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  5:25 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

An unconditional NO!!!!
 

 There are so many reasons to be against this transgender legislation. I firmly believe parents have the ultimate say in their children’s upbringing and so much of this legislation is laser focused on usurping parental rights and authority with their children.

To the allowing of anyone, according to their gender identity, to use restrooms and changing rooms: To begin with, the very idea that a gender confused adolescent is the one driving this vehicle is terrifying. They cannot so much as vote until they’re 18 but they CAN decide to subjectively identify themselves differently than their anatomy identifies them—and everyone else is to be subject to that???? In whatever state of undress they happen to be??? And that’s okay?!?!

To compound matters, not notifying parents that their daughter is sharing a changing facility with a biological male is as dangerous as it is wrong. If my daughter is abused by another student who identifies as a female but is biologically male, I would hold  the school 100% responsible—99% of parents would do the same. Beyond that, why in the world should a vulnerable teenaged girl  be subject to a young man who subjectively claims to share her gender—no! and that schools are forbidden from advising me, as the parent,  that this is taking place?! In what universe?? 

And that these policies allow for no exceptions based on religious faith and strongly held beliefs is WRONG. To those of a strong faith, it is clear that these laws are diametrically opposed to all we believe and how we are raising our children—and to remove our right to continue to raise our children as we see fit and according to Biblical mandates is utterly reprehensible.

 

CommentID: 95967