To All Who Would Support This Proposal, Read This First!:
Firstly, I will make it very clear: I oppose this proposal wholeheartedly. Secondly, as will be made plain soon, many of the reasons I've seen in support of this bill aren't as good as they may seem to you. You're probably not supporting this bill out of malice, but as they say, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
Let's go over the common reasons for supporting this bill.

"Parental Rights"
The most common one, appropriately enough. The issue of transgender privacy might seem a simple enough issue to you. Who can be more well-equipped to account for the welfare of their child than their parents? Common sense, you may think, would say "Nobody!" There is a sobering reality that you must confront as citizens. There are people that have no business having children, but choose to do so anyways. Among these are the child abusers and neglectful parents, but there is another sort that are more outwardly respectable, but just as rotten at heart. These are the deeply "religious" folk that, although they may take the name of Christians, would immediately cast out their children and abandon them to their fates (which are typically grim) if they find out that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or indeed, transgender. They are why transgender children/teenagers are more likely to be homeless – not because of anything the teenagers did (and what could a teenager do that deserves such a fate?), but because their parents failed at being parents. Sheltering, feeding, and clothing their offspring: that is, the bare minimum that a parent must do, they choose not to do.All this being said, it is unlikely that much can be done about these vile people (that is, short of removing their custodial rights if they choose to kick out their children). They are set in their ways, and often actively avoid any situation in which their mindsets could be challenged and the wickedness of their ways made plain. But there is something we can do for the unfortunate adolescents that are saddled with these families. That is protecting their privacy in a place that has potential to protect them – in school. The proposed change by Youngkin's administration to the rules of such situations would remove those protections.
You may believe that the State has no right to interfere in Parental relationships. In ordinary situations, this is true, and the State more or less recognizes this. I don't think you'll find anyone, either a public servant or a private citizen, who seriously disagrees here. But what happens when the parental relationship is broken, warped, even evil? Abusers, neglectful parents, and those whose minds are poisoned by bigoted dogmas – these present threats to the very offspring they are supposed to protect. Child Protection Services, orphanages, and all other state services do not exist to make trouble for good parents. They exist for when that parental relationship fails, when broken people consumed by wickedness decide to have kids. Everyone knows there are imperfections and flaws in those state services, but consider what would happen to the children they serve if they were gone.The worthy and virtuous parents of transgender individuals do not need the privacy rules removed. If it is a good family where trust and love abounds, all will know all about each other, and no secrets will be kept. It is the victims of bad families that we are protecting here – where the child must keep secrets for fear of their parents. These situations sometimes happen, and society must do everything in its power to protect they who must be protected. That includes opposing these changes, here and now.

"Prohibiting Sexual Abuse / Grooming / Etc. Of Innocent Children"

For this one, I will ask you something. When have any of these conspiratorial accusations ever been proven true? The crazy people thought that there was a child sex trafficking ring running out of a D.C. pizza joint's basement. The pizza joint had no basement! It was all a lie perpetuated by nutcases and shysters alike. Don't be a sucker!
With that out of the way, there are other absurd accusations that I've seen -- mistaking a teacher saying that they're a lesbian with some nefarious action, for instance. No, a child learning that lesbians and gay people exist is not a danger to them – so much the less if they're a growing lad of 14, 15, or 16. Whether they are exposed to the existence of LGBT people will determine if they can actually interact with them successfully when they grow up. Lesbians, gay people, bisexual people, transgender people – they aren't evil, and they're not out to get anyone. They're not out to invade the bathrooms, no matter what your pastor or Fox News says.
All this hysteria sounds like something out of the 60's – maybe some of you even remember being afraid of desegregation (although as the years pass, that'll become less and less so). Why do we need to keep going through this song and dance again? Why not just skip a few steps and save everyone a bunch of a needless suffering?
These are the two reasons I've seen in support of this proposal. Those who would support this ruling, take heed of the opinions of those this would affect! Transgender individuals, their parents, and the educators that work long hours for little pay all say no to this proposal. Doesn't that tell you something?

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To All Who Would Support This Proposal, Read This First!:

Firstly, I will make it very clear: I oppose this proposal wholeheartedly. Secondly, as will be made plain soon, many of the reasons I've seen in support of this bill aren't as good as they may seem to you. You're probably not supporting this bill out of malice, but as they say, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Let's go over the common reasons for supporting this bill.

"Parental Rights"

The most common one, appropriately enough. The issue of transgender privacy might seem a simple enough issue to you. Who can be more well-equipped to account for the welfare of their child than their parents? Common sense, you may think, would say "Nobody!"

There is a sobering reality that you must confront as citizens. There are people that have no business having children, but choose to do so anyways. Among these are the child abusers and neglectful parents, but there is another sort that are more outwardly respectable, but just as rotten at heart. These are the deeply "religious" folk that, although they may take the name of Christians, would immediately cast out their children and abandon them to their fates (which are typically grim) if they find out that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or indeed, transgender. They are why transgender children/teenagers are more likely to be homeless – not because of anything the teenagers did (and what could a teenager do that deserves such a fate?), but because their parents failed at being parents. Sheltering, feeding, and clothing their offspring: that is, the bare minimum that a parent must do, they choose not to do.

All this being said, it is unlikely that much can be done about these vile people (that is, short of removing their custodial rights if they choose to kick out their children). They are set in their ways, and often actively avoid any situation in which their mindsets could be challenged and the wickedness of their ways made plain. But there is something we can do for the unfortunate adolescents that are saddled with these families. That is protecting their privacy in a place that has potential to protect them – in school. The proposed change by Youngkin's administration to the rules of such situations would remove those protections.

You may believe that the State has no right to interfere in Parental relationships. In ordinary situations, this is true, and the State more or less recognizes this. I don't think you'll find anyone, either a public servant or a private citizen, who seriously disagrees here. But what happens when the parental relationship is broken, warped, even evil? Abusers, neglectful parents, and those whose minds are poisoned by bigoted dogmas – these present threats to the very offspring they are supposed to protect. Child Protection Services, orphanages, and all other state services do not exist to make trouble for good parents. They exist for when that parental relationship fails, when broken people consumed by wickedness decide to have kids. Everyone knows there are imperfections and flaws in those state services, but consider what would happen to the children they serve if they were gone.

The worthy and virtuous parents of transgender individuals do not need the privacy rules removed. If it is a good family where trust and love abounds, all will know all about each other, and no secrets will be kept. It is the victims of bad families that we are protecting here – where the child must keep secrets for fear of their parents. These situations sometimes happen, and society must do everything in its power to protect they who must be protected. That includes opposing these changes, here and now.

"Prohibiting Sexual Abuse / Grooming / Etc. Of Innocent Children"

For this one, I will ask you something. When have any of these conspiratorial accusations ever been proven true? The crazy people thought that there was a child sex trafficking ring running out of a D.C. pizza joint's basement. The pizza joint had no basement! It was all a lie perpetuated by nutcases and shysters alike. Don't be a sucker!

With that out of the way, there are other absurd accusations that I've seen -- mistaking a teacher saying that they're a lesbian with some nefarious action, for instance. No, a child learning that lesbians and gay people exist is not a danger to them – so much the less if they're a growing lad of 14, 15, or 16. Whether they are exposed to the existence of LGBT people will determine if they can actually interact with them successfully when they grow up. Lesbians, gay people, bisexual people, transgender people – they aren't evil, and they're not out to get anyone. They're not out to invade the bathrooms, no matter what your pastor or Fox News says.

All this hysteria sounds like something out of the 60's – maybe some of you even remember being afraid of desegregation (although as the years pass, that'll become less and less so). Why do we need to keep going through this song and dance again? Why not just skip a few steps and save everyone a bunch of a needless suffering?

These are the two reasons I've seen in support of this proposal. Those who would support this ruling, take heed of the opinions of those this would affect! Transgender individuals, their parents, and the educators that work long hours for little pay all say no to this proposal. Doesn't that tell you something?


Strongly support this policy

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<p>A common sense approach that enables parents to be in charge of their own children. When did the education system get the idea that they can hide critical information from parents? </p>


OPPOSE

I oppose this proposal. VDOE must reject this drafted policy.School is supposed to be a safe space for all students, staff and teachers. This proposal turns teachers, staff and the entire school system against our children's potential safety and well-being in their homes. Interfering in a student's personal and medical life, the way this proposal has suggested, is an extremely dangerous precedent to set for all of our rising youth. Their autonomy and safety is paramount. Oppose this proposal.

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I oppose this proposal. VDOE must reject this drafted policy.

School is supposed to be a safe space for all students, staff and teachers. This proposal turns teachers, staff and the entire school system against our children's potential safety and well-being in their homes. Interfering in a student's personal and medical life, the way this proposal has suggested, is an extremely dangerous precedent to set for all of our rising youth. Their autonomy and safety is paramount.

