Oppose: A Student's Perspective.

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As a current student in Virginia public schools, I oppose this immensely.

First of all, preferred names & pronouns are not health related, or necessary for any parents to know. There are many dangers in this policy. For example, I have a friend who identifies as transgender and has a preferred name and pronouns. However, their parents are transphobic and have explicitly stated that if they were to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community in any way, they would be disowned and kicked out. This is so dangerous for kids! Are we really putting the lives on innocent children at risk simply because they have preferred pronouns? Really?

In terms of the bathrooms, all they [transgender student] are trying to do is to use the restroom. Simply put, what is in someone's pants is no one's business but their own, and all they want is to be treated equally and fairly.

This is simply shameful. It goes directly against our constitutional rights as a nation, as well as all nondiscriminatory rights as US citizens.

Do better.


Adamantly oppose

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These new policies reek of transphobia and risk the health and safety of transgender students. Please do not politicize the existence and delicate mental health of LGBTQIA+ students for political gain!


Strongly OPPOSE this hate

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waste of resources as VA will surely be sued over this

also trans kids and their families are protected under the law


Shame on Gov. Youngkin for turning his back on a vulnerable constituency and those you love them

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As the parent of a transgender son who attempted suicide as a teenager fifteen years ago, I am appalled by the school policies Governor Youngkin is proposing. Adolescence is a life-threatening experience for transgender and non-binary youth since many feel their bodies are betraying them. As peers celebrate physical changes they have long awaited, trans youth often find themselves on an island alone, isolated and afraid. Without parents, teachers, or other adults who understand and can advocate for them, many become suicidal believing life will never improve.

When trans students can’t do something as basic as using the restroom at school without being singled out and humiliated, their health and wellbeing are put at risk. Research shows they already experience high rates of bullying by peers and adults. Harassment, discrimination and physical assault lead to absenteeism and poorer grades as well as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Fifteen years ago, there were few resources and no safe school policies for trans youth. But now there are and research shows they make all the difference in supporting trans youth to stay and excel in school.

When my beautiful daughter told me she was transgender I thought my world was falling apart. I was uninformed and ill prepared to navigate the complex medical and emotional terrain that lay before me. But my husband and I both knew we would lose our precious child forever if we did not figure it out.

As I read and researched everything I could find, I learned that gender dysphoria is likely caused by neurohormones in utero. A fetus differentiates male or female genitalia around twelve weeks gestation. The hypothalamus regulates endocrine and hormone function and is considered the control center for gender identity. It differentiates in the fetal brain around sixteen weeks. If certain hormones are out of balance during this critical four-week interval, one possible theory is that the brain and body may not develop along the same gender pathway. Transgender people have a medical condition, not a psychological one. Judging, rejecting and fearing trans people is like judging a person born with any other medical condition. We can reduce the suffering trans youth feel from a hostile and uninformed public by creating informed school policies and training compassionate professionals.

Our son transitioned in college with our full support and he went on to graduate, create his own business, and was recently married. He is surrounded by loving family and friends and now has the life he never thought he could. He broke through numerous barriers and could not have done it alone. It took advocates and allies along the way to protect him from those whose ignorance made them hostile.

Virginians must not let ignorance and hostility drive school policy. There is plenty of data today to inform educated and compassionate policies for transgender and nonbinary students during their highest-risk years. Even the conservative Supreme Court sided with trans youth when it refused to hear Grimm vs. Gloucester County School Board this summer. In doing so it allowed lower court decisions to stand in support of transgender student rights to attend public school without the fear of discrimination.

The policy being considered will not only add to higher student drop-out rates and increased mental health costs, it will lead to higher legal fees for tax payers since three federal appeals courts have already ruled that discriminatory restroom policies violate Title IX and the US Constitution.

 Shame on Governor Youngkin for turning his back on some of his most vulnerable constituents and those of us who love them in order to pander to a conservative, uninformed minority.


Support trans kids

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<p>This is going to detrimentally harm students. School is supposed to be a safe space for everyone, a safe environment to learn and to be yourself. Many students don’t feel safe at home, and school is a safe space for them. Children can be expelled from their homes  and are at risk to anti trans attacks, especially for trans people of color. These laws are hurting people, not trans people. Trans people are not the enemy, your bigotry is. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>This legislation is inhumane and homophobic. It does not belong in our schools. </p>


Like In The Days Of Noah!

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Support Gov Youngkin, Now understand what a reprobate mind is, our left leaning officials have totally lost it.


Supporting Parental Rights

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Supporting Parental Rights


I strongly Oppose Youngkin's Trans Hate Policy

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The changes in this policy that Youngkin is pushing are dangerous and lethal to LGBTQ+ children. It is not based on any scientific knowledge but is based on prejudice, ignorance, and trying to win votes. I suggest that you learn the scientific facts about transgender people before you make any changes to the existing policy that is working so well. It is not a choice, it is how a child is born. Children will see themselves as a certain gender when they are very young. It may not match the sex that they were assigned at birth. They feel this gender difference well before they know anything about sex. Sex and gender are two different things. It is a very difficult and personal thing for a child to come out as LGBTQ+. They first come out to the people that they feel are safe. Many times this will be friends and teachers. No one knows parents better than their children. Children know how their parents will react to their disclosure. Parents do not always know what is right for their children. It is not a child's job to become carbon copies of their parents. It is a parent's job to let their child become who they really are whether they agree with them or not. This goes for gender, religion, profession, prejudice, and everything that makes up that child. The suicide rate for LGBTQ+ children is very high. These new policies of non-acceptance, forced disclosure, denying of what the child really feels, hopelessness, and family rejection will make the risk even worse. Do not hurt these children for your politial gain! I hope that you aren't that selfish.


Parental Rights are God Given Rights

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Total support for our Governor, support Parental Rights


Protect trans at expense of girls?

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Don’t men already make more money for equal work? Why are we erasing women from society? Female athletes deserve protection from men that want to allow boys to play on our teams and take our scholarships? Everyone wants to protect trans? How about protecting girls!!!!


Supporting Parental Rights with Transgender child

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<p>Hello, I support any legislation that supports parental rights to help a transgender child. Parents need to know if their child is struggling with these issues at school so the parents can get the child the mental health care they need. If the school is required to keep this vital information from the parents, then the state becomes the parent. This is not appropriate. Ideally, the parents and the schools should be working together to help a transgender child navigate a difficult time in that child's life. It is not up to the schools to spearhead these efforts however. It is the parents right, and responsibility, to do so. </p>


Protect Parental Rights

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Thank you Gov. Youngkin for your stand for parental rights, 100% support, Blessings!


I OPPOSE TRANSGRNDER POLICY


STRONGLY OPPOSE


Fully Support Gov. Youngkin's Changes

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My primary reason for supporting these changes is twofold.

The school system should NEVER withhold information regarding a student's behavior, health or academic status from a parent or guardian.  The child belongs first and foremost to the parents, not to the school system or teachers.

