The support of transgender children in Virginia's public school system is exceedingly important and I am happy to see it being addressed. 

After reading the model policies proposed by the VDOE it surprises me that not everyone is on board for these policies to be implemented.

A students goal is to gain an education while at school, with other top goals being socializing and growing as a person. If a student is distracted with what detractors would consider mundane issues, such as incorrect pronoun usage, proper locker/bath room access, and which dress code to adhere to, these goals become distant and unimportant to them.

Allowing students to pick their gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity will go a long way in showing that all students are accepted and acknowledged properly in the Virginia public school system. Imagine if you were called by the wrong prefix (Mr., Ms., Mx.) all of the time, and if you tried to correct people they dismissed it? It is disrespectful and distracting.

This goes in step with the other policies mentioned in the document. The goal is to create a place where learning can happen equally for all students. It is tolerant and communal. 

A possible encouraging by-product of these policies is that it provides a forum for open discussion of why these policies are being brought up at all. Virginia is a diverse state that may have students that have not been able to talk to and learn about the transgender community.

Thank you.