I fully support the draft guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Education for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools. As a former Virginia public school teacher and parent of three school-aged kids, I know firsthand that in order to be ready to learn, children first need to feel safe and supported at school. These policies, in addition to the professional development that teachers and staff will receive in order to more fully understand the gender spectrum and gender identity, will be life-affirming and life-changing for LGBTQ+ students and beneficial for ALL members of the school communities. Gender expansiveness and the gender spectrum are not new phenomena. We now have the language and understanding to be inclusive and affirming of transgender students, so we have the moral responsibility to do so. Thank you for these policies and for prioritizing the safety, well-being, and inclusion of all Virginia students.