Oppose this proposal.


Opposition to proposed school policy

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Trans and all non-binary kids should be helped to find respect for themselves, and helped to be assimilated into our communities.  It is a hateful policy to make trans and non-binary kids lives more difficult than necessary.  Middle and High School is a difficult emotional time for most kids, PLEASE do not make it more difficult for trans kids than life is already.


STRONGLY APPROVE! NEED MORE LIKE THIS!

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Please Continue to scrap all of Northams ridiculous policies!


Strongly Support - Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Sch

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I support Governor Youngkin and his education department in rewriting the transgender-issue policies in our schools.  In my opinion, the updated policies restore protections for basic parental rights and ensure that parents are no longer cut out of the process—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are handled with our kids at school.  Specifically, I support:

• The new policies’ removal of language that encouraged school officials to follow procedures to essentially deceive parents when their children are making potentially life-altering decisions regarding their gender identity in a school setting.

• Removing the language contained in the prior policy that created a wedge between parents and their children at a time when parents and children need to have more communication.

• The updated language that acknowledges students and teachers can’t be forced into compelled speech that violates their constitutional rights, including First Amendment and religious freedom protections.

• The updated language that empowers schools to make their own decisions on how to best protect kids—especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable students when undressing in locker rooms or overnight sleeping quarters for school field trips.

• The updated language providing schools with the freedom to address bathroom/privacy issues on a case-by-case basis with parents—and not through a one-size-fits-all pressure tool that treats all districts/communities the same.

Please finalize these updated 2022 model policies as written without removing any of the key protections to restore parental involvement in the process and protect children’s privacy and safety rights.  Thank you.


This will put children in danger

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<p>This policy will put more children in danger.  Many students' homes are not safe spaces for them to be who they are.  Forcing teachers and administrators to report students puts them in danger of mental and/or physical abuse as well as putting them at risk of suicide.  Schools need to be safe spaces for students to be themselves.  </p>


Education of Children & Parental Rights

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Parents should have first say, choice and authority in what is taught their children the public schools and all other domains. This includes curriculum, content and ideology taught in the classroom. Education boards and school boards should take their cue from the parents. Marxist ideology and gender confusion should have no place in the school.  If Christianity has no place in the schools, then nether does Islam, Satanism or other other religions.  Finally, school educators, counselors or nurses should never secretly indoctrinate children. If they do, parents should sue to the fullest extent of the law. The order needs to be rightly reorganized, with the parents at the top.


Protect “typical” youth as well as LGBTQ+  All children deserve to feel accepted and safe.

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<p>The rape case in Loudoun County highlights why reasonable policies like the proposed model policy should be enacted. Yes, trans students have rights but so do gender typical students. A girl who does not feel comfortable in a locker room or bathroom with a male transitioning to female has just as much right to be protected. It’s not hate. It’s respecting the rights of all students to make reasonable policy like this. </p>


Virginia Is Better Than Bullying Our Most Vulnerable

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<p>Please put me down as opposing this proposed legislative change as unnecessary and mean-spirited. State law and common sense enshrine many instances where parents who are not acting in the best interest of their minor child lose their authority to dictate outcomes for the child. The spirit and intent of this law appear to be to apply a state veneer of intolerance to treatment of children who need support and tolerance. This type of ignorant bullying can be expected in Florida, but is not welcomed in Virginia.   </p>


Support parental rights

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Support parental rights


Strongly support

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I strongly support our Governor and his proposal.


HEY TEACHER, LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE.

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All in all, your just another brick in the wall.

 We don’t need no thought control.


Support for parents rights

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I support the rights of parents in protecting their children


Strongly oppose

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I strongly oppose this proposed policy. All students deserve to be safe, supported, and respected in schools, including trans and nonbinary children. We should be doing more to protect these kids, not introducing "guidance" that will put an already marginalized population at greater risk.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>Students should feel safe to be themselves at school.  They should feel their school is a safe, inclusive environment.  Transgender students are already at a higher risk of depression and suicide, and this policy only puts them more at risk.  </p>


This model policy violates the Virginia Human Rights Act

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The free speech elements of this model policy would shield violations of the Virginia Human Rights Act by stating that someone's personal beliefs and/or religion allows them to discriminate against others based on their sexual orientation and/or gender expression.

This model policy empowers discrimination under the guise of supporting freedom of expression.  Everyone should be free to hold their religious and personal beliefs, but this does not give them the right to inflict those beliefs on others through harmful and disrespectful speech and behaviors by claiming their religion gives them the right to denigrate and belittle others, especially children.


I appreciate the new regulations

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<p>I live in Loudoun County and have special needs and other grandchildren in Virginia public schools.  The new regulations seem well designed to prevent bullying and to protect our children from additional distress in school, like being taught that maybe they are not really boys and that ours is basically a bad country,  Thank you! </p>


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<p>I strongly support the Governor’s policy! Parents need to be in control rather than the government.  It’s not the school’s place to be pushing transgender ideas on young kids. </p>


protect children

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I support any and all efforts to protect children!


Strongly Oppose

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I strongly oppose this policy. It puts all kids at risks. Trans children already have it hard in this world. This policy will make their home & school an unsafe space. You should not be able to Out a student. This is a harmful policy that should not be put in place. Shame on Youngkin for using Trans students lives as a platform. Support all students, including your Trans kids.


Oppose

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We need to protect trans kids


STRONGLY OPPOSE. VDOE SHOULD REJECT!

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I am a parent and a teacher and I strongly oppose these measures.  We have all learned from COVID that mental health is such an important problem that plagues so many people. Any measure discounting the validity of who a human being is strongly and negatively contributes to their mental health. As a country we have been making positive steps toward acceptance of others and of caring for everyone's mental health. This measure that the VDOE is considering would be significant steps backward from beneficial progress that is being made, not to mention being cruel. Reject!!!


Parents are the first and best educators.

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Unless we are birthing children in bottles and raising them in nurseries a la Brave New World, children have parents and families - at least most of them.  The family is the first school a child encounters, and by age seven, much very basic learning has occurred.  The parents are the child's first teachers, entrusted with their support and well being.  They precede the State and hold the ultimate responsibility.  To deny them access to what their children are learning in school is in essence to destroy the concept of family, leading into a Brave New World. (Do read the book.)

Also, we live in a physical world, and our essences (souls, consciousness) are enclosed in bodies to enable us to live in a physical world.  Bodies are important in this world.  To say, for example, that a person in a male body is not male, but female, is completely incorrect - to the extent of being a lie when done on purpose.  Transgender people do have a hard row to hoe.  Being both e.g. male (physically, in this world) and female (internally, in the next world) is to say the least, confusing, if not actually distressing.  Transgender people deserve to be understood as they learn to live with this handicap,, and deserve all the respect and other rights a human being has.  However, to lie to them in an effort to assuage feelings does not only go contrary to established truths of what is male and what is female, it actually does not help them adjust to their handicap.

Most people come into the world with their consciousness/soul predominantly male or female and adjusted to the bodies into which they were born.  Actually, everyone has elements of male and female in their makeup.  We are not required to change the handicap of being, so to speak, half male and half female, any more than we are required to change the handicap of Down's syndrome into high IQ, or Cerebral Palsy into athletic.  We are required to accept these people with their handicaps and treat them with dignity and value as human beings.

I find that Governor Youngkin's proposed school regulations are in line with these inclusive concepts.


How dare you hurt our children!

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I support protecting parental rights and children's safety rights.  I truly believe that the Department of Education and its union should be abolished.  You are harming our children.  You are not educating our children.  Children need the love of Jesus Christ, stability and fun.  They need education that helps them to be independent, prosperous adults.  This is not being done in the public-school systems that American taxpayers are paying for.  Get behind me Satan and stay away from our children.


Let's teach our children reading writing and math

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<p>I support Governor Younkin's school proposals. </p>


I Approve

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Thank you Governor Youngkin. I agree that parents should be in control of the development of their children's values, not the government. While schools should strive to maintain an environment where all children feel accepted and valued, their emphasis should be on teaching reading, writing and arithmetic.


Strongly support the proposed document!

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Thank you for updating these policies to restore protections for basic parental rights and ensuring that parents are no longer cut out of the process—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are handled with our kids at school.

• I support the new policies’ removal of language that encouraged school officials to follow procedures to essentially deceive parents when their children are making potentially life-altering decisions regarding their gender identity in a school setting.

• The original policy had language that created a wedge between parents and their child, at a time when they need to have more communication—and I support the new update that removes this barrier.

• I support the updated language that acknowledges students and teachers can’t be forced into compelled speech that violates their constitutional rights, including First Amendment and religious freedom protections.

• I support the updated language that empowers schools to make their own decisions on how to best protect kids—especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable students in a state of undress in locker rooms or overnight sleeping quarters for school field trips.