Any child that displays any kind of mental or physical disorder including gender dysphoria should be reported to the parents so they can pursue appropriate medical help.

Our schools and teachers should focus their educational efforts on the basics of language, math, science and technology and not engage in any kind of indoctrination.  XX


Strongly Oppose This Guidance; Support Marginalized Students

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This guidance is written to intentionally harm some of our most vulnerable children. Mental health professionals have stated over and over and over that affirming the gender that a person identifies with is literally life-saving. As many as 50% of trans and nonbinary youth whose gender is not affirmed will attempt or die by suicide - FIFTY PERCENT. It is such a small thing to listen to a person who says, "This is who I am" and to respect what they say. It is such a small thing to allow school staff to be a safe place for children who do not have a safe place to be themselves at home. It is unconscionable to out children to unsupportive and abusive families. You preach in schools about being anti-bullying and having empathy; this guidance is the very definition of the government bullying some of our most vulnerable children, and it is the exact opposite of empathetic. Practice what you preach, and do not approve this guidance.


strongly support - defend innocent children against pedophiles


Strongly oppose.


Oppose.

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<p>Trans rights are human rights. This is not a sexual matter. </p>


support - protect innocent children, against predators


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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The suicide rates of trans kids skyrocket when they aren’t accepted by their parents, peers, school, etc. I think that’s all I need to say. Protect trans kids!!!


Trans Policy in School.

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<p style="text-align: left;">Oppose. Trans Rights are Human Rights. This is not a sexual issue. You’re taking away their freedom of speech. </p>


100% support-parents right protecting innocent children from pedophiles

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read the book "sexual revolution"


Governor's proposed policies re transgender students in VA public schools

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This proposed policy is rooted in transphobia and seeks to further harm trans and nonbinary children through discriminatory restricitions on their rights and requirements that would bind public school teachers.  It is generated by fear and bias rather than understanding and a desire for inclusiveness and equal treatment under the law.


Not a political issue - strongly support the policy change

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<p>   We should be applauding the upholding of the rule of law: the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, and the Code of Virginia.    What is the alternative: anarchy?   By analogy, a person may not like the law of gravity,  may call it "hateful to my desire to fly" and therefore discriminatory, but it is a law that must be respected, and one that can be seen to be essential to life, if simple reason is applied.</p>
<p> </p>


Support parental rights

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Thank you governor for providing common sense legislation to protect our most impressionable youth from the ideology of attention seeking teachers and moms.


Partial support, partial opposition

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I support the requirement to inform parents if a child requests to identify as a different gender or sex, especially with very young children for whom experimenting with gender is common and the concept of gender is confusing. Edge cases in which parents denying their trans children may have been the driving factor in leading the kids to become suicidal cannot be the impetus for policy that affects all parents.

I oppose the portions of the model policy dealing with bathroom use. There is statistically no reason to believe a trans girl will assault a biological girl in the bathroom. As a man who remembers what goes on in boys bathrooms, I suspect a a trans girl is at far greater risk of abuse from biological boys if they are made to use the boys bathroom.


Suicidal kids need mental health services not access to my daughter’s locker room

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The answer to suicidal children is not to give them a society without boundaries. Society has the rules that need to be followed. If you are suicidal then go to the doctor but stay the hell out of my daughter’s bathroom.


OPPOSE!

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<p>Oppose! Protect trans kids #transrightsarehumanrights </p>


This policy is directly opposed to actual care and safety of children

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The proposed policy for the treatment of transgender and other non binary children goes against everything that childcare actually stands for.  While I agree that parents should be involved in the decision making process about their child's physical and mental well being, we have unfortunately seen that in many cases the parents are willfully ignoring just this.  In their misguided belief (very often from a 'conservative' religious back ground) that their intolerant non acceptance of different expressions of personal humanity is only to 'save' their child from evil, they actually promote that exact evil in the most harmful way possible.

This policy also claims that it wants to give parents their rights back.  Unfortunately, it only gives back rights to those who are completely intolerant of non conforming persons.  I am disappointed that we continue to have to fight this backward, egoistical and hateful view of life.

Students should be able to learn in a welcoming, safe and friendly environment. Their gender identity should not have any impact on this.


Protect trans kids, stop hiding your bigotry behind religion

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Gay and trans kids exist. Youngkin and other despicable republicans don’t want to acknowledge that they exist and want to actively harm them. This is not right.


Strongly SUPPORT this new policy.

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Support the new policy!


Protect trans children.

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This is a dehumanizing and cruel change of policy. Trust your children to know who they are, and let them decide where they can go. This will only hurt children overall - cis and trans both.


Have compassion. OPPOSE

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<p>The risk is too high. These kids are too important. And not creating a safe space for them to test and feel out who they are has TANGIBLE consequences. Suicide in this demographic is not a joke. And if the bare minimum we need to do to support them is to let them have the space to be themselves, then that should be a no brainer. I’m not willing to risk someone else’s child’s life over a bathroom policy. This is 2022, why do we even waste space with gendered bathrooms anyways?? So many rough things go down in these bathrooms (bullying, drugs, etc). Why not save all that space and trauma and just make a row of unisex closed door bathrooms so everyone can have privacy? And if you have trouble calling people by their preferred pronouns, how bout just get used to referring to everyone as they if you’re not sure/have issues with it. Might take some practice but I promise it’s not that hard once you are willing to try. Learn to treat people with compassion and respect, even if you don’t agree. It could LITERALLY save someone’s life. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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This current proposition is extremely dangerous for our youth. The separation of church and state applies to all public schools, at least it is supposed to! Children are people and are allowed bodily autonomy. The fact that this is becoming a legal issue is ridiculous. Religious people are just looking for problems and creating laws to fit their personal agenda and belief system. We do not all subscribe to religion, therefore the laws shouldn’t be made to line up with any religious ideology. This proposition is absolutely disgusting and morally wrong. The only thing this will accomplish is putting children in a position where they will harm themselves and being harmed by others, including being harmed by their own families. Schools in America are quickly becoming one of the most dangerous places for kids. School should be a safe place, but this will take that safety and sanctuary from many children.

IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN, YOU NEED TO QUIT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR GENITALIA OR SECUAL ORIENTATION AND FOCUS ON IMPROVING EDUCATION, PAYING TEACHERS MORE, PROVIDING RESOURCES TO SCHOOLS THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED. MAKING SURE CHILDREN ARE FED, WHETHER THEY HAVE MONEY OR NOT. THESE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT. NOT WHETHER TRANS CHILDREN DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT AS THE OTHER CHILDREN OR NOT.

DO BETTER.


Stop using children as political cannon fodder!

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The right to live freely & authentically is one of the bedrocks of being American. The abuse & ostracizing of lgbtq people & especially children is an abhorrent infraction against their rights.

This blatantly appears to be the same fear-mongering & hate based discrimination that has repeated itself time & again throughout our history. The same tired old disinformation about vulnerable groups that are “”different” enough to be used as scapegoats to distract & divert attention from actual issues & policies of governance.
The use of groups that are small enough to be scapegoats/demonized but not big enough to make lazy & desperate politicians suffer consequences at the polls is an obscene hubris & harms everyone that’s invested in the benevolence of community & civility.

