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.
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
2/3/21  10:10 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

Opposed, this policy disadvantages both parents and children, and here's why.
 

These policies encourage children to believe that their birth was a mistake, that they are in the wrong body, and that the solution is to pretend otherwise or perhaps engage in genital mutilation. This type of thinking leads many, many transgender children into depression or suicidal thoughts, and also leads to the belief that those who don't buy into their delusion hate them.

It has been shown through research that a majority of transgender children eventually identify with their sex assigned at birth as an adult, resulting in many irreversible regrets.

Young children are incredibly impressionable and should not be given the option to make such life-changing decisions before they can even legally drive a car, much less given MORE authority in this position than their parents or legal guardians. 

This is not only unconstitutional, it undermines the guardian's authority and autonomy as an individual, and strains relationships between child and parent, adding more stress.

In the best interest of children, especially transgender children, do not approve this policy.

CommentID: 96804