• Middle and High School years can be very challenging, so I’m glad we already have comprehensive bullying policies to ensure a safe environment, while still respecting the rights of all students. That’s why it’s important schools have the freedom—as this updated policy allows— to address bathroom/privacy issues on a case by case basis with parents—and not through a one-size-fits-all pressure tool that treats all districts/communities the same.

• Please finalize these updated 2022 model policies as written without removing any of the key protections to restore parental involvement in the process and protect children’s privacy and safety rights.


Definitely support

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<p>I support Governor Youngkin's proposal.  </p>


Strongly support

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Strongly support Gov Youngkin's proposal.  Parents must be involved in these issues.


Stop transgender policies stop endangering our children

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Mother of 5 with 12 grandchildren in school, VA educator since the 80S, stop any & all transgender policies that are irreparably harmful to our children. Thanks to Governor Younkin, our children have a measure of protection. Let’s join hands to protect all of Virginia children and not put them in danger’s way. Protect Virginia children who are our future. No more harmful high risk school policies. Our children are impressionable, vulnerable and valuable. May Gov. Younkin keep our Commonwealth children safe!


Leave student protections intact

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<p>These changes would hurt students throughout the commonwealth. Parents aren’t always supportive, and students need to be able to confide in adults at school without fear of betrayal. Leave the protections as they are. </p>


Why the change? Because I don’t want boys showering in my daughters locker room?

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Keep the perversion out of our schools.


Polarization at its finest

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Here it is. Trans lives have become a political issue and you either wholeheartedly support them or wholeheartedly don't. I am trans, so my hope is that this does not pass. If your belief is that I'm not real, you probably hope it does. Not a whole lot of in between and I wish there were.

My opinion is that this is incredibly dangerous for trans students and some cis students whose appearances are confusing, and intersex students who are silenced before the age of speaking. If you're a trans kid seeing this and you know you're going to have to wait five or ten years to express yourself freely, I am so sorry. Hang in there.


Seems to be stirring up trouble -- why the change?

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Seems to me the situation has been made worse by the proposed changes.  Didn't hear much at all in the past.  New proposed guidelines are stirring up a hornet's nest.  When our kids were in school years ago, this was not a topic.  Seems to me it would be better to leave well enough alone what seemed to work well in the past.


Strongly support Governor Youngkin’s proposed, updated model policies.

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I support the new policies’ removal of language that encouraged school officials to follow procedures to essentially deceive parents when their children are making potentially life-altering decisions regarding their gender identity in a school setting.


Schools need to be safe spaces for students - homes are not always safe

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<p>Unfortunately, there are many homes that do not offer Virginia’s transgender youth the respect, protection, and support they need. These students need to know that schools are the best place for them to receive the peace, understanding, and acceptance they are due. Please withdraw the new Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students announced on September 16, 2022. Restore the Model Policies previously in place, which respect the rights and interests of transgender students. </p>


The proposed policies will lead to children’s deaths

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If the 2020 Model Policies are enacted, Virginia will see a surge in child suicides. It has been proven over and over that one of the most effective ways to reduce the high rate of suicide attempts among trans children is to call them by their chosen names and pronouns. Further, outing a trans child  to unaffirming parents is damaging to to the child’s mental health at best. At worst, outing trans children to unaffirming parents has lead directly to child abuse, child homelessness, and child suicide.

Governor Youngkin, I am begging you, in Jesus’ name, not to enact these policies that endanger the lives of our most vulnerable children.


Thank you for protecting our children!

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<p>Thank you for protecting our children from radical critical theory being introduced into the schools under the guise of equality. Teach our children to read and write and allow parents to decide when to introduce complex sexual minutiae that affects less than 1 percent of our population. </p>


Thank you for protecting our children!


STOP BLAMING PEOPLE FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA

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Those outspoken few do not represent all people from northern Virginia. Come to one of our school board meetings and you will see that it is just a few teachers and attention seeking parents pushing this stuff.


Transphobic Policies Increase Youth Suicide

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<p>That's it. Just want to point out the obvious that the "pro life" party conveniently ignores. </p>


I support policy to protect kids from Northern Virginia ultra left wingers

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Thank you governor. Please allow our children to enjoy their childhoods free from the ultra woke mob. Please provide additional mental health services.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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As a parent, an educator, a Christian, and a citizen of Virginia, I strongly oppose this proposed policy. Requiring parental permission to address children by their chosen name and pronouns puts the lives of trans kids unnecessarily at risk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, trans and non binary youth have markedly higher rates of suicide ideation, suicide attempts and death by suicide than their cis peers. To combat the grim reality of these statistics, best practices must be implemented that create a safe environment in the classroom ESPECIALLY if their home environment is not supportive.

Schools need to be a safe place for children and youth. This policy would make schools unsafe.


I oppose

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I oppose the VDOE's proposed guidance related to transgender children.

Although I have no children of my own, one of my sister's children is non-binary. This child has struggled with social norms related to gender, and continues to struggle with their own gender identity. Fortunately, the child has understanding parents as well as the support of a therapist. Not all children are so lucky. Some transgender and non-binary children live in homes where they do not feel safe talking with their parents about their struggles with gender. Indeed, some parents of LGBTQ+ teenagers throw their children out of the house rather than help them deal with the challenges of living in a world that does not understand them. The rates of self-harm and suicide among LGBTQ+ youth are alarming.

I understand the desire of the Youngkin administration and VDOE to safeguard the rights of parents. However, children have rights as well, and they are increasingly capable of exercising autonomy as they get older. Many children and young adults have legitimate reasons for not going to their parents to talk about delicate topics. We should be grateful if those young people find supportive adults at school who will respect them for who they are (or respect and support them through the process of figuring out who they are). Life as a transgender or non-binary child is difficult enough without adding the burdens this guidance document would impose. Children should always have the option of being able to talk confidentially with counselors and teachers (unless there is a serious concern about harm to self or others). They should be able to use a bathroom where they feel safe without having to jump through intrusive bureaucratic hoops. Children (and especially older children), should be able to express a preference about what name they use and how people refer to them without their parents having to make an official request.

In short, the proposed guidance document goes too far. It will add to the mental and emotional distress that many gender non-conforming children already experience, making it all the more difficult for those children to succeed, either as students or as human beings.


Against transphobic model policies!

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I am writing to express my outrage at Governer Youngkin's new proposed model policies for our Virginia schools. We need a leader who has a heart and an understanding that supporting and protecting the rights of all our students cannot be done by endangering part of our student population.  I strongly oppose the proposed transphobic model policies of the Youngkin administration. These proposed new model policies are divisive and dangerous to all of our youth. These policies will also fan the flames of division amongst adults. We must encourage each other to create a world where all can thrive.

Sincerely,

Sally Branch


strongly oppose this policy

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As an educator and parent of a public school student, I strongly oppose the draft policy and strongly urge the VDOE to reject it. The policies deliberately distort and misuse the First Amendment protection of freedom of religion to deprive students of their humanity. They are exclusionary and can create a hostile and dangerous school environment that seeks to erase students' identities. There is simply no defensible basis for forcing school districts to adopt discriminatory policies. The 2020 legislation passed the General Assembly stated a clear intention to protect the rights and humanity of trans and nonbinary students. The proposed model policies are in clear opposition to the law as it exists and should be rejected by the VDOE.


No to this bill: VA & U.S. parents have always had ample power

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This bill represents a disturbing trend: for a minority of people, in this case a subset of parents and the Governor of Virginia, to seek absolute authority over the lives and embodied experiences of safety of all children in VA schools. This bill doesn't "newly" empower the parents of children who identify as nonbinary or transgender with the authority to ask for their child's preferred pronouns and bathrooms to be used in schools. As parents in the U.S. and Virginia, they already hold the full legal power to make decisions for their children. These are private, family issues to be addressed within the home and not to be adjudicated by others' discomforts with difference. This bill seeks to take away the power of children to express small levels of autonomy that are directly linked to their feelings of safety and acceptance.

Who this bill would newly empower are a minority of parents and a 4-year governor to dictate how teachers and administrators and staff use pronouns against a child's preferred gender identity; to force children to conform to that minority's culturally-embedded notion of gender(s); and, to force children to use bathrooms that induce very realistic fears of being bullied both verbally and physically while they are in the supposed "safe space" of their schools during most of their waking hours.

The minority of parents seeking absolute power over the gender expressions of other people's children is a very dangerous development. The gender inclusion policy arrived at during the Northam administration was the result of long community/parent participatory discussions leading to the decision to acknowledge children's pronoun preferences and provide access to bathrooms where each child will feel safe. These processes arrived at the conclusion that gender binaries as absolute do not reflect the realities of human embodied experience. Indeed, these realities have been made manifest throughout history.

