need to have emott


Support

I fully support this! It is important for children's mental and emotional health for them to feel accepted


Vehemently oppose new guidelines

I strongly oppose confusing and indoctrinating young children by codifying, enabling and promoting this false notion that gender is something that can change or be changed. But I find most insidious the clear intent to usurp parental rights by hiding what may be happening with a student at school from their parents. Parents are entitled to be the first to know about anything affecting their child's health and wellbeing. Any attempt by the school to play the role of guardian and come between a child and their parent is very troubling and only a sign of what will come.


FULLY SUPPORT

Trans rights are human rights. A person's identity is solely theirs and deserves to be recognized and protected.


Disagree/do not support

strongly oppose this bill. I feel the "safe for all" definition is not taking the safety, of biological male or females into consideration. According to this policy, schools will have to allow boys identifying as girls, to use the girls’ bathrooms or change in female locker rooms, and it can be done without parents being notified as other parents have stated. Young girls are at risk of being exploited or potentially harmed by young males.  Please think about the potential for sexual assault or teen pregnancy.  This can cause more harm than good. If a child wants to identify as transgender that is fine, I understand privacy or rights, but children needs safety. All need to be respected. Please reconsider this bill and revise to consider the privacy, respect and safety of all involved.


Another Teacher that STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS!!

This a great first step for transgender protections.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

i as a former student I support the expansion of trans inclusive policies that make EVERYONE not just cis gendered people comfortable and safe In school.


Fully support this

Fully support this


Support and Protect Trans Kids!

I think it's not only important, but necessary for public schools to support and protect Trans kids by offering them a safe environment to be who they are, and grow and change as they continue to figure out more about themselves every year as all kids do. These policies are a step in the right direction and I hope it's equitable enforced across the county from school to school.


Protect the kids

Please help the kids. Protect the kids. All the kids. Trans people are people. ????


Life isn’t so simple.  This is reality.

Our transgender students deserve support and respect. Stop the bullying.  It’s not too much to expect. I’m not thrilled with the gender-neutral dress code recommendation.  Please find language to support long-standing traditions while also being accommodating to different realities. And I predict that we’ll need more single-person bathrooms…


Strongly support!

Strongly support anything benefiting to the trans community


SUPPORT 100%

I fully support this resolution. It is very important that trans students are safe in school and are protected like cis students already are.


IN SUPPORT - end gender based dress codes

as an elementary school teacher I am FULLY in support. Gender based clubs and dress codes do nothing but impose stereotypes and normalize behaviors and expectations that are detrimental to children.


Support Trans Rights!

Support transgender students’ rights in school!


Strongly support

As a private math tutor I have had the pleasure to work with all sorts of bright children, one of which is transgender and fell behind in classes after they were bullied in school. Children need all the protection they can get!


Recommend all those involved in the decision review this guidebook.

It is the responsibility of educators to create a safe, healthy, and productive environment for students, and that begins with acceptance.  Religion does not have a place in shaping or dictating educational policy. I strongly support this proposal and recommend that all those involved in the decision review the NCLR’s guidebook “Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12.”  It offers best practices for working with parents that are unsupportive and gives an overview of the legal landscape that administrators, educators, parents, and students should be aware of as they work to create safe and supportive school environments for all.


ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING

It is absolutely disgusting that this is even up for consideration. As a mom of 2 this is very very concerning and ridiculous. My children will never step foot into a public school if this is passed.


Strongly support - well-researched and necessary

As a transgender Virginian who works on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, I strongly support this well-researched, comprehensive guidance document. The policies proposed in this document follow widely established best practices and are in accordance with state and federal nondiscrimination law. This guidance is a necessary and encouraging step in ensuring Virginia is welcoming to all. As a previous commenter noted, the opposition expressed in this forum reflects the necessity of this document. The common oppositions here rely on misconceptions, fearmongering, and pseudoscience that have no basis in reality. Transgender children deserve an education free from fear of harassment or discrimination, just as all students do.


Fully support our trans youth!