Using poc, women, lgbtq, etc. people as political pawns is the lowest caliber behavior that attests to the malignant character traits that have infected our democracy & political/societal systems.

This type of convenient identity discrimination & cancerous cowardice of individual constitution infecting our country is a blight of shame for the so called “city on a hill”.

I plead we cease this madness & allow love, understanding & compassion to proliferate before the tar pit of hate & division consumes our republic & is along with it.


"trans-gender issues policies"

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I fully support Gov. Youngkin's new education policies that restore parental rights, and safeguard ALL students in the classrooms of Virginia


OPPOSE

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Transgender individuals are HUMANS who are entitled to human rights. Period. Stop

this nonsense and protect ALL students. Otherwise you will have bullying, hate crimes and even suicide on your school campuses. Are you prepared for that?


This Propsal Is Destructive Pleae reverse it

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According to the claimed wording of this bill it instructs that it is using CDC best practices for inclusion of students that are in there best interest. however it spells out how misgendering students by only focusing on biological sex and ignoring out right the possibility of a developing mind having any say in there development are recommended to be put forth on a family that may attack or disregard that development. This is a direct contradiction of the CDC guidelines. Please review your decision on the policy. Re-read the guidelines you are basing your policy on and reverse this proposal.


Strongly oppose gov. Younkin

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<p>If this policy passes there are going to be many trans children abused at home, and at school. Some kids aren't safe to come out to their parents. School should be a safe place for kids. This will make that impossible </p>


Stop child sex abuse in the schools by supporting Youngkin

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This "trans" agenda is an effort to groom young children so that they will be open to child abuse. Please do not go along with this. Decisions about a child need to be made by the parent, not child abusers.


Parents Rights and Authority Over Their Children

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I Strongly Approve of Gov. Youngkin's Transgender Policy Changes

Our schools need to focus on their real job: education. Not indoctrination. Teachers in our schools have the responsibility to teach children the objective subjects of reading, writing, math, science, and history.  Parents have the responsibility to teach their own children their morals and their belief systems, not teachers. Parents have the ultimate authority over and the ultimate responsibility for their children's lives, not school administrators and teachers.

Children who are too young to legally drive or vote or consume alcohol are also too young to make irrevocable choices which will mutilate their bodies and/or chemically castrate themselves.

Gov. Youngkin's policy is a good first step in preserving parental rights over the upbringing of their children.

I strongly support the proposed updated Transgender guidance suggested by the VDOE.  Parents have the important responsibility of guiding their children through many different phases of development before they reach adulthood.  Our children are bombarded by many different influences, many of which, we, as parents, would prefer to protect them from.  This is a difficult task in this day and age.  This policy reinforces the fact that parents are the ultimate influencer and decision maker in a child’s life. I applaud Governor Youngkin and his staff in their efforts to draft a fair policy that addresses a very sensitive topic.


New "model policy" is anti-child, hateful and brutal

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Gov. SnitchLine is determined to destroy the relationships and trust between teachers and their students, and in fact, he is destroying public education, drop by drop.  This abhorrent policy will forcefully out trans kids and do indelible harm to their developing psyches.

I'm a career teacher.  I simply called my students by the names and pronouns they ask me to use.  Yes, I taught trans kids.  My job was to make sure they learned math, and I did that by giving them the support they needed, just like I did for non-trans kids.  Trans kids use the bathrooms - without drama - of the gender they appear to be.  It may be shocking to you Christo-fascists that nobody cares, because DOORS CLOSE and everyone has privacy.

This effort to force our most vulnerable students into the Governor's idea of what is politically advantageous to him is a shameful disgrace.


Support Gov Youngkin

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I support Gov. Youngkin's policy


This is a violation of human rights

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I AM HERE TO STATE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE. I SUPPORT ALL TRANS HUMANS AND NON BINARY HUMANS OF ALL AGES THIS LEGISLATION IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS. WE MUST SUPPORT AND UPLIFT EACH OTHER.  THIS IS NOT A THEOCRACY..KEEP YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS TO YOURSELF AND JUST LET PEOPLE LIVE. ONE LOVE YALL ONE LOVE.


Strongly oppose proposed guidelines for transgender and non-binary students

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I strongly oppose these proposed changes in educational guidelines for transgender and non-binary students, and ask that the current guidelines (from 2021) be retained. I oppose the change for the following reasons:

Mental health professionals indicate that the changes proposed would be detrimental for the mental health of the students involved.

These proposed guidelines are contrary to Virginia law, principally the Virginia Human Rights Act.

Governor Younkin campaigned in part on a pledge to ensure that parental rights are upheld. What about the rights of parents who want what experts say is best for their transgender or non-binary children?

This proposal appears to be aimed more at pacification of prejudices against transgender and non-binary persons than to ensure we treat all persons in a respectful manner.

Respectfully,

Don Gallion Jr.

Roanoke VA


Oppose

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As a mental health professiona, I oppose


Support Policy

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I fully support Youngkins policy revision!


protect trans kids is a lie, license to sexualize our children is the truth


heartbroken stories how teachers, psychologists brainwashed children into mutilating their bodies


Strongly support the governor.

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<p>Thank you Gov Youngkin for bringing sanity back to Virginia. Strongly support this policy. </p>


support model policies 2022 document

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I support Governor Youngkin.


Oppose

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<p>This current proposition is so dangerous for our youth and also borders on illegal and a HIPPAA violation. The separation of church and state applies to all public schools as well. The commenting and "outing" of trans youth is also so inappropriate from a moral standpoint.  An adult worrying about a child's genitalia, who isn't their personal medical professional, is DISGUSTING. Children are people and are allowed bodily autonomy. The fact that this is becoming a legal issue is similar to the Era of 'Satanic Panic. Religious zealots are looking for issues and creating laws to fit their personal beliefs. As a parent with children in Virginia public schools, if any adult came to me discussing my child's personal style choices, genitals, or anything relating to being traditionally trans, you better believe I would be pressing charges against the school board. This is heart breaking and disgusting. The only thing this will accomplish is children harming themselves, or being harmed by others,  including their families. School is supposed to be safe for children. But it's quickly becoming the most dangerous place in America. Do better. </p>


I support the Governor;s transgender policy.  Parents must be involved

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<p>Parents must be involved in all aspects of rearing their kids.  To allow staffs and teachers to circumvent parents is simply wrong. </p>


support=protect innocent children, pl listen to countless heart-wrenching de-trans stories

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learn how trans teachers, school admins, and phsychlogists brainwashed children into believing they are trans and mutilated their bodies


Protect Trans Kids

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Trans and LGBTQ kids exist. They deserve to be loved and supported. They deserve a welcoming environment to learn and thrive in. This proposal is inhumane and shameful. Protect trans kids.


