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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2/3/21  11:00 am
Commenter: Concerned Parent

Vote NO!
 

As a parent, I am completely appalled by the guidelines that are suggested in this document.  While the intent of providing guidance on how transgender students are to be treated and protect them from bullying behavior, this guidance completely infringes upon the rights of everyone else.  To treat others as gender neutral is one thing, to allow completely co-ed restrooms and locker rooms without question is unacceptable.  Until you are able to reconfigure ALL schools to gender neutral restrooms and, more importantly locker rooms, (which is cost prohibitive), I do not want a boy (biologically) walking into the locker room with my daughter.  Not because I care about one way or another about the boy's choice (or preference), but because it would make MY daughter UNCOMFORTABLE.  Why does she need to be subjected to that environment?  In reverse, why does my son need to be subjected to a girl (biologically) who identifies as male having to get undressed in the same locker room or walk into the restroom while he is using a urinal?  Where is the protection for the MAJORITY?  

As for the protection of the students' preferences from their parents, who do you think you are?  Are school officials legal guardians now?  Where does this stop?  

These guidelines are unworkable.  That is without even getting into the moral implications.  Stop this madness now!

CommentID: 95141