I fully support this bill. Trans youth are more likely to attempt and complete suicide, and have more occurrences of depression. They need protection and support from our schools not more criticism. Please do the right thing and show kids that they matter no matter what their orientation is.


Stop being bigoted

it is RIDICULOUS that people hate trans people so much. its disgusting. everybody should be able to use a bathroom that they feel comfortable in. anti-trans policies ENCOURAGE SUICIDE AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE. if you want your trans students to be traumatized by ignorant adult bigots, go ahead and oppose this. but, you ARE responsible for the consequences.


Strong Support

I support this change. These are people who have rights, which deserve to be respected.


Very opposed

In consideration of parental rights and responsibilities as well as taking away the true focus of educators, please do not support this.


Strongly oppose

I am certainly not a bigot, and I have zero issue with people being who they want to be... But, when you add the issues of locker rooms and bathrooms into this already complex issue, especially with kids and teenagers involved, there’s going to be problems. Also, biological males will use this as a loophole to dominate women’s sports and steal scholarships from biological women. It vastly undercuts the rights and protections women have fought hard for for more than a hundred years. Protect our girls.


Trans rights are human rights!

I am in full support of this document in order to protect the mental well being of trans youth.


SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT

STOP BEING BIGOTED AND TRANSPHOBIC. SUPPORT AND PROTECT TRANS YOUTH


Strongly Support

Treating transgender people with the support they deserve is so incredibly important. Everyone deserves to be heard and respected. Everyone has pronouns and everyone deserves to go to the restroom where they feel they should go. By having teachers and students follow this, the bullying against trans people will hopefully diminish and we can all treat each other with love and truly be equal.


trans rights are human rights

so, im a trans guy who was very lucky to go to a school that was a really supportive environment when i started transitioning. transgender kids deserve the same love and respect as every other kid! and thats that on that babes <3


I support the guidance!!

I support the guidance 100%  my daughter is a 17 year old trans girl who plays lacrosse. After a few hospitalizations for suicidal ideation she found lacrosse and found her support crew. Her team makes her feel loved, accepted and human. She deserves to be see and respected for who she is as a person. She deserves to feel safe and human at school and in sports. She should NOT have to hide who she is as a person to placate people who are reluctant to change and show acceptance. Thank you for your support!


Protect Cis Girls

If this law is sustained, then at best any boy who is actually under the idea that he's a girl can enter the girls room, which is bad enough, causing them natural inhibitions about carrying on their personal needs. And at worst, any male student who claims to be a girl for less than chivalrous purposes, can enter the girls room. It'd be one thing if there were at least some tests to determine if the boy is one of the former, as he won't be as troubling in actuality. But if it's a No Questions Asked policy, then the sympathy of the school should lie with the children whose' sex and gender are, in every sense of the word, female.


OPPOSE COMPLETELY! 100% insanity!

OPPOSE COMPLETELY! 100% insanity!


The trans community deserves humanity.

As a person with many friends that identify under the trans umbrella and a brother who is female to male trans, I know to them and many other trans people this is a matter of feeling respected and affirmed in their humanity. Individuals of the trans community have heavy scrutiny around their identity and are constantly harmed through misgendering and blatant acts of transphobia. Transgender teenagers are especially vulnerable to attacks and microagrressions against them. Having an affirming environment can prevent so many trans students deaths and mental declines. So, please, support this already heavily discriminated community.


Oppose

Kids will take advantage of these policies whether it's right or wrong. Cis gen boys will attempt to use the cis gen girls facilities in hopes of seeing cis gen parts and vice versa, all the while claiming some random gender identity to get around getting in trouble, regardless of the consequences. This is creating a higher risk of sexual assaults and possible rapes. If that's not a psychologically damaging result for our larger majority of the student population, I don't know what is. These policies say protect this miniscule group, but what about the larger portion of the student body that these policies may create danger for that wasn't there before. Which administrator will take the responsibility of a sexual assault or rape on their watch directly associated to these policies. I oppose. Sure don't bully the kids that identify differently but boys and girls need a certain level of privacy of their own without being creeped out by the boy staring at the girls in the locker room or vice versa. I oppose these policies. They are not safe.