Support this Policy

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Thank you for taking a stand against to protect children against the corrupting influence of deluded progressive policy.


Support

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Of course parents should be notified of any sexual content being taught to their children - is this not common sense? Rearing of children is the responsibility of the parents, not the government. Let children remain as innocent as possible for as long as possible. Thank you for supporting this Gov. Youngkin.


100% Support


Strongly Oppose

As a Virginia resident, parent, and working social worker, I strongly oppose the Virginia Department of Education’s 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools as they are currently proposed. The 2022 model policies create barriers to privacy, dignity, and respect for Virginia’s students and seek to undermine previous legislation (i.e., § 22.1-23.3. Treatment of transgender students; policies) that works to create safe and supportive environments for our most vulnerable youth.
During my 14 years of work in the foster care system in Virginia, we have seen a dramatic increase in youth suicidal behavior, as well as an increase in children entering the foster care system as a result of child abuse or abandonment due to their LGBTQIA+ status. Just last week, a child I care about deeply who is trans was assaulted in the bathroom at school. Trans kids are not a danger; it's the other way around. This change in policy will only further endanger Virginia's children. Our policies need to protect ALL of Virginia's children.

56% of transgender youth reported a previous suicide attempt and 86% reported suicidality. School belongingness mitigates these risks and is a significant predictor variable for reducing suicidal ideation and attempts among transgender youth (Austin et al., 2020).
Transgender and nonbinary youth whose schools prevent them from using the restrooms/locker rooms that best matched their gender identities were significantly more likely to be sexually assaulted, 26% for transgender males and 149% for transgender females (Murchison et al., 2019).
28% of transgender youth whose pronouns are not affirmed attempted suicide in the past year. In fact, when pronouns are respected, transgender youth attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected (Trevor Project, 2020).
Transgender adolescents experience significantly disproportionate levels of childhood abuse compared to cisgender adolescents and experience greater levels of homelessness as a result of being kicked out or abused (Thoma, 2021).
Fewer than 2.5% of transgender youth re-transition to cisgender (Olson et al, 2022).

The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools are empirically unfounded and are not in accordance with evidence-based best practices concerning the treatment of transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and gender-fluid students.

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As a Virginia resident, parent, and working social worker, I strongly oppose the Virginia Department of Education’s 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools as they are currently proposed. The 2022 model policies create barriers to privacy, dignity, and respect for Virginia’s students and seek to undermine previous legislation (i.e., <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" x="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvsca.org%2FEmailTracker%2FLinkTracker.ashx%3FlinkAndRecipientCode%3D1NPMOsRnym3Ax4o4aRFLF%252bZYlwvtdnAQicbWsX8Q79oau1EkLZnqZPwclDZQ8Goah%252ft2FRWPIDn36WL1ljEUTiFYigtzDENGWMKbDhd1Oso%253d&data=05%7C01%7C%7C619b2506a0df4b90f49f08daa4bbeacd%7Ca5022c32d7884f488987237d95f332ca%7C0%7C0%7C638003424264308940%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6m2mWBDE3COUnyoh7RjNwtSzWQlWC%2B5c30k23KPXDAA%3D&reserved=0">§ 22.1-23.3. Treatment of transgender students; policies) that works to create safe and supportive environments for our most vulnerable youth.

During my 14 years of work in the foster care system in Virginia, we have seen a dramatic increase in youth suicidal behavior, as well as an increase in children entering the foster care system as a result of child abuse or abandonment due to their LGBTQIA+ status. Just last week, a child I care about deeply who is trans was assaulted in the bathroom at school. Trans kids are not a danger; it's the other way around. This change in policy will only further endanger Virginia's children. Our policies need to protect ALL of Virginia's children.

56% of transgender youth reported a previous suicide attempt and 86% reported suicidality. School belongingness mitigates these risks and is a significant predictor variable for reducing suicidal ideation and attempts among transgender youth (Austin et al., 2020).

Transgender and nonbinary youth whose schools prevent them from using the restrooms/locker rooms that best matched their gender identities were significantly more likely to be sexually assaulted, 26% for transgender males and 149% for transgender females (Murchison et al., 2019).

28% of transgender youth whose pronouns are not affirmed attempted suicide in the past year. In fact, when pronouns are respected, transgender youth attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected (Trevor Project, 2020).

Transgender adolescents experience significantly disproportionate levels of childhood abuse compared to cisgender adolescents and experience greater levels of homelessness as a result of being kicked out or abused (Thoma, 2021).

Fewer than 2.5% of transgender youth re-transition to cisgender (Olson et al, 2022).

The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools are empirically unfounded and are not in accordance with evidence-based best practices concerning the treatment of transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and gender-fluid students.


Oppose

Oppose.  Oppose. Keep existing policies.

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<p>Oppose.  Oppose. Keep existing policies. </p>


I support Governor  Youngkin

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<p>I support parent rights </p>


I support Governor  Youngkin


Strongly oppose Youngkin

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<p>This is disgusting. Go work on real issues. </p>


Oppose

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<p>What’s possibly barring parents from getting involved with their child’s education other than themselves? This will only further divide families already struggling to reconcile with their LGTBQ+ children. Not to mention, reducing their child’s autonomy. Students, especially high school students, are readying themselves to embark on their own life. I understand rules outside of school can’t be altered, but school is their proving ground. This is how they mold themselves. Y’know for a country that greatly upholds individualism, we really like to keep a tight leash on our kids (especially our queer kids). Why? Not sure. Parents already had their own shot at life. Why not let your kids take theirs? </p>


Directive to VA schools re treatment of LGBTQ children

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Your directive is unconstitutional. It creates a violation of  a parents and a child’s rights of non discrimination. Humanly, it is cruel.  Our entire family strongly objects ( 8 of us Vote) no to this policy!


"Protect trans"- a propaganda, free license to sexual assault chidden is the aim

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<p>pl read the book "sexual revolution" </p>


I support Governor Youngkin

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I Strongly support our Gov. Youngkin to protect our children!!!!! Thank you Governor Youngkin.


"Protect trans" is a lie, mutilate and sexualize your children is real intent

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pl read the book "sexual revolution"


Former Teacher

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As a former teacher, I did have one student in the sixth-grade who was unhappy in her gender as a female. She requested to be called a gender-neutral name at school, which all teachers honored. She was in private counseling paid for by her parents. I support these students being allowed to be addressed by the names of their choosing, with or without their parents' approval.  This is very important I think for these students' mental health. However, I think there should be gender neutral restrooms, and trans students should be directed to use those. I think that would be better for the safety of both the trans students and the other students in the school. If both male and female trans students used shared, separate restrooms they might be more respectful of each other than other students might. That would remove the concerns that I would have personally had as a parent about a biological male being in the restroom or showers with my daughter.


take away your children for their onw gain is true, "protect trans" just a cover

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oppose the propaganda that takes away the rights to protect their children from the predators


Approve

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<p>Read Youngkin’s regulation. Does NOT hurt trans children. Just requires parental involvement. </p>


sexualize your children is real intent, "protect trans" just a cover

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read the book "sexual revolution"


OPPOSE


Strongly support - Thank You Gov Youngkin!