The Governor and this minority subset of parents are not well educated about the histories within every culture of acceptance of differences across genders and sexualities across recorded history. Reading European history with discernment, one finds constant examples of kings and queens and other "notables" whose lives were recorded, whose behaviors cross these false absolute gender binaries. Binaries invented relatively recently in the span of human history to actively "police" through legal means -- such as this bill seeks to do -- the behaviors of others different than themselves: their dress, make-up and self-adornment practices, pastimes, language of self, sexualities, and every other manifestation of immense diversity across cultural populations.

As a believer who is also a social scientist, I suggest that the fact that some cultures were observant and inclusive enough to accept diversity within their cultural group because it occurred too often and would marginalize too many of those they love -- to create named categories to give language to this diversity. These cultures reflect theirs and my understandings of the beauty of the diversity revealed in all Divine manifestations. These cultures manifest what we now know are the many variations in genetic code that obtain to "biological" sex differences. No longer limited to XX or XY, at the very least there are five different genetic variations.

This is a human rights issue under the UN Protections of the Rights of Children. We, as adults, must protect all children from every form of violence. This includes protecting them against well documented bullying and abuse that has occurred to nonbinary and transgender children in the U.S. for many generations. These forms of violence have ruined many children's lives and hopes, destroying their senses of belonging, leading to their disproportionate numbers of suicides.

Thus, this proposed bill as a step backwards in such protections sets the stage for renewed cultural violence against the most vulnerable of others, our precious children. To help to prevent these forms of violence against others and against the self, we as Virginians hoped we'd helped to address their root causes with the Northam administration's creation of an equitable gender inclusive policy in our schools. We must not regress in these efforts to show through practices that everyone has a place of belonging in our communities. Instead, we must continue to support the sustained use of inclusive gender practices and safe spaces in our schools -- for all children to develop and grow in health and acceptance.

For, wherever and whenever exclusionary practices occur, all children are impacted. All children internalize what they witness as well as what they directly experience. Every outward manifestation of inequality -- no matter their gender identification, race, class, first language, ability or disability -- makes all children "less". Because they are learning to make their choices and existences less by observing the punishments and marginalization of those who cannot by their very embodiment conform to a set of rules and laws enacted by those with the power to punish or limit them.

Let us rather become a state where children are respected for who they are -- not forced to act only in the ways a minority of people believe they have the right to limit them to be. Let us better understand the sanctity of difference for what it brings to living in healthy communities, to our collective creativity, to innovation and loving kindness.


Oppose

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As a long time Virginia educator who supports all students and their right to feel safe and respected at school,  I strongly oppose the proposed policy and want VDOE to reject it.


Support Governor Younkin's rewirte of the rules regarding transgender students

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<p>I am now a grandparent but was a public school teacher long enough to see the redefinition of terms that used to be called child abuse to in today's vernacular being called "protecting children's mental health." It is still TRUE that teaching children about sexual activity, gender dysphoria, and bodily mutilation is still age-inappropriate. We get more of what we teach and teaching students positive, supportive, and affirmative positions on biology is the most healthy approach to raising children to be healthy adults. By introducing concepts that are age-inappropriate children become confused and begin to mistake fiction and fantasy for reality. Pretending is a normal process of developing children's ability to differentiate reality from make-believe. Schools do students a disservice when do not learn to identify real from fantasy and students are guided into a fantasy world where gender is not a biological fact. It is important that schools remove themselves from this highly important and personal area of family function and that parents be left in charge of introducing these sensitive subjects (if at all) to their minor children. We as parents and grandparents have an obligation to protect and defend our children from those who would encourage them to live outside the boundaries of reality. I support Governor Younkins's rewrite that corrects many of the flaws in the prior guidance on transgenders in schools. </p>


I support parental rights

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I am a supporter of parental rights. Parents should absolutely have input and control over what their children are taught in school and over any medical procedures performed on their children.


I support this totally.....

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<p>I totally support Youngkin. The school and the government need to stay away from our children. I personally believe that we need a block a democrat from ever changing this policy ever again. Democrats beliefs are immoral and straight from the depths of hell. Parents should have every right to know what is going on behind closed doors of a school or any building where their children is present.  I hope Youngkin goes after the illegal activities of democrat social workers that does child protection, the police, and the courts that help them. Personally think this world would be a better place without democrats acting like their father the devil. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSED to TRANSPHOBIC POLICIES

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Human beings are human beings.  We all deserve love, compassion, empathy and understanding.  These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender individuals.  Create inclusive policies so all citizens can feel safe, productive, and free of fear!  Choose partnership and compassion over domination behavior.  Choose love over hate and fear.


back our Governor

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<p>When did we lose all common sense , we are destroying our children with the wrong ideals that we are placing on them so a few people can have there 10 seconds of fame. </p>


Reject the draft VDOE policy

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I am a Virginia educator who supports all students and their right to feel safe and respected at school.  I am a life-long Christian and current Presbyterian.  I am also the parent of a transgender child.  I strongly oppose the proposed policy and want VDOE to reject it.


Public Policy and the Natural Law

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Public Policy must be mindful that children are a gift from God to Parents, not to the State. Thus the care, nurturing, and education of their children is the primary responsibility of the Parents, not the State. The role of the State, if any, is in support of the Parents rights and responsibilities.


I support parental rights

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<p>A parent is in a far better position to guide his or her children on sensitive, yet important topics of sexuality, gender, etc…. Schools can play a role in helping parents, but they should never cut out parents from the process. Clear communication should be in place so that parents are informed, and can opt out if they feel their child isn’t ready or the parent doesn’t agree. Every child is different, and there should never be a one size fits all approach. In most cases, government employees do not have the capacity to know and care for each child as much as a parent does. Of course there are exceptions, and those can be addressed separately. </p>


Opposed to new trans policy

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<p>By enacting this cruel policy, Governor Youngkin and his fellow republicans are pandering to fear.  It is NOT an issue of parents right's, just like vaccinations are NOT an issue of parents rights. Virginia school’s should be a safe place for Virginia students to learn not only academics, but about themselves and their place in the larger world. Marginalizing a student for any reason should be unacceptable in moderation society. We need to keep moving forward not backwards. And your ban on proper history is ridiculous also. We Virginians are better than this. Stop being a MAGA rube. It’s a failure. </p>


Support

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<p>I support the change in this policy. It is not saying students may not go by an alternate name or gender, but stating that an adult responsible for that student must submit consent for this change at school. Parents should know their student and know what the student wants to be called. It is not a school systems job to interfere in the relationships between students and parents. </p>


Strongly Support

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Thank you for updating these policies to restore protections for basic parental rights and ensuring that parents are no longer cut out of the process—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are handled with our kids at school.


STRONGLY OPPOSE - Gov Youngkin encourages intolerance, exclusion, and divison

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The proposed policy attempts to mask a practice of intolerance and disrespect to the transgender, non-binary and two-spirit communities, as well as the LGBTQIA community as a whole. The address of youth by their preferred and adopted pronouns is a fundamental demonstration of respect for any human being at any age; to state that educators would not have to honor this, whether a parent is consulted or not, is a ized application of 1st Amendment rights. If this were the case, then the converse is true that by not respecting one's pronouns and gender, which can be tied to one's spiritual beliefs (especially for those who are Two-Spirit indigenous), this is a violation of that individual's 1st Amendment rights. You cannot apply the 1st Amendment to state that one is protecting religious belief freedom but then NOT recognize ALL spiritual belief systems. This is a poor attempt to institutionalize and normalize conservative beliefs, especially right-wing Christian dogma. To truly to be inclusive, this means fostering tolerance and intersectional understanding, not intolerance, and stating that one must hide or deny their identity because of someone else's belief system only ensures division.  Further, to force trans youth to use restrooms/facilities that to align to their assigned gender at birth exposes these students to increased acts of bullying and violence. Governor Youngkin's policy promotes intolerance, bigotry, as well as ignorance surrounding the lived experiences of transgender, non-binary, and two-spirit individuals.  While parents should be partners in education, policies also disrespects educators who wish to provide multiple perspectives to youth rather than single perspective views. Again, the reverse results in students who have diverse perspective being blocked from having safe spaces to engage in the material to review with educators who hold degrees in child development and their specialized instruction areas, fully capable of facilitating these conversations.

If not evident, I strongly oppose this policy. Take a moment to find your intersections with other perspective, Governor Youngkin. You may learn something about humanity.


STONGLY SUPPORT Younkins revised guidelines

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If you have/had girls would you want biological boys in their bathrooms?


YES! YES! YES!  Support this, and so does EVERYONE I know.


I Support Gov. Youngkin's Proposal

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Thank you for updating these policies to restore protections for basic parental rights and ensuring that parents are no longer cut out of the process—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are handled with our kids at school. My grandchildren are at stake. I don't want them subjected this such abhorrent thinking.


