Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Education

State Board of Education

Guidance Document Change: The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools guidance document was developed in response to House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161, enacted by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, which directed the Virginia Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies concerning the treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools. These guidelines address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to: compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws; maintenance of a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students; prevention of and response to bullying and harassment; maintenance of student records; identification of students; protection of student privacy and the confidentiality of sensitive information; enforcement of sex-based dress codes; and student participation in sex-specific school activities, events, and use of school facilities.

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2/3/21 1:22 am

Commenter: Kathy S, parent and long time resident

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.

CommentID: 94705