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<p>Thank you for listening to your constituents and for fighting to protect our children! The hard left is very loud, but this is common sense legislation that is needed in every state. Keep up the great work and please continue  to fight back against the policies being pushed forward by progressives that are anti-family, anti-parental rights and anti-religious freedom. </p>


Protect trans kids - Research and statistics support this need

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<p>There is zero excuse as a public official, as the governor, to ignore all the research and statistics that show the validity of transgender people or the need to protect them. Especially children and teens who are so vulnerable and high risk for bullying, violence against them, and suicide. Do not use children as some sort of political move catering to people who are uninformed about the reality of this issue. </p>


support parents protect children being mutilated in the name of "protect trans"

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oppose the propaganda that takes away parents rights to protect their children from the predators


Transgender School Policy

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To whom it may concern,

I commend the Governor and the policy changes to the Department of Education regarding transgender students not being allowed to use restrooms of the opposite sex and having parents included in their child's gender identity. This is common sense, and the vast majority of Virginians support it. That is why Governor Younkin was overwhelmingly why he was elected. Parents are the primary decision makers concerning their children and not the government. We also need to safeguard children, namely girls, from what happened in Loundan County where an innocent girl was raped due to these senseless existing policies.


100% Support


Proposed model transgender policies

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<p>Strongly oppose proposed model transgender policies.  The current administration in Virginia does not speak for me on this subject.  Whether minor or adult, free expression of sexual orientation or preference is not the business of any government official or agency. </p>


We Support Gov. Youngkin!

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oppose the propaganda that takes away the rights to protect their innocent children from predators in the name of "protecting trans"


We Support Gov. Youngkin!


Push back against the transatanic cult agenda

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<p>The transatanic cult want to mutilate your children and turn them into cenobites. Don't let them.  </p>


I Support Parental Involvement & Equal Treatment for All Students

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I support this policy because parents have the right to be involved in all decisions regarding their children.  It is the job of public schools to educate children and this should be done in cooperation with parents.  I also support this policy because it upholds the equal and fair treatment of all students regardless of sex and gender without forcing parents and students to comply with ideologies with which they do not agree.


Oppose

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The proposed guidelines are cruel.  For the minority of children who are struggling to understand their bodies, these guidelines do nothing to make them safer in our schools.  There is NOTHING in our Commonwealth that prevents parents from being their child's first sex educator.  Many responsible parents will do this to the best of their ability.  It should be noted that, as a society, we are often ignorant with respect to human sexuality.  We resist serious study of the subject.  We allow an abundance of unhealthy sexual behaviors to persist in our popular culture--examples that children may easily access on television, video games, and the internet.  These include sexual exploitation and violence against children, women, and LBGTQ individuals.  Our schools should be a safe place for all children.  I don't understand the fear behind this proposal.  Gender identity is not a contagious venereal disease.  Athletics are not in grave danger.  Please keep the existing guidelines and reject the proposed guidelines.  I repeat, for better or worse, PARENTS WILL STILL BE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST SEX EDUCATOR.


STRONGLY OPPOSE


support decent parents protect their children from predators mutilating their innocent children

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<p>please oppose the propaganda that takes away the rights to protect their children from the predators </p>


Support common sense- sexual assault is real

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I support common sense decisions. My school district had multiple assaults in the school bathroom where they let opposite sexes use the same bathroom. All adults involved belong in jail.


strongly support - protect vulnerable children

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protect vulnerable children from being manipulated to mutilate their bodies


I support all trans but want my locker room off limits

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I love and support all people and want them to be happy. However, I don’t see why this political debate needs to extend into my locker room. My softball team uses the showers after practices. Why do we need to allow access to all genders in my locker room. I support trans rights but don’t support males in the room where we shower.

.


STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS COMMON SENSE POLICY

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FCPS ALUMNUS - STRONGLY SUPPORT


Protect Trans Kids!

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<p>As a 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. </p>


Oppose

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<p>Stop trying to take away the rights of trans children. </p>


I support parents rights.

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I’m in support of parents rights. It is not the school system job or responsibility to serve as parents. The school system has one job that is not being done well. Teaching basics and critical thinking. The schools have failed over and over again in recent years at their actual task and need to stay in their lane.


Support the Governor’s policy and parents should be informed and make decisions affecting their kids

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<p>These children are too young and should not be exposed to any trans info or anything sexual. Their innocence must be protected. Parents must be informed and only parents can help guide decisions thst affect an innocent child’s life. Governor Youngkin is doing the right thing with his new policy. </p>


Oppose bigotry and fearmongering!

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This is nothing more than bigotry and fearmongering false flag like teaching CRT in public schools...a politically motivated LIE!


So Opposed

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<p>I have been working in Fairfax and Arlington County Public Schools for the last 13 years as a substitute teacher.   I see first hand how important it is to support and empower transgender youth.   Please do not adopt any policies that will hold these young folks down and make them feel less than.  We are about lifting up and not holding back.  </p>


Support

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I support many of the things in this document.  It actually makes my job easier when parents know what is going on with their child.


Well done

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<p>Common sense. Thank you for following the science instead of trying to ignore science. </p>


Support transgender policy

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I strongly support the governor's proposed policy for transgender children!


Support of Governor Youngkins policy

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I strongly support Governor Youngkins policy


I oppose

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<p>I oppose Gov Youngkin’s proposed guidance. I am a teacher and a mother of 3 Cis gendered children, but I believe all children deserve to be taught in a safe and inclusive environment without fear of bullying or not being able to show their true and unique selves. I sadly choose to remain anonymous because in today’s political climate, I fear retribution and possible termination for political views that oppose those with power. </p>


Strongly Support

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I strongly support the document.  I read the whole thing and agree with it.


Protect trans kids

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The “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment” will never  happen if many of these kids (trans and non-binary students) are not protected. Give them the same rights and freedoms as other students!!!!


If you stand up to pee, get out of my daughter's bathroom

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<p>Stop allowing attention seeking individuals to act as if they are in a lawless society. </p>


Mental Health Support IS Trans Support

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<p>In a group with a >20% suicide attempt rate, supporting trans kids in their identity IS the mental health assistance you are saying they need. </p>


OPPOSE

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Protect the rights of trans kids to be who they are safely!


I strongly oppose

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The new transgender policy is highly discriminatory toward students about something they have no control over. Student should feel safe in their schools and not feel like they are being discriminated towards by teachers and administrators.


support parental rights

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Please take control away from perverted teacher's and give the control back to parents. Thank you.


Disagree

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<p>Youngkin’s new anti-trans policy is harmful towards students. Students should be able to express themselves as they choose, without pushback from the school they go to. Schools should not dictate the gender identities of its students. </p>


I oppose this policy

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Youngkin's Policy creates distrust between students and their teachers. Students should feel free to express themselves in their classroom instead of having to hide who they are. Teachers have been telling students to be themselves since Kindergarten, and when students finally feel comfortable expressing who they are it's seen as an attack on parent's rights.