Oppose these horrific new policies

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I am beyond saddened, discouraged, and sick about these new policies that may be implemented in our public schools.  The "public" is made up of a diverse group of people, including transgender kids, and by not allowing these "public" school kids to be recognized for who they are is absolutely disgraceful.  Public means everyone.  If parents do not want their children intermingling with transgender students, first of all, shame on them.  Transgender people are PEOPLE.  Second of all, those parents have other options for schooling.  Students are entitled to EQUALITY in education and this is far from equal.  Someone's cisgender child is NO MORE IMPORTANT than someone's transgender child.  As a public school teacher, I have always recognized and supported my students despite their race, gender identity, religion, or ethnicity.  It is TIME to stop with these old-fashioned, behind the times policies of separation and be inclusive to all.  We are moving backwards in time.  Governor Youngkin, if you want to be on the right side of history, then do not implement these policies.  And simply put, if there is a transgender student in our world, WHO CARES?  THEY DO NOT AFFECT YOU!  Let them live their BEST LIFE.  If you don't recognize that being transgender is completely wonderful in our world, then don't identify as transgender if that is how you feel.  But do not take that right away from transgender students.  If you are bothered by someone else, then that is a YOU problem, not a them problem.


Model Policy on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect For All Students & Parents

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My family and I wholeheartedly support this policy. It disenfranchises no one. Finally, some common sense which previously was sorely lacking.


I oppose this guidance

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<p>Please respect students. Trans rights are human rights. </p>


Protect the rights of trans and intersex youth!

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<p>We need to protect the rights of trans and intersex young people. Some of these kids may be going through abuse at home, bullying in the schools and you definitely do not want their rights violated. As a former teacher-please listen to the students and make school a safe place for them to learn and grow. We have NO RIGHT to force ANY religion or belief on students in a public school. If you want your child to have religious training, send them to a private religious school! Instead of having giant bathrooms with many stalls, how about we put in several smaller unisex bathrooms where only 1 person can go at a time? Large bathrooms are not good for student anyway-fights and bullying can happen in there and ALL students feel vulnerable while trying to use the bathroom. We should also call them by their preferred name/pronouns. It amazes me that we can use nicknames all day long but as soon as someone says anything about pronouns or trans everyone goes crazy. It’s simple. I asked my students what they wanted to be called and that’s what I used. We are supposed to be there for the welfare of the students! </p>


Support 2022 Model Policies

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Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the 2022 VDOE Model Policies.  The VODE's 2021 Model Policies failed to consider the rights of parents as the primary educators of their children.  In addition, it had gaps regarding constitutional principles which impact all students. It is encouraging that VDOE is taking the needs of all Virginia families into account with its 2022 Model Policies.   I support this new set of policies.


I support the new VDOE.

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I believe it up to parents to help with this subject. Let the teachers teach educational .

 Boys need there privacy as well as girls!!!


This policy will increase anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in our students

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I am a social work student in Northern Virginia and I have seen the way that policies like this one harm the mental health of transgender students.  Please take a moment to imagine what it would be like if everyone around you repeatedly called you the wrong name, referred to you as the wrong gender, and refused to allow you to be who you are.  This treatment is incredibly painful to transgender students, at a period in their life when they (and all students) are already at higher risk for developing mental health conditions.  I can't believe we're creating policies encouraging this kind of harmful behavior.

If this policy goes forward, I will do my best to provide mental health services to the students who will be harmed, but we already do not have enough providers to serve Virginia's mental health needs.  Please do not enact a policy that will create more anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in our students.


Yes, to this new policy

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Thank you for protecting parental rights and children's safety rights! As an educator, I applaud Gov. Youngkin for defending my rights, as well.


Bravo, GOV Youngkin!

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<p>As a parent who had her 6 yr old exposed to a lesbian teacher who outed herself to first graders in a DC public school, preaching a LGBTQ-approved lecture on gay marriage (then illegal) to her class, I am extremely grateful to Governor Youngkin for protecting the rights of parents-- and their religious beliefs, consistent with our God-given First Amendment protections.  These teachers ARE groomers--- they do intend to sexualize young children, preaching their political and ideological beliefs to very young children, deceiving parents and destroying children's sexual innocence.  When students are graduating many high schools without a solid foundation in English, math and science, it is bewildering how any teacher could try to institute such highly controversial, toxic material into a classroom.  There is no such thing as "transgender," as one is born male or female. The LGBTQ lobby, to maintain its relevance after winning homosexual marriage, had to create a new category, complete with ludicrous pronouns, which they want to force others to use.  Coerced speech is also contrary to the First Amendment and the civil rights our ancestors fought for, and were willing to die for-- we will never as free men and women ,go along with coerced speech.  Nor will our young daughters be forced to unclothe in front of men or share sports platforms with men who have discovered that phony "transgenderism" is  a way to steal trophies that deserve to be awarded to women with XX chromosomes.  No one should indulge this LGBTQ--inspired insanity or these attacks on our freedom of religion and free speech. </p>


We as a family Support

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I support the new 2022 Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools


I OPPOSE this draft policies and want the VDOE to reject them

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<p>I STRONGLY OPPOSE the proposal to remove and replace 2021's model policies on the treatment of transgender and non-binary youth in schools. The current (2021) policy finally gives trans and non-binary students) the protection and rights they need to feel like they belong in their school communities.  School districts are finally allowing students to use their preferred names and gender pronouns, instead of forcing them to use names and gender pronouns that do not match their identity.  I support the current policy that is in place and oppose any changes.  I urge the VDOE to support all students in our school by leaving the current policy in place and DO NOT ADOPT THE NEW DRAFT POLICIES.  </p>


School, specifically certain teachers, clubs, or friends, is often the only safe space for the LGBTQ

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School, specifically certain teachers, classes, clubs, or friends, is often the only safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. Many trans and queer kids simply can't come out to their parents or family due to many factors, including religious extremism.

This policy will directly increase youth homelessness. This policy will directly increase hate crimes. This policy will directly increase child abuse rates. This policy will funnel kids into sex trafficking. This policy will increased suicide rates. This policy will increase drop-out rates. THIS POLICY WILL KILL CHILDREN. Let me say that again: THIS. POLICY. WILL. KILL. CHILDREN.

This policy is a prime example of religious extremism. Science be damned, you are putting the will of the ignorant few against what is right and just, in direct defiance of science, common sense, freedom of and from religion (including the LGBTQIA+ inclusive teachings and beliefs of most mainstream Christians and Jewish denominations), a student's right to privacy, the 1st and 14th amendment of the Constitution, Title IX, and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Shame on you, Gov. Younkin. You truly represent all that is reprehensible, vile, and repugnant in this mighty Commonwealth.


Strongly support

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<p>Of course parents need to be involved in these discussions. Children suffering from gender dysphoria need therapy. Because "do no harm" is the first prerogative. Sadly that commitment is often skipped by the medical community but seemingly only in this area. The effects of puberty blockers are not fully reversible. And the treatment for gender dysphoria is often medicalization, followed by surgery to remove healthy body parts. Children can't take an aspirin at school or go on a field trip without parental notification and consent. How can parents be excluded from discussions like these which may have life long impacts? </p>


Strongly agree

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I strongly agree with Gov Youngkin and support him 100%!


Transgender rights

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These students have more emotional challenges than most other teens and need compassionate care instead of blockages.  I sincerely hope this policy that further alienates them in an environment that could support them, that is their schools, will go no further.


Oppose - respect kids

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<p>I strongly oppose this change in policy. All kids, especially teenagers, should be given the respect of calling them by their chosen names and pronouns. Schools are not there to police gender roles. Kids need to feel safe and respected at school. </p>


Strongly oppose.

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<p>Strongly oppose. A bill like this will strongly effect alot of lives in a negative way, especially high schoolers who are already struggling with admitting who they are. </p>


Strongly oppose - potentially life-alteringly damaging to vulnerable students

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Do not pass this unwise, intrusive requirement. It could result in suicides, mental health crises, and ruined lives.


I support

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We need to change the world


I support


parents rights

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I Definitely support parents rights 100%


Strongly Opposed. Protect Trans Youth.

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<p>Anti-trans bathroom policies are incredibly harmful to trans youth. Transgender individuals have the highest rate of suicide among ANY member of the LGBTQ+ community. Gender affirming policies and treatments are proven to lower the risk of suicide among transgender individuals, including trans youth. Your proposed policy will kill people. Your policy will kill children. Protect trans youth. </p>


ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT

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<p>Parent should always have control over their children’s curriculum in school!!! You are born with a gender, you should use that bathroom that gender coincides with! </p>


Gov Youngkin is the best common sense Governor today

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I strongly support parental rights and conservative common-sense policies as Governor Youngkin has stated.