Strongly Support - For the Basic Human Rights and Well-being of our Transgender Siblings

This guidance has my full support as a Virginian, as a friend and colleague of transgender individuals whom I love, and as a human being. There should be zero logical opposition to this guidance. Transgender students are human beings who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. It is not up to others to determine whether somebody does or does not exist in their eyes - transgender people exist. They are all around us and they are people we love. To treat them with disrespect or intolerance would accomplish absolutely nothing aside from injuring these fellow human beings who are only trying to live in peace. This guidance is an exemplary step in the right direction to building a safer, more inclusive future for everybody.


I support this!

protect transgender kids!


I support!!

I think it’s important to support transgender kids in schools because these are the times where they are most vulnerable and have a hard time accepting themselves.


Parents, not schools, should raise children

Transgender students/adults deserve to be respected.  They should not be bullied.  They should feel safe. But, when you write policies that work off the assumption that the teachers or counselors at the schools have the right to know MORE than the parents about kids, you are taking on a role that is neither legally yours nor safe for students. The most concerning statement in your guidance document:  "If a student is not ready or able to safely share with their family about their transgender status, this should be respected. There are no regulations requiring school staff to notify a parent or guardian of a student’s request to affirm their gender identity, and school staff should work with students to help them share the information with their family when they are ready to do so." Are you serious?  You TRULY believe that a child's GENDER choice should be kept from the people who are responsible for raising them?  Parents are legally responsible for their children; or are you planning to take that on, as well?  So, parents can just dump their kids off with you whenever they have disagreements now, since the schools will be taking responsibility for raising all of the students, right?  Because the weak argument you are trying to make here is that you understand and care about  kids more than their own families. It takes arrogance, audacity and ignorance to step in between parents and their children.  You have taken an important topic - that transgender students deserve safety and respect - and have created a policy that completely oversteps your place in the world.  You are not raising these children.  You do NOT have a lifelong relationship with them that their parents do/will.  You are people who we, the tax-payers, PAY to do a job - - educate students.  The work you do is important, but in NO way does it now, nor will it ever, supersede the place of parents in those students lives.  You have zero right to keep life-changing information from parents.  This is not your place. Additionally, your policy is written with the assumption that all of the teachers and counselors involved with the students truly have their best interests in mind.  There have been enough predators in the school system that you are utterly delusional if you think there are not people who will take advantage of the secrecy afforded by this policy.  I have taught my kids that parents and teachers keep NO secrets from each other, and their teachers have taught the same; kids should NEVER be in a position where another adult has more information about them than their own families or is encouraging them to keep secrets from their parents. That is an open-door for predators. But, this policy advocates that adults who have maybe known students for 6 months or a year are allowed to withhold significant, life-altering information from the parents who have known them their whole lives.  Again, what incredible arrogance.  Having a teaching or counseling degree does not raise your position in the world over that of parents.  You do not hold this right. Please, PLEASE step back a moment and stop allowing a few advocates to bulldog their opinions into policy.  There will be some parents who do not agree with the school staff, or even the students.....so get them counseling, if that is what is necessary.  There are also parents who do not want their kids playing sports; would you put them on a sport team without permission?  No.  Why?  Because you would get sued, because you Do Not Have The Right. For some reason, this particular topic has been slipped into policy in the most invasive, underhanded way I have ever witnessed; the fact that the policy-makers have placed educators over parents for this issue alone is a clear indicator that there is another agenda at work here.   Please do not allow such an incredibly subjective view to be written into policy for the entire state.   Instead of protecting an agenda, please rewrite the document to protect the STUDENTS and FAMILIES. You are not entitled to guide children in such a personal, significant area, any more than you have the right to force your religion or political beliefs on them.  You have a temporary role in these students' lives; please don't presume to know what is best for them.  Politics do not trump Parents.


Strongly Support

Trans youth, like all LGBT+ youth, deserve every single protection afforded to them while they are in school. Growing up as an LGBT+ kid is incredibly difficult and very isolating at times and you feel like you are so alone, but laws that improve their safety and conditions to feel more accepted will help bridge the gap and maybe make that difficult time of discovery a little less scary.