OPPOSE

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Stop pretending to care, actually treat students with respect.


I Strongly Oppose

STAND (Student Association for Non-Discrimination)

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<p>I know numerous examples of trans students whose parents are transphobic who are only allowed to be themselves at school. Taking away that safety would hugely effect their mental health and damage their lives. No policy should hurt its citizens, especially children. </p>


Oppose

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This policy completely disregards how the actual students think while emphasizing the parents who are not affected by this nearly as much as their children. This isn’t helping but just make a more hostile environment in the schools.


NO!! OPPOSE!!!!!

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<p>What space do parents’ opinions have in school. School is filled with children, they should be free to express themselves among children. Your own gender constructs are the only “danger” being posed to trans kids. </p>


Oppose!

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I strongly oppose Governor Youngkin's plan for the treatment of transgender children in public schools. Though Youngkin claims to advocate for students' and parents' rights, the plan removes privacy from every aspect of a transgender student's life. This removal of privacy places students in danger, both harming their personal psychology and their relationship with possibly transphobic parents. Placing "parents' rights" over the rights of children is unacceptable, and the plan is harmful to all transgender students.


I support the Governor’s New school policy

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<p>I support Governor Younkins new school policy for informed parents </p>


OPPOSE!

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This policy infringes on the basic human rights of trans students, and sets a very dangerous precedent. I cannot stand for this policy, as a trans student myself, I have been harassed and assaulted in the hallways and I simply cannot do it.


Opposed!!!

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<p>This policy is EXTREMELY harmful to trans and non-binary kids. Many of my friends are trans and non-binary and I will not stand for this kind of hurt against them. They should be able to have the same rights as me. </p>


Strongly Oppose

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Many kids in schools that are trans feel threatened when they walk into a school building. Students should be welcomed into their community without feeling unwanted.


Schools should be a safe place for trans students

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I disagree with Governor Youngkin’s new anti-trans policy. Students should have control over their own gender identities, and be able to express themselves safely within their own schools. This includes using the bathroom of their choice.


Protect Trans Kids

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I don't know what the  is wrong with people like Youngkin, but they need to keep their damn mouth shut and climb back under their rock. You want to come for these kids, you're going to need to go through me - and you damn well ain't smart or hard enough to do that. Tick tock motherers - we see you.


I Oppose This Policy

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This policy hurts trans youth. The government is supposed to protect its citizens, and here it is taking away the one protection that trans minors have. No matter your political beliefs, children have the right to feel safe, whether or not their parents support their gender identity.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>1 in 5 Trans youth have attempted suicide. You don’t care about kids, you care about making sure everyone knows you disapprove of Trans people. If you’re reading this, you’re reading the comment of someone who is likely to join that fraction because of this policy and similar ideals. </p>


Oppose Youngkin's Outrageous Policy

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This policy is beyond ridiculous. As a trans student I feel this infringes on my basic human rights. Parental rights are utter nonsense, student rights are what really matters. This FOX News nonsense is ridiculous and I simply cannot abide it.


Keep males out of girl’s bathrooms

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There is never reason to allow males in girl’s bathrooms. Period. If you think otherwise, go see a doctor.


I STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>This legislation puts trans and LGBTQ kids in even more danger. Studies have shown that having a supportive and welcoming school environment reduces suicide risk by a considerable amount. These kids are already at high risk, we should be PROTECTING them, not pushing them further into danger. Just think about all the supporters of this legislation and their trans kids who are NOT SAFE AT HOME at least let them be safe at school. However, I guess if that was really the point here, guns wouldn't be the number one cause of death for kids in America so what are we even talking about? PROTECT TRANS YOUTH </p>


Penis vs. Vagina

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No longer use gender and pronoun words.  Instead use the anatomically correct terms.  If a person has a vagina, use the vagina bathroom/locker room and if a person has a penis, then use the penis bathroom/locker room.  School sports will be vagina tennis vs. penis tennis, etc.  As for removing pronouns, just always address each other by the person's proper name.  Today the schools always ask for a child's legal and preferred name anyway.  This solves all issues around this topic.


Oppose Youngkin’s INSANE policies regarding Trans youth

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<p>DO US ALL A FAVOR.., stop pushing your religious agenda on everyone. MANY folks in Virginia ARE NOT Christian. BODILY AUTONOMY IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. Trans kids are still KIDS. These proposed policy changes fly in the face of SCIENCE. </p>


Governor policy to change the transgender rules

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<p>I can say that we should not have involve this in the schools unless the parent has fully went through the changes to have their identity changed. From there I can understand but I still don’t agree with it. Let the children go to school to learn and why is it important to focus on their pronouns when they need to learn about education from their future. </p>


Fully support Governor Youngkin's policy

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Thank you, Governor, for recognizing the importance of protecting parents rights in making the right decisions for the upbringing and care of our children.

I find it alarming that so many people didn't recognize the dangers of the former policy encouraging children, with the help of school district personnel, to keep "secrets" from their parents.


Oppose

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My family opposes this policy. Children are not property.


I Strongly Approve of Gov. Youngkin's Transgender Policy Changes

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Governor Youngkin,

Our schools need to focus on their real job: education. Not indoctrination. Teachers in our schools have the responsibility to teach children the objective subjects of reading, writing, math, science, and history.  Parents have the responsibility to teach their own children their morals and their belief systems, not teachers. Parents have the ultimate authority over and the ultimate responsibility for their children's lives, not school administrators and teachers.

Thank you,

Dick and Connie Sylvester

4344669101


SUPPORT!!

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I completely support Governor Youngkin’s bill to protect our children and the rights of their parents!!  Thank you Gov Youngkin!!


Protect children from ultra left wing nut ideology

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The weirdos on the ultra left want to infiltrate our little girl’s bathrooms. That is insane. I support all legislation to protect kids from these whackos.


Support

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I support you governor. Thank you for protecting the most vulnerable people in our society.


Strongly support parental rights

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Parental rights are God’s given rights. Nobody should take them away. Thank you Governor Youngkin.


Get suicidal kids mental health not access to girl’s locker rooms

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<p>Let’s stop this narrative that we need to prevent suicide by letting these kids live without rules. Our society has boundaries. Don’t allow these kids access to our children’s bathrooms, locker rooms and showers. </p>


FULLY SUPPORT PARENTAL RIGHTS

FULLY SUPPORT PARENTAL RIGHTS - Ed McAdam

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The Department also fully acknowledges the rights of parents to exercise their fundamental rights granted by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children.  Succinctly stated.  As a parent I finally have some optimism in government.  Parents HAVE THE RIGHT to inform and develop educational standards for our children.  This right extends to the health and well being of our children. As a parent of minor children the right of there sexual expression/identity needs to involve the parent.  A minor child is not capable to make such a decision (changing sex at birth).  Parents HAVE THE RIGHT and RESPONSIBILITY for such a decision.  As a parent our children's well being is our responsibility. A child can not take an aspirin at school without parental/guardian consent.  Why is this decision any different.