This proposal is intolerant

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School is supposed to be a safe place for students. If teachers are required to out students, they are putting those students in danger and emotional distress. A student who has been outed unwillingly is not only put into a state of fear and anxiety, but also put in a position where they could possibly be disowned and abused by unsupportive parents. This is not okay. By enforcing bathroom use based on somebody's assigned gender at birth, outdated ideas are being promoted and therefore erasing the existence of transgender people. The government and school should not be a place that erases identities and makes people feel unseen. It should be an accepting, open, and safe space that promotes supporting others in a community. If schools stray away from this because of this proposal, society will go backwards. Violence and intolerance will be planted in the minds of the students who go to these schools. They are a product of their environment, and school plays a huge part in that. I urge the Virginian government to think about the long-term consequences of this proposal, what it implies, and the culture it will create.


Definitely support


Transgender Policy 2022 is Misguided and Harmful to Students

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<p>As a grandfather of a transgender student in the Virginia Public School system, I supported the 2021 Policy and thought it was a rational and reasonable approach to complex issues and that it was in the best interest of both parents and their children.  I oppose the 2022 Policy as being little more than a political stunt that certainly is not in the best interests of children or parents.  </p>


I oppose. This will not hurt our children. The way you treat this will.

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I oppose these because this is taking away the rights of a group of people. Transgender women are women. Transgender men are men. Allowing them to use the bathroom of their gender (not based on biological birth), should be a common curtesy. These people are not using this to “prey on children.” They are doing it because that’s the bathroom they feel they should use.
I work in a school system and it evens baffles me that the male teachers are not allowed to use the teachers bathroom because it is a mostly female staff. Requiring them to share the students bathroom is in my opinion worse. Our children will not have these gendered structures and hindrances unless we put them on them.


Policy Causes Harm

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<p>This policy will cause harm to a vulnerable population. Please consider policies that will ensure the safety of students in Virginia. Research consistently finds transgender young people experience higher rates of depression and anxiety and they are at higher risk of suicide than cisgender young people. Why implement policy that would impact their mental health and overall safety? I do not support these policies being implemented. </p>


Strongly Oppose, protect trans/non-binary students

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<p>We must protect the liberties of any child regardless of their gender identity. Gender affirming policies are integral to the well being of all students that identify as LGBTQ. We cannot live in the past anymore by pretending the gender is merely a binary system. </p>


a political stunt at the expense of children’s wellbeing

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The "2022 Model Policies" won’t make students healthier, safer, or better able to learn. It will only open them up to the possibility of more harm, often through misappropriated religious beliefs in the service of disrespect and discrimination. Prioritizing “rights” over the responsibilities of parents and guardians won’t contribute to the wellbeing of the children entrusted to their care. This new guidance doesn’t protect students. They have nothing to gain by its implementation and only more to lose.

There are far more pressing concerns facing kids in Virginia every day, including the threats of gun violence and food/housing insecurity. Let’s direct some energy toward actual crises families in our state are experiencing instead of moral panic over pronouns.


Strongly support!

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<p>Thank you Gov Youngkin!! Please protect our precious children that attend public schools from the damaging push away from common sense. </p>


I support this, thank you for taking a stand

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Thank you for taking a stand against pushing the trans agenda into our schools.  Schools are meant for learning to read, write, math not all this radicalism. If they want to push transgenderism they can do it in their own homes and cause confusion among their own kids not mine!


Guidance document

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I strongly support Gov. Youngkin's proposed changes. Parents are the ones who are ultimately responsible for all aspects of their children's welfare and should certainly be included in all decisions regarding their education. Together, our teachers and parents should desire  the best possible outcome for each child. A safe, secure atmosphere that maximizes learning is the ideal. Each child is of inestimable value/worth . The teacher is there to oversee his progress toward realizing his maximum potential. Set aside the distractions  and instruct.


Strongly oppose. Protect trans students

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Of all the issues plaguing the public schools of Virginia, this is not one that merits discussion. This is a political move for conservative or right leaning people. Scare the parents to grab their torch and pitchforks.

Protect trans students.  End of statement.


What you're doing is harmful

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I doubt any words could change your mind since your last hotline regarding CRT was flooded, but what are you doing?

Do you think this will get you re-election? It won't. VA has always been a flip flop state.

Is it good for the economy? How?

Is it making anyone safe? The ones you're trying to protect us cis people from are more likely to be assaulted and discriminated against than I am. This law is proof. No amount of harming will make them go away. Trans people are Virginians and they deserve to be welcomed and safe just like any other citizen. Virginia has a thriving and lively queer community that will last any term that you'd want to keep.

The GOP will throw you to the wolves the moment your anti-queer agenda doesn't suit them anymore. They'll likely throw you out sooner considering you ran on a campaign believing the 2020 election was fraudulent. You can continue this path pretending I'm not telling you the truth or you can at least do the right thing and protect your citizens.


No boys in girls locker rooms

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We have a child that now identifies as a girl and competes on my daughter’s swim team. This child now showers in the locker room with the girls after practice. Governor please stop this lunacy. Don’t allow this confused child to confuse the rest of their classmates. It is a dangerous situation for all the kids.


Strongly Support! Prohibit sexual abuse of innocent children

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Parental rights should trump any school trying to indoctrinate children, mess with their minds, confuse them, and take away any sense of moral stability. Children should be free from this sexual abuse by teachers/counselors, who are complicit in truly negatively altering a child's future. Are they pushing for a society of Sodom and Gomorrah to justify sexual deviance? That did not end well. Thank you, for standing up for the rights of parents and children to lead a childhood free from non-appropriate sexual content. Let our kids be kids. And, since we would not be spending so much time trying to influence children to commit immoral sex acts, maybe we could teach the basics, i.e. reading, writing, arithmetic, and bring up our standing in the world with children who can at least compete.


Fight the Existential Threat of Transgenderism

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Transgenderism, is a dangerous attack on the family.    Its goal is to replace parental authority with State sponsored tyranny.  Think about it.   One of the so called Woke agents of Obama’s fundamental transformation, BLM has stated they want to eliminate the nuclear family.    Parent’s inherently have the best interest of their children in mind, not some faceless and crazed ideologically driven school official.    It is nothing short of criminal behavior for any school official to willfully undermine the parent’s authority.


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<p>Thank you for updating these policies to restore protections for basic parental rights and ensuring that parents are no longer cut out of the process—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are handled with our kids at school. </p>


Oppose this policy - protect trans kids

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This policy is extremely frightening for all trans K-12 students in this state. These students often feel unsafe coming out to their parents because parents are their main source of financial, physical, etc. support, and some parents (most likely including many of the ones who write comments here in favor of this policy) will take away that support if they know their child is trans. All children in the state should have the support and protection they need, and the school must do its best to ensure that environment. Students should have the right to come out to their parents if and when they want to. As a nonbinary student, I didn't come out to my parents for over a year because I was afraid they would take away financial support, which is vital for me to continue attending college. This is a real threat to many closeted trans kids, so Virginia must prioritize their safety, well-being, and future over their parents' political views.

Additionally, trans students do not pose a threat to cis (non-trans) students. Often, they use gender-neutral bathrooms, and those who do use the bathrooms for their gender are respectful about it. If they are not, the problem should be addressed on a person-by-person basis rather than with a sweeping policy that will hurt more students than it will help.

Whether you like it or not, trans people have always existed, and we will always exist, no matter how much you hate us and try to oppress us. All trans students want is respect for their identity and their privacy. Students are your future, so why are you putting parents' politics above students' physical safety and mental health?


This will harm kids

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Let's have some honest debates about how this will affect kids. How about consulting with teachers and social workers?  They see first hand what happens to trans kids when their families don't support them.  And since many parents ARE supportive, this will just cause kids without supportive parents to go back into hiding.


Transgender Bathrooms

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<p>Strongly opposed to Governor Youngkin’s new transgender policy. Schools need to provide single Transgender or Unisex bathrooms in safe areas for transgender kids that don’t feel comfortable or are at risk of harassment in traditional Girls and Boys bathrooms. </p>


I oppose

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Please don't take us backwards.  Trans kids are going through enough.  School may be a sanctuary for them.  If they are brave enough to ask for different pronouns/names, please give them the respect of calling them what they would like to be called.


Finally common sense is coming back, thank you governor!!

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God made male and female. Does not matter if you have sex changing operations still your chromosomes DNA are that of a male or female.  I fully support Governor Younkin for finally trying to make common sense come back and protecting our children.

Full support for new 2022 revisions!!


The answer to suicide isn’t lawlessness

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Yes there are suicidal children. Please get them the help they need. DO NOT pretend as if societal rules don’t exist and that they can act however they please. Rules do apply to all kids. Boys do not join the girls in the locker rooms because they will have a tantrum if they aren’t allowed to be “themselves”.


Freedom

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One person’s freedom should not infringe on another’s equal personal rights. Gender is biological. I don’t want biological boys in my daughter’s bathroom, I don’t want biological boys competing with or against my daughter’s sports teams, and I don’t want teachers having to play along by calling a boy “her, she, it, or they.” Ridiculous. Common sense left wing nuts!