STRONG SUPPORT

Please do all you can to keep Virginia and yourself on the right side of history by supporting Trans rights as Hunan rights.  Thank you.


Strongly Oppose

I implore you to reject the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools.  The reasons are many, I will address a few. To promote allowing a student with gender dysphoria to pursue secretive actions at school without the knowledge of and input from parents is a usurpation of parental rights in raising their children.  Parents should be informed and able to confer with a Mental Health professional of their choice for their child without the interference of school personnel and agenda-driven activist advocates who have been hounding public officials, schools, and educational boards for many years to implement their desires. Gender Construct Theory has no scientific data or evidence to back it up, and it has no place in our schools whether it be curriculum or policy or invited speakers.  Students are in school to be educated in what they need to be successful citizens, not to be socially engineered to question something as basic as their God-given gender, thus sowing wide confusion and angst for students and within families. For the historically small number of students that do present with gender dysphoria, the data shows that most (61-98%) resolve their confusion and embrace their biological sex during puberty.  If the school starts running interference to promote the dysphoria, negative consequences are likely to occur for the child and the family. I recommend the book Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier to shed light on the current fad among girls to question their gender.  Schools and other influencers have played a role here, and it is not pretty.  The Model Policies will cement that destructive role for Virginia Schools.  I am opposed.


strongly support

I fully support legislation to promote the health and wellbeing of transgender students.


Support

There are many who say that passing this law means that cis boys will use it to their sexual harassing advantage. A few things: one, this insinuates that cis boys cannot help themselves when existing in the same space as cis girls, which is sexist. Two, this insinuates that the fault is at the hands of cisgender people and not, in fact, transgender people. And three, if someone, cis or trans, sexually harasses someone, it has nothing to do with their gender identity; that person is just a creep. But these arguments are a waste of time and get us nowhere. This law is necessary because trans kids go through so much more mental strain and discrimination than their cis peers. They need protection and a sense that they will be treated just as respectfully as anyone else. Deprive them of a sense of security, and their mental health will surely suffer even more. Being a kid can already be hard enough, so why make it worse? I support the law. I support protecting our trans youth.


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


Strongly support! Cherish trans children!

Trans students are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. It is outrageous that a student could face extra discriminatory practices after transferring schools, or between middle and high school, just because their school has not yet "dealt with" a gender nonconforming student. It should not be the job of parents of trans students to individually approach school administrators in order to ensure their children are treated with basic respect. Please help Virginia schools become a safer place for all!


SUPPORT TRANS RIGHTS!!

it is your duty as a civil servant to protect the rights of ALL of those you serve. Protect Trans Rights.


Support!

I strongly support the Virginia Department of Education’s guidance on creating inclusive learning environments for transgender and non-binary youth.  All our students deserve to feel safe and supportive in their schools.


Strongly support

Trans lives are not up for debate.  Trans lives are human lives.  I support this measure.


Strongly support

I really hope that when this is passed, lawmakers keep the specific needs of non-binary students (who are sometimes neither male nor female, in between the two or a combination of both) in mind.


Protect trans lives and futures

Hello! I am a nonbinary lifelong resident of Henrico. I've seen the impact of transphobia in the schooling system because one of my closest childhood friends came out in high school. Being forced to mask who you are is devastating. Schools should seek to avoid pressuring trans students into situations that make them feel unsafe and to support initiatives protecting them from transphobic bullying. Every single person who opposes this on the basis of "truth" does not want to embrace the personal truths of other people, and are therefore opposed to their existence. Transphobia measurably degrades the mental health of trans youth and drives more of us to suicide every year. Listen to scientists. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/stop-using-phony-science-to-justify-transphobia/


Mom, Grandmom, Teacher

Strongly oppose transgender policy for schools.  Provisions are made for the transgender student and little to no focus on the needs of the average student and their family values.  Shared restroom, locker rooms, sports participation etc is an opportunity for misuse and harm to the average student and the programs.  Restricting parent involvement and placing all importance on student desires contributes to family breakdown.  This policy, as written neglects the freedoms and rights of all and focuses only on the transgender student.