This policy is right minded and fair.  Discrimination of any find is wrong and this policy addresses this concern.  Discrimination/usurping parental right IS ALSO WRONG and this policy takes the important step of putting responsibility back to parents!!!

Thank you.


Oppose!


Governor Youngkin policies

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I support Governor Youngkin and his policies


Oppose 2022 revision

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<p>I am a LCP in VA, working with children, adults, and families. I have worked with several children in recent years struggling with gender dysmorphia. Two of those children ended up in foster care after their parent was unsupportive of their condition. The 2021 guidelines helped kids and families tremendously; I urge the Dept to maintain the 2021 guidelines. </p>


This 8th grader supports keeping boys out of my locker room

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<p>I support a place where I can use the bathroom and shower in the locker room without boys looking at me. </p>


Strongly oppose

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As both a parent and a teacher, I'm strongly opposed to the proposed 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools.

Of course parents play a vital role in the upbringing of their children, but children also have rights of their own that need to be respected. Ideally, a child's parents will be supportive and respectful of their child's feelings, beliefs, and wishes, particularly in regard to how the child understands their own identity or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In such instances, a child may need to seek support and understanding elsewhere. Support, understanding, and respect are particularly crucial in a learning environment. Therefore, a student must be given the opportunity to talk freely and without discrimination to their teachers, friends, and other school staff who can help create an environment in which this student feels safe and accepted, without key aspects of their personhood being questioned or even aggressively denied.

The 2021 Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools do say, "school staff should work with students to help them share the information with their family when they are ready to do so." In no way do the 2021 policies encourage school staff to exclude parents or families, but instead to do so when the child wants to. This should absolutely be done on the child's terms -- when they feel safe and emotionally ready to bring up a potentially sensitive, potentially charged subject with their family. It is incredibly important to protect the child's right to feel safe.

School needs to be a safe space, period. But it is even more important for school to be a safe space when a child’s home environment is not. If a child doesn’t feel comfortable or safe (emotionally or physically) to express their ideas and beliefs at home, they need to be able to do so somewhere, with a trusted adult who can hopefully support the child to safely discuss the matter with their family when the child feels ready.

All of this talk of "indoctrination" is absurd. So, too, is the assertion that asking people to call a person by their preferred name and pronouns somehow violates people's religious freedom or freedom of speech.

These new guidelines ignore the rights and dignity of transgender and nonbinary kids in the name of parental “control,” a word used repeatedly throughout the 2022 model policies document. I should hope that no parent would feel the need to “control” their child’s sense of self, and that all parents would respect their child’s understanding of their own identity — but when that is not the case, children may need help finding acceptance and emotional support in school, which the 2021 model policies lay the groundwork for. Our children deserve empathy and respect, not misguided and sometimes cruel attempts at control.


Democrats are crazy

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I agree with the governor Youngkin his LGBTQIA’s stuff with kids is child abuse and two lgbtq people who are so called married should not be allowed o adopt period!!!!


Oppose

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<p>I oppose this on many levels, mainly because you’re attempting to eradicate an individual’s identity. They’re here. We’re here. </p>


APPROVE-I support a biological girl’s right to privacy.

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<p>I support a biological girl’s right to privacy over a biological boys desire to be viewed as a girl. Governor Youngkin has my support. </p>


New transgender guidance

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The proposed guidance would harm transgender students, so I vehemently oppose it. The current guidance harms no one. Parents could sign a form stating they don't want their child to be referred to in any other way than congruent the sex assigned at birth. This new proposal asserts an opinion that transgender is wrong, rather than putting that responsibility on on the parents.


FULL SUPPORT HERE

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People like Hannah Grooms that want to allow biological males into girl bathrooms is a clear example of why this policy MUST be enforced.  I wonder how she would feel if her daughter were victimized as a result of such a horrible decision.  Absolutely shameful.


BEST DECISION EVER

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<p>Thank you Governor for this brilliant move!  Ignore all the dumb comments by haters who say it's done for politics.  </p>


Absolutely furious-strongly opposed!

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As a career educator in Virginia’s public schools and the parent of a transgender child, I strongly oppose the model policies put forth by Virginia’s Governor. These policies are dangerous to trasgender students and need to be retracted immediately.

The model policies mention the need for school communities to show “compassion and respect for all students” and to create a “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students”. However, the document outlines actions that blatantly disrespect transgender students, and this will create a negative, unsafe environment for transgender students in at least three ways:

Allowing staff and students to misgender and misname students because of religious beliefs is traumatizing for transgender students. This act says to a student, “I don’t believe you, and I don’t value who you are.” It also draws negative attention to transgender students, making them easy targets for bullying by others.

Serving in our schools is a public service. If a staff member is unable to show a most basic level of respect by using a child’s correct name and pronouns, then the staff member should seek employment in a private sector where this form of discrimination is tolerated.

Requiring schools to out transgender students to their parents will put students at risk. For some students, including many of my child’s friends, school is one of the only places where they are able to be their true selves. Thankfully, my son and his friends have found caring adults at school who listen and support him in a way that I am sometimes not able to as a parent.  Forcing adults to out students to their families will expose some students to abuse at home, or even homelessness. Furthermore, it will deter teachers and other school professionals from supporting transgender students out of fear of negative consequences under the new restrictive policies.

Prohibiting students from using the bathroom that matches their gender is unnecessary and discriminatory. This requirement puts transgender students at risk for violence and bullying. Imagine, for example, the experience of a transgender girl under the model policies: existing and presenting as a young woman but expected to use the boys’ bathroom. Inclusive policies, such as allowing students to use the appropriate facilities, are key to creating a “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students”.

Two additional comments:

The authors of the model policies attempt to completely erase the existence of nonbinary students by not mentioning them at all. Despite your failure to mention nonbinary students, they can be found at every level in Virginia schools, and they deserve respect and compassion as much as anyone else.

These policies claim to be “evidence-based best practices”, however the “evidence” cited fails to mention best practices for educating LGBTQ+ students as a special population. The resources referenced focus on the importance of parent engagement in schools and strategies for stopping bullying, both of which are widely accepted and valued. But where is your evidence to support your position that it is best practice to misgender students, out them to unsupportive families, and deny them access to appropriate facilities? I’d encourage the model policy authors to dig a little deeper into the CDC website (which you cite) to read the following:

“Schools can help address the adolescent mental health crisis by implementing policies and practices that support LGBTQ youth. CDC research shows that inclusive practices benefit LGBTQ students and heterosexual students, with heterosexual students seeing greater benefit in some risk categories. The reverse is also true. Restrictive LGBTQ policies and practices negatively impact heterosexual students as well.”

In conclusion, our students deserve better. These not-at-all model policies that have been presented are dangerous for transgender students and a step backwards for our Commonwealth. I call on Governor Youngkin to retract these policies and work constructively with educators, parents, and students to truly create a “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students” in every Virginia public school.