Strongly oppose

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As a transgender adult who was unable to transition when I was younger, I fully oppose this policy. I understand that parents feel that their children should have the choice to wait until 18. The problem is is that puberty hits during that time and you are taking away their chance to be what they consider fully normal. And it does make a difference big time. I wish I had known you could transition when I was a 13-year-old male. Due to the influence of society On my families Christian protestant structure, that was never allowed to be a subject. Give freedom to the youth that choose it this path Just doesn’t hurt anybody that doesn’t choose to transition. So why prevent it unless Societies objective is tyranny!!!


This guidance effectively establishes children as property.

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I take significant issue with the altered guidance that is being put forth here. While it uses nice language to indicate an ongoing respect for all students and children, including those who are transgender, what it truly seems to establish is that children shall have no autonomy or recognition of their personhood whatsoever, and ought to have every single aspect of their life overseen, corrected or controlled by their parent(s). Among the red flags in the guidance is language indicating that parental control should extend to the child's nicknames, to how they present and identify themselves to other students, matters which are clearly personal (and interpersonal) in nature. Another is where the document defines a student as being "transgender" if and ONLY if the parent(s) request, in writing, that the school regard the student as such.

This revised guidance is a significant and deeply unfortunate step backwards, for Virginia, for the rights of students, and perhaps most woefully, for the fundamental and God-given right of children to actually be regarded as people and as individuals, which they are.

Parents have fundamental rights, but these should not extend so far as to treat children like they are property. Especially in cases where a child may suffer from an abusive situation at home, the school should not be compelled to seek parents' permission for every little aspect of the child's life and expression, going so far as something as trivial as a nickname. This guidance has significantly overreached, and as far as I am seeing, will constitute nothing less than a profound harm and cruelty to all present and future children who will grow up and be schooled in this state.


Strongly  Support the Proposed Policy Guidance

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<p style="text-align: right;">Thanks for protecting parents rights & responsibility  to their children & protecting students & their rights to be protected as they pursue their education  @ school  ! </p>


100% for parental rights

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Parents should always have the final decision in their children's education and how they are treated while at school. No accomodations should ever be made to allow males into female bathrooms or females into male bathrooms. Children should play the sports of their born gender. Biological sex cannot be changed so let's not act like it can.


GET BACK TO FUNDAMENTAL EDUCATION

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We desperately need to get back to educating our kids. We need to focus on the 90% of students who want to be left out of the politics and agendas that are being pushed on them. Kids go to school to LEARN, not to be subjected to political policies that claim to protect a certain group of kids. Kids aren’t confused, they are curious. It is NOT the school boards place to parent our children, nor do we co-parent with them. There should be an “OPT IN” option for parents to sign instead of an “OPT OUT” option. If that happens, you’ll find out exactly how much support you have for your cause and this movement of transgender.

Kids should not be allowed to protest, “walkout”, anything on any level. They’re in school to LEARN. If kids want to protest, they can do it on their own time.


Discriminatory Guidance

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The 2022 “model” policies which were released today by the VA DOE are not in compliance with law nor are they consistent with the best practice recommendation set forth by all major medical, education, and mental health agencies across the country regarding the care and treatment of transgender and gender diverse youth.  The entirety of these policies is discriminatory, biased, and with an intentionally inflammatory agenda. While I trust that these new policies will be challenged due to their incongruence with existing law, I remain concerned about the safety and survival of already at-risk gender diverse youth who read today’s new releases and have legitimate concerns for their physical safety if school personnel out them to non-affirming parents, deadname them, or misgender them.  I implore you to take concerted steps to let our transgender students know that they are safe and supported and encouraged to practice self-care now more than ever.


Well done!

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It is past time to stop giving in to and protected far left nonsense. The majority of teachers and students in our public schools are tired of being labeled as haters just because they do not agree with or support this agenda. No one should be threatened, bullied, or disrespected for living their lives the way they want to. This policy protects everyone equally and also protects parental rights.


Strongly support!

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I strongly support the changes


Crisis Worker, Oppose

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<p>Requiring teachers to inform parents of their child's transgender status is violence. I work with kids and teenagers on a crisis stabilization unit. I've seen kids and teens engage in self-harm and attempt suicide when they are outed to their families and lose that familial support. I've seen parents send their kids to residential facilities or put their kids in the foster care system or just kick them out because they don't want to raise a trans kid. This policy will kill children. </p>


Support required parental consent

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Parents are legally responsible for care of their children.  Good parents work to protect their children's development physically, mentally, emotionally.  Great investment goes into child care with time, money, training that is hoped to last a child for life, and to induce or indoctrinate contrary to parents desire should be illegal.  The government, nor schools have the right to tempt, confuse, or indoctrinate children with anything contrary to the parents training and upbringing.


As a grad of class 2020 - thank you for protecting my peers from manipulation and grooming

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Subject/Title says it all, I appreciate these legitimately common sense changes even as a somewhat recent graduate.


Support for Youngkin's Protection of Kids

          I just heard an interview with a student that said that communicating with parents about transgender issues “was so personal” that it was unfair to kids to involve their parents.  If they cannot talk to someone like parents that love them and want the best for their children, they certainly should not be talking to another adult that they have known for a short period and may not have their best interest at heart.  Another “personal issue” involved is the transgender issue; the requirement for young girls to be sharing restroom and locker rooms with a transgender male.
These personal issues are the sensitive relationship that affect the parent’s relationship with their kids.  Current school policies are structured in a way that interferes in the child-rearing decisions that should be the sole responsibility of parents and not the government or school officials, including teachers.  Transgender children should also be respected and be educated in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying, but not at the expense of the constitutional rights of others.
I support Governor Youngkin’s Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public School.  It is a Constitutional right, it's State law and it is morally correct.
And by the way, teachers, they are OUR kids, not YOUR kids!


Bravo!

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I applaud this policy. As a parent, I believe it is unlawful to keep anything about minor students from their parents. As a Christian teacher, I am relieved to be able to tell parents everything about their child, and I am even more relieved that I would not be bound by law to use pronouns. This policy addresses common sense that needs to be restored.


Common sense at last!

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Teach our youth what they will need to compete in an increasingly complex world! That’s what they’ll need as productive members of society and citizens of this great nation if we want to continue to reap the benefits of liberty and freedom.


Please just stop for a moment and think

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Why is the version of America you support one that rescinds the rights of its citizens? Remember when prohibition worked…me neither. Policy shifts create social pariahs who are either exploited or will exploit others, they don’t result in the elimination of a certain practice. What you’re seeking is genocide. Think on that for a moment. You support genocide over freedom? That’s shameful, and that’s what “I approve” means in these comments.


Policies like these increase rates of depression and suicide

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The research on trans identities and mental health is clear. If you want these kids to survive and thrive, stop legislating your own morals and let them be who they are.


Love One Another

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We are put on this earth for one reason. To love one another. Love and Acceptance of All People means just that. Because someone may identify differently than you do does not give you the right to condemn, judge or limit their right to live their life their way. Have the courage to understand, learn about and accept what is other than you. God loves us all and that means we are all accepted the way we are.
People have been gay since God created us. It is not an abomination it is who they are. Be a leader not a follower. Stand up against hate, division and bigotry.
Trying to “save” people or change people in the name of God is the exact opposite of what God asks of us. Love one another. It’s so simple. I think you can try it.


A Transwoman who supports Governor Youngkin

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<p>As a Transwoman myself, I support Governor Youngkin's policy. I support it because I've seen how watered down the Trans community has become! There is no vetting policy anymore for people who may, or may not be Transgender. The leftist trans activists in our community have destroyed any kind of vetting process that we had left.... By calling it "Transphobic". Now anyone who dyes their hair a certain color and puts on a dress can say they're trans and walk into any bathroom, and get special privileges. Not only is this dangerous... But it makes things harder on ACTUAL trans people who have to live this life everyday. It's caused the general public to not trust us anymore. This isn't compassion..... This is a free-for-all! And it's damaging what little bit of credibility the REAL trans Community had left! Not to mention the damage done to dozens of children who may think they're trans but they're actually not. Please push back against this Leftist nonsense Governor Youngkin! Believe it or not..... You'll be doing the REAL TRANS COMMUNITY a HUGE FAVOR!!! </p>


Schools have historically been sanctuaries from home for marginalized students

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The suggested guidance from the Youngkin administration disregards and discards the historic function of schools as places for children with difficult home lives to find sanctuary and the potential to excel. Forcing schools to report to parents about matters that a child may wish to keep private from their home life jeopardizes them. School is a place for students to explore themselves while among their peers and ask questions free from the religious and cultural dogmas of their home life. To have teachers and admin act as a social Stasi and require they report what this administration considers 'wrongthink' is not only dangerous but constitutionally negligent.