Opposed to VDOE gender identity proposal

While students and faculty must respect all of their colleagues, the proposed gender identity guidelines are an overreach and should be withdrawn. They imply that the school knows better than the parents in raising their own children. Virginia can do better. Many parents strongly believe that gender determination comes from God. The school should not indoctrinate people otherwise. At a time when parents and students are desperate for schools to reopen immediately, it's disappointing to see VDOE expend so much time and effort on this instead. Thank you.


Truth is not relative

If these guidelines are accepted we’d be teaching our children to deny the very laws of nature. These new rules, if enacted, have the potential to be grossly abused and they will be. Every person on earth has done wrong and will do wrong. You will undeniably have students & probably even staff who will “identify” as the opposite sex to be able to use locker rooms & bathrooms to abuse other students.


Oppose endangering girls-

Dear Representatives, This email is to request you to oppose promoting the rights of a few children while endangering the many. If transgender students need protection, then create special bathroom and showers accommodations for them. Thank you, kindly,


Support

I admire the youth who have the courage to walk openly in their truth. I hope that they know that they are not alone, that there is nothing wrong with them, and each is enough!!!


Treatment of Trans Gender Students

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR BULLYING!!!  Respect and PROTECT the rights, dignity and privacy of ALL the children in your school system.


Strongly Support

I strongly support the proposed Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's schools. Creating a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students includes protecting Transgender and nonbinary students as well. Recent history -- including other people commenting here -- has shown us that some wish violence and even death on transgender children and their families. Transgender students deserve protection from those that clearly wish them harm. Thank you.


Respectfully oppose as written

With respect and great empathy, I am confident that VA DOE can mediate the voices on both sides of this situation and find a solution which serves all. I do not believe this current model policy is it. VA DOE needs ownership from all sides to be successful and from the comments they have alienated many families with this policy. The net effect of this policy is that it could be undone with the new state administration resulting from upcoming elections. Further, those that can will pull their students from public school, creating a large layoff of school personnel which further hurts the community, the education of our children and ultimately our society. These are already trying times. Let's work together to create a lasting model policy that serves all. This is the only true way forward.


Definitely not

Absolutely not!!! This is not a biological phenomenon to begin with; it’s the result of an unstable mental status and confused young individuals who have issues dealing with reality. They’re young people lacking guidance from their parents who have not made the time or wanted to deal with their children’s instabilities and problems. It’s about denouncing God’s creation by choosing to become what we were not created to be. It’s a rebellious sin against every word of the good “Book”. Don’t you dare calling me hateful or any other names, just for expressing my opinion and what I believe in. People are born equal and deserve to be treated that way, but we have to draw the line somewhere. Do you ever wonder why families are falling apart! What is happening to our society, what is happening to our world, a world with declining moral fiber. What happened to our social values! We're living in a corrupt fake environment full of lies and deceit. Our school system is part of this increasing pattern of abnormality, when politics, transgender and other non school related subjects are being tough and promoted to students, being referred to as the new "civilized world". I refuse for my children to be part of this bathroom sharing, yet I encourage our schools to solemnly designate special bathroom facilities for them, and I also encourage our children to offer them the same similar respect they offer anybody else.


Support

I support any policy that seeks to protect our trans students. Study after study has shown that these are among our most vulnerable students and at are a higher risk of suicide or self harm than other students. They deserve our love and protection. Our kids recognize this. Our policies shrike as well.


Opposed

Implement this and you are disregarding our kids health and mental wellness.  The science behind affirming trangender kids is based on activism and not science.


I was raped by faculty. These policies will expand the holes in communication that allowed it.

In elementary school, I was repeatedly raped (as in penetration) by someone in the faculty. My parents removed me the moment they found out something was up (but I don't think they knew how bad it was at the time.) However, policies like what are being discussed here were a major reason as to why it was allowed to go on for the years is it did. These policies basically remove parental oversight that would protect children from perverse teachers and faculty. I am male, btw, so all of you that are only concerned about your daughters, think also of all the boys who are harmed by the rampant problem of sexual abuse in the schools.


