Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
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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1/14/21  5:46 pm
Commenter: Donovan C.

Opposed / No to "Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender..."
 

Quite frankly, the contents of this document would be laughable if they were not so sad, so tragic.  I'm all for helping children, but they are not helped when adults knowingly remove clear gender/sex categories and advance ideas that defy science, creation, and biological facts.  To do so is to add confusion to the already-confused.  It is clear that bullying and mistreatment of any children is morally wrong and should be addressed.  Children, whether experiencing gender confusion, same-sex attraction, cognitive problems, mental challenges, or any other personal challenges, should not experience bullying or harassment. However, these things are already wrong, and children who bully are (or should be) addressed; it doesn't warrant any specialized document for a specific type of bullying/harassment. The proposed guidance reinforces and creates more confusion within not only with the gender-confused child (who needs help) but the surrounding children as well.  I'm strongly opposed to this measure.

Donovan C.

CommentID: 90056