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  11:40 pm
Commenter: Virginians for Liberty and Justice

Strongly Opposed
 

May we clearly remind the men and women who have been sworn, paid, and presumed to know the law that Article I. Of the Virginia Bill of Rights in Section 2.  States that People are the source of power. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people, that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.

May we also remind oath takers that Section 3. states that government is instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people.

We, the People, did not give authority to government run schools to overstep and to assume authority over our children. 

Government was instituted for one purpose and one purpose alone, to safe guard the unalienable rights of the PEOPLE. 

Public Servants are elected to represent the PEOPLE. To pass legislation of this kind is a clear usurpation of power. It is not the job of government to parent the children of the PEOPLE. And ignorance of the LAW is no excuse.

We, the People, are putting you on notice. Any PUBLIC SERVANT who votes in support of this bill will be in clear violation of their oath and will be held accountable. 

Teaching same-sex marriage and transgenderism at any stage is a bridge of parental right especially to those of faith that do not support these issues. 

This is a clear violation of the Virginia Constitution Article I. Bill of Rights

Section 16. Free exercise of religion; no establishment of religion

That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. And the General Assembly shall not prescribe any religious test whatever, or confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination, or pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people of any district within this Commonwealth, to levy on themselves or others, any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contract as he shall please.

It is also a violation of the Republic’s Constitutional First Amendment. 

It is also a clear violation of one of Virginia’s most fundamental legal documents, The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. 

This sort of teaching violates not only parental authority, but the right of children who are endowed by their Creator with the right to not be mentally molested or depraved with topics that would serve to destroy their innocence and which serves no real purpose. This is a guise. If schools truly wish to teach children kindness and equality, they can do so without having to give specifics about how some people feel that their genitalia doesn’t match what they feel. 

Transgenderism is a tricky topic for most adults to fully understand. Even among clinicians, there’s not universal concurrence that female brains sometimes actually develop in male bodies and vice versa. If adults, even medical professional have a difficult time grasping such topics, naturally, children will have an even harder time. However, that is a side note, that’s beside the point. The bottom line is that schools do not have the authority to parent the children of We, the People. To do so would be a violation of real laws and a complete usurping of power. 

 

Sincerely, 

The over 10,000 men, women and children represented by 

Virginians for Liberty and Justice 

CommentID: 97102