"Trans children" do not exist. These are sexually abused children. Abused by those who support it. The insanity behind policies such as these is immense. The ideology is a complete departure from reality. Those who support it are entirely delusional.


TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!

How are we even having this debate in 2021?  Trans kids should be able to use the bathroom of whatever gender they identify as.  This isn't a danger to other students.


There is no such thing as trans rights. It's a made up, delusional fiction for retards. Here's to ya, beck.


Support

PROTECT AND SUPPORT TRANS RIGHTS!!!!


Trans children are our children

Our trans children deserve to be educated in a safe environment without the possibility of harassment for being transgender or non binary. We need to keep our trans or nonbinary children safe by carefully listening to their concerns and addressing them in an appropriate manner. Trans* any nonbinary children are more likely to be ostracized by students and teachers, if we can't ensure they have a safe environment to learn in, we are valuing the lives of cisgender children over our trans* and nonbinary children during one of their most vulnerable times in their life. Instead, we should empower our trans* and nonbinary children so they are ready to take on the world outside of school. Trans* children and nonbinary children are our children, and we need to protect all of our children.


Strongly oppose insane bill

I strongly oppose this guidance which removes the rights of parents from raising their children as they see fit, usurps their authority, and gives it to special interests that have no business meddling with the lives of their children. Schools should not be indoctrination centers.  Freedom of speech to express one child's identity should not take away freedom of speech for another to reject the idea that sex and gender aren't biological constructs that have been normally followed since the beginning of mankind.  To drastically change those norms without sufficient evidence of harm to society as a whole is a radical idea and one that can negatively impact the mental health of children for generations to come.  Instead of making everyone else confirm to gender dysphoria, you should focus more on affirming to every child that they are loved in their own body and not to be ashamed of how GOD created them.   For children who are confused about their gender, you should get them psychological help that will help them cope with and overcome gender dysphoria, not affirm their mental illness.  Considering the suicide rate for transgenders is much higher than the normal population, you might want to think twice about further promoting such a lifestyle.  You cannot change a person's dna no matter how hard you try so these children will grow up constantly feeling inadequate.  If you stop promoting transgenderism, most of them will eventually revert back to their biological sex.  The rest of society doesn't have to go along for the ride while they figure themselves out.  And you certainly do not have the Constitutional authority to infringe on the rights of others to sit out the transgender bandwagon without being persecuted for their lack of conformity.  Transgenders should have equal rights, not special rights.


Support

I support the guidance.


Stop Experimenting

Please do not permit the ongoing social experimentation with our children. Forcing opposite sexes into bathrooms, locker rooms, sports teams and more is not the role of education. You are contemplating actions which erase girls and women from society and devalue the roles of girls and boys in society. Meet the individual needs of any student based on their particular needs: trans, blind, special education, whatever. Do not, however, meet their needs at the expense of others. That is where things go off the rails; you cannot grant a right to one person by usurping the right of another. So much harm has come to students at the hands of people who claimed they knew better over the last year. Do not further poor decisions by experimenting on the whole of a student population. Find another way - and never forget the obligation to respect the primacy of the rights of parents, those who hold cultural and religious tenets, and minor students (both girls and boys), who have inherent differences which should be valued and protected.


Treatment of transgender students in school

I neither support or approve of these proposed guidelines based on radical theories that eradicate all distinctions between male and female and indoctrinate our school children.


Strongly Support

Over the course of the last fiver years I had the privilege to work with many students along the LGBTQ+ spectrum. These students were incredible in so many ways and a joy to work with. They were passionate, hardworking, creative, and spirited individuals. Their gender identity was not always easy and often a process of discovery. I am so thankful that my class and school overall (for the most part) could be a safe space for these young adults. Unfortunately not all schools in Virginia create safe spaces for trans-gender (gender-expansive, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming) individuals. This policy is a step towards providing a safe learning space for all students in Virginia's schools. While our state and nation's history is full of discriminatory policies and laws, Model Policies presents us with an opportunity to do better going forward. I want my state's laws and policies to reflect values of freedom and respect for the most vulnerable among us - our children.