Support

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Parents love their children to need to be included


You’re doing the harm you claim a desire to prevent

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By forcing trans kids to adhere to the gender you feel is best, you’re actually causing the harm you’re claiming you want to prevent. Kids aren’t being coerced into identifying as trans or non-binary—they are, however, now being forced to live a life where they can’t feel free to be themselves.


Parents have rights over their children

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I support the updated language that acknowledges students and teachers can’t be forced into compelled speech that violates their constitutional rights, including First Amendment and religious freedom protections.


Support! Youngkin finally passing bills in will of all Virginians.


This guidance mirrors Putin’s statements

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Sometimes, when you don’t realize you’re wrong and it turns out you are parroting the rhetoric of an autocrat trying to be Europe’s “next Hitler”…you need to rethink your position. Or maybe just move to Russia…?


Proposed "parental rights" policy is wrong

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My youngest child recently came out as non-binary, at the end of their first grade year. This aligns with normal types of gender identity development, which children become more aware of how we define gender (and how wet create limitations for different gender identities) at an early age. In a world with a wider range of words to describe how they felt, my child felt empowered, accepted, and supported by finding the idea of "non-binary" -- where they were just themself, not socially defined as male or female. They were the first child to come out with that identity at their Henrico County elementary school. The school was careful and very supportive, even as we were all learning how to find ways (only some potentially new) to consider how the current system may not have worked for my child's needs. None of the accommodations were onerous or difficult. Students were all very accepting. When sharing our story with other parent friends in the area, they all reported similar experiences -- occasionally having trans or non-binary kids in their child's class and it was a non-issue for the students. The kids really accepted it, just as much as they accepted children with an interest, religion, race, ethicity, ability, or religion different than their own.

When heading about this potential new rule, my child was very upset. They felt that the rule wasn't fair to them and would force them into situations where they were substantially less comfortable. That reaction and their intangible demeanor shift alone broke my heart as a parent, where my job as a parent is to keep my child safe and help them thrive.

The biggest challenges in having a child who identifies as non-binary has been with saults, especially adults who haven't ever encountered people who were trans or non-binary. This was a new idea to them and they couldn't imagine a child would have an idea of their own gender identity like this (child development esearch says children do by age 4-6 -- and we now have more and better words/ideas to describe what people have always felt). With my own child, adults who love them but struggle with new-to-them pronouns and conceptions resulted in repeated misspending, which made my child - their friend, grandchild, etc. -- feel repeatedly disrespected, unsupported, and hurt. They're seeing the defects of their actions and, with practice, are starting to get better and more accepting with this idea. My child is also becoming better at verbalizing this themselves.

At a time of increased suicide risk among adolescents, too few mental health resources to serve them inside and outside of schools, and teachers and support staffs stretched thin, replacing the 2021 guidelines will exacerbate risks for trans and non-binary students. Your new guidelines leave teachers - whose job it is to keep ALL their students safe - unable to protect trans students from harassment and hate by their peers.

To do so under the banner of "parents' rights" begs the question, WHICH parents' rights? The parents of trans and non-binary students have a right to their child's safety in their place of learning. Meanwhile, the specter of some imagined harm to other students is insufficient to impinge on the right of ALL students to be able to attend school, feel safe, and be treated with dignity.

The evidence showing the positive impact gender-affirming behavior has on adolescents is abundant and known. You are choosing to perpetrate harm.

This rule should not be implemented. It does not create a Virginia where or future generations will be at their best to do their best for the community.


I support this policy

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<p>The 2022 Model Policy lays out common sense guidelines to restore parental rights, student safety and student privacy.   </p>


Strongly Support

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As worded, the bill clearly supports an anti-bullying environment without undermining parental authority, the integrity of the family, or freedom of conscience and speech. There is no reason we cannot have "both-and." Schools are not labs in which to conduct social experiments nor are they an appropriate place for adults to practice their political activism on impressionable children, especially without parents' knowledge or consent. They are first and foremost an academic *service* to families and should remain just that.


Oppose this - sad to see this country moving BACKWARDS.

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<p>What happened to separation of church and state? Forcing people to change is only adding to this already mental health crisis. </p>


Fully Support proposed policy

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It’s about time the government gets out of the way of parental authority and supports them instead! Schools should stick to teaching our children to read and write, mathematics, history, geography, the arts, etc.. They are not doing a particularly good job at that, so instead, they want to promote confusion to kids that struggle with who they are, and to do so in the dark. That alone should tell us something!

All those who oppose the governor’s policy are free to abdicate their parental responsibilities and let their kids be indoctrinated and further confused, but you will be doing irreparable damage to your kids. That is real ‘hate’! Multiple studies attest to an exponential increase in suicides among kids; almost 20 times the average teen.


I’m all for parental rights…

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<p>… for ALL parents.  You can’t fly that ‘parental rights’ flag with the caveat that it applies only to parents with cis gender children.  What about the rights of parents with trans or LGBTQ+ children?  The fear these flag-flying parents have is completely unwarranted.  If you are so afraid that talking openly about the realities of the real world will somehow destroy the lessons you teach at home,  then perhaps you should have a hard look in your own back yard. Taking away the rights of people who are different from you doesn’t make those people change or go away.   You cannot clamor for the government to stay out of the things you want and intervene in the things you don’t.   This proposed legislation is exactly the type of overreach that marginalizes based on fear and ignorance, and it is wrong to its core. </p>


Fully Support This Bill. Soon To Be Made Federal.

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Gender is rooted in biology. It is an exclusive immutable characteristic, not a feeling. A person’s sex chromosomes are the determinant factor for gender.  A boy does not get to decide he’s a girl as much as a White person doesn’t get to decide they are Asian. This is very basic science that has been held true throughout history. It is not up for debate.

A teacher’s one job is to ensure their class is learning relevant educational material in order for the child to grow up and become successful in life. The teaching of pseudoscience radical gender theory is not only irrelevant to a child’s education, but pure evil. No different from convincing a child they can fly if the just really believe in themselves and then have them jump off a building. Children put their trust in their teachers and the evil ones will betray that trust for their own destructive Marxist ideology. We must remove those cancers from society.


Absolutely support ??

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<p>Absolutely support ?? </p>


I support the 2022 policy model update

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<p>I respectfully request that the updated 2022 model policies be approved and finalized without removing language or provision that restores parental rights and protects student privacy and safety rights.  The original policy had language instrumental in placing a wedge between parent and child which very much needed to be re-examined and updated in a manner that supports parental rights and necessity of parent/child communication with no hiding of potentially life-changing issues that their child may be struggling with.  I support updated policy that does not force teachers and/or students to speak in such a way that it violates their 1st Amendment and Religious-Freedom rights.  I support updated policy language that provides freedom to  protect students in school bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight field trips. </p>


I agree 100 percent

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I will not stand for a 14 year old boy walking in the bathroom with my 6 year old girl just because the child was taught he could be whatever gender we wanted to be. It is very dangerous and I believe alot of Rape could occur from it. Thank you Governor.


Oppose!

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Children and young adults need to become who they are in a safe space. Removing these protections only leads to mental health problems for individuals who won’t have the freedom and safety to be who they truly are.


Support - thank you for your courage and common sense!


Trans Kids Have a Right to Use the Bathroom of the Gender They Identify as

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<p>This proposal is a waste of tax dollars at best and an attack on basic human rights at worst. All people deserve to use the bathroom when they need to and passing laws about who can use what bathroom makes the process unnecessarily complicated. This bill does nothing to protect people as a whole and does everything in its power to attack a group of people a certain group that thinks they have power over others feels is inferior. </p>


Anecdote

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Leo is a 17-year-old nonbinary person. Their parents are accepting, but they're still nervous about telling them about their gender identity because acceptance doesn't equal support, and they have no idea how long it will take to adjust. They come out to a teacher on September 12, and a few days later, they find out this has been proposed. The teacher really wants to respect Leo's wishes, and call them "them," and not out them to their parents before they've said it's okay. They only have one month. Leo only has one month to prepare themself. Then, whether they've decided it's okay or not, their well-intentioned teacher will either have to stop respecting their pronouns and name, out them to their parents, or lose her job. Leo comes out to their parents on their own, and ends up getting misgendered what feels like approximately every thirty seconds. Leo gets yelled at when they politely ask their parents to try harder, and state their position calmly. "WE'RE TRYING! LEAVE US ALONE!" Leo feels gaslit. Imagine how that would have gone if they hadn't even been the one to let their parents know.


Support

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<p>Restore parental rights </p>


Strongly oppose discrimination

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<p>Why aren't you trying to keep schools safe from shooters, this is more deflection. Targeting trans kids for more discrimination is completely ridiculous. Does it actually hurt you by calling people by their preferred pronouns - no. </p>


Strongly support this bill.

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<p>My family supports this bill! </p>


Great Policy, Great Gov.!

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Much needed return to sanity for parents and children!