Transgender policy

This is one of the worst pieces of legislation I have ever seen. Do not pass it.


Strongly Oppose

This is a very dangerous policy that does not serve the students or their parents. Schools should not be involved in or party to brainwashing minor children to support a left wing political agenda. Children with gender confusion need qualified Mental Health Professionals, not school bureaucrats with an agenda.


Do not force this garbage down our kids' throats!

There are only 2 biological genders - male and female!  Stop being politically correct and "woke".  Boys claiming to be girls are entering female sporting events and dominating them.  This is in direct violation of Title IX.  Perverted men claiming to be women are entering female bathrooms to spy on and leer at women.  Men and women are equal and separate sexes, yet transgenderism is hurting women everywhere.  Transgenderism is a mental issue and needs to be treated as such -- it's not a "separate valid gender" to be celebrated.  There are thousands of kids who are being misguided into believing they are something they're not.  Some of them are being encouraged to take hormone pills and undergo dangerous surgery to alter their bodies.  This only makes things worse as the kids realize they did not improve themselves. Please dump this evil leftist liberal godless crap!  It is not worth destroying our kids over!


treatment of transgender guidance - I vote no.

Dear committee,  I feel it is my right as a parent to raise my children and love them through their early developmental years . My tax dollars pay for public schools to educate my children. I absolutely agree to tolerance and no-bulling polices . But NOT encourage and expound on gender identity crisis.  I vote NO to the "treatment of transgender " policy being proposed . t/y Karen Hosack , VB


Strongly Condemn!

I strongly condemn Fairfax County School Districts plans to IN ANY WAY help to facilitate a child's gender transition activities without the full knowledge and consent of the parents. It is a parents right, duty, and legal obligation to provide for their children as they see fit. Any issues arising between the child and the parents should be worked out with the family and whomever the family wants involved. Also, regarding a child's desire to change their gender identity as they see fit. Are we as a society willing to give that choice to a child that is not mature enough to make decisions that will permanently affect the rest of their lives? That is like giving a CHILD a stick of dynamite and a lighted match and telling them its a candle! They are emotionally incapable of understanding the gravity or consequences of the situation and will never be able to undo the results. Get a grip folks ... act like responsible adults and not like bobble-heads to the left's agenda!


Strongly oppose

Strongly oppose...schools should return to teaching basic subjects and stop trying to indoctrinate social agendas.


Inclusive Schools are Vital. I support this effort.

Thank you for your efforts to support transgender students and for working to create guidelines that include evidence-based practices. Creating and maintaining safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for all youth is fundamental and critically important.


Support and protect all children

All these children want is to feel comfortable in school, to feel protected and to use a restroom they are most comfortable in. Don’t let the ignorance of others dictate how we protect all children. We know the detrimental effects bullying, shame and hate have on these kids. We see it, most alarmingly, in the extremely high rates of suicide. Let’s lead with love, compassion and empathy.


Transgender rights

Around 1980 I transcribed psychiatric reports including a few on individuals (adolescent males) planning to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Their stories were heartbreaking. No one would choose this action out of anything but the deepest necessity. They deserve the rights accorded to those of us who haven’t had to make this choice.


Greatly support

As a mom of a transgender son in elementary school he’s been held against his will, harassed and bullied in the boys bathroom. He has all female friends which have been more accepting of his preferences. If asked, I would bet each of his girl  friends wouldn’t think anything different bc they’ve known my son for years and are used to him preferring to wear girl clothes. I would rather him use the girls bathroom since the boys bathroom has been an issue over the years but not everyone is so accepting. I’d never want anyone to be uncomfortable with him being in the opposite bathroom but how’s he’s been made to feel unsafe in his own bathroom w the boys.


Strongly OPPOSE!

This is not for our school system to decide. There’s a reason why we have age laws and it’s due to maturity. Children cannot handle this and furthermore should not be pushed on parents who don’t agree or support it.