I am furious that this is being proposed and hope and pray that the Governor sees how wrong and hurtful this is to so many students

Tracy Proffitt


SUPPORTING THE PARENTS!

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Any approach to teaching must first identify the purpose of its existence. I support the new guidance because it reminds us to focus on the schools system’s role in helping parents teach their children. If schools don’t realize their ultimate role of being a resource to parents, then their only alternative is to be the parent. This would apply far too much pressure on a school system that is not built for this kind assignment. Parents are parents. Schools are schools. If our society gets these two confused, I have little hope for proper academic achievement moving forward.


Strongly oppose!

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I strongly oppose this new proposed bill banning transgender students from using the restroom they feel most comfortable. SHAME ON YOU, Governor. This would worsen depression rates among trans children and teenagers  increase thoughts of suicide/suicide attempts.

It couldn’t be more clear that you don’t care about students. Shame on you.


Strongly oppose

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Thousands of trans folks remain closeted due to fear of exile, abuse, or fatal interactions with their communities, families, and peers--and even moreso for youth who cannot escape these circumstances. Forcing the counselors to divulge private information may very well be endangering the lives and livelihoods of your children. Give your community the tools by which to make rational, informed decisions and to treat others with compassion.


Strongly support

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Thank you Gov. Youngkin


Strongly oppose. Shame on you Glenn Youngkin.

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Shame on you Glenn Youngkin for trying to use the most vulnerable students in the education system for your own political gain. Shame, shame shame. I am absolutely shocked and appalled that you would stoop so low. You know the damage you are causing. If this proposal passes, there will be the blood of children on your hands, and I hope that guilt will stay with you for the rest of your life.


Strongly oppose

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Oppose Anti-Trans and Anti-Freedom Policies

I strongly oppose these harmful policies. While they are presented as protecting freedom of religion, respect, and parents' rights, they fly in the face of all of these.

They do not respect my rights as a parent to have my children in a safe and respectful environment. They allow teachers and administrators' to misgender children even if a parent has requested the change, but do not allow a teacher who believes otherwise to use a students' requested name or pronouns. They create a harmful environment for non-gender conforming individuals, who are already at increased risk of bullying, self-harm, depression, and suicide.

As a parent, I want to know my children and others are in a safe environment, and that they will learn to treat others with respect and safety. I strongly oppose this discriminatory and harmful policy.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Wittner

mother of 3


Strongly Oppose:

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If a trans child has not come out to their parents, it may not be safe for them to do so. Requiring schools to out kids is obviously not going to "improve outcomes for children"


Oppose, and someone please save the poor children from this family

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I used to be the Stevicks family's guardian angel until I discovered how hateful and vile the parents' hearts are. Because hatred and discrimination go directly against God's teachings, I was forced to stop guarding them. However, I'm incredibly saddened to see how they're spreading their vile beliefs to their impressionable kids. I hope they do not go down the same path of their black hearted parents.

Also, the policy has nothing to do with sexual reassignment surgery or "genital mutilation" as the parent put it. So either they didn't read the actual policy or they have the mental capacity of a 6 year old, or perhaps both. Also what the hell are they even talking about with dilating boys lol what a weirdo


Support is common sense to protect ALL minors

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I support these changes because I was a tomboy through and through who would have jumped at the chance to be a boy.. but grew out of it as I developed and my brain matured. I can only imagine how my psyche would have been affected by something like that so young. Yes, intersex people exist, but THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERSEX. They are driven by their emotions and conditional happiness. Parents should be able to protect the vulnerable minds of their children.


All children must be protected, but trans children especially need our protection

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Being trans increases the likelihood of depression, suicide, violence or death by violence. Frequently trans or non binary children are not “out” at home because it’s not a safe place for them to be out. Forcing teachers or counselors to out children to parents who would reject or even harm their child is cruel. It is not in the Commonwealth’s interest to harm anyone, especially children, by infringing on their right to self determination and privacy, whether they have reached the age of majority or not.

This policy is pandering and cynical. Leave these decisions of who to tell or even whether to discuss the issue up to professionals. Political pandering doesn’t make good educational policy. Educational best practices do. This ain’t it.


Strongly Against the Governor’s Egregious Transgender Policy Change

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Governor Youngkin’s stated policy change will harm and likrly kill children.  Additionally, the governor’s proposed change in policy violates the spirit and perhaps the letter of the law.  Please stop trying to harm transgender children.  The proposed policy changes willfully ignores and flies in the face of the super abundance of medical and psychological research on trans kids, both binary and non-binary.  The proposed policy changes seem the product of bigotry, ignorance, and cynical politics.  Those sponsoring this policy change should be ashamed of themselves.


STRONGLY OPPOSE; Stop pretending to care about the children.

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You will be directly responsible for the deaths of trans children. Not only are you exposing them when they might not be ready to come out, but you are putting them in unnecessary danger.

Trans kids will be killed via suicide from this. They will die via homicide because not all parents are welcoming and a violent. And they will die to the elements when parents kick them out for being trans.

And rest assured, you WILL have their blood on your hands if you implement this policy. You WILL be responsible for the loss of living, breathing, LOVING people.

I advise you not even entertain the notion of putting this into policy.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

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It doesn't get any simpler than science.  You are born either a male or female, end of story.  For those that pursue a different lifestyle, that is their choice but we should not force everyone else to accommodate and also believe that it's normal.  We've already seen the major risks of allowing trans students access to girls' bathrooms.


This policy puts Teachers in the crosshairs.  OPPOSE

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We oppose the Youngkin proposed policy

The new policy fails because it:

Betrays trust between educator and student

Forces faculty to mis-gender and deadname students

Forces faculty to out students against their will

Denys a student accesses to facilities and activities appropriate to their gender.

Adds barriers to parents seeking to have their student's identity respected.


Strongly support

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<p>Thank you for supporting parents </p>


Transgender rights

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I strongly oppose Gov Youngkin’s proposed changes to the rights of transgender students.


STRONGLY SUPPORT GOV YOUNKIN...PARENTS RIGHTS FOREVER!!!

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STRONGLY SUPPORT GOV. YOUNKIN...PARENTS RIGHTS FOREVER


Strongly Oppose

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As a career educator in Virginia’s public schools and the parent of a transgender child, I strongly oppose the model policies put forth by Virginia’s Governor. These policies are dangerous to transgender students and need to be retracted immediately.

The model policies mention the need for school communities to show “compassion and respect for all students” and to create a “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students”. However, the document outlines actions that blatantly disrespect transgender students, and this will create a negative, unsafe environment for transgender students in at least three ways:

1. Allowing staff and students to misgender and misname students because of religious beliefs is traumatizing for transgender students. This act says to a student, “I don’t believe you, and I don’t value who you are.” It also draws negative attention to transgender students, making them easy targets for bullying by others.

Serving in our schools is a public service. If a staff member is unable to show a most basic level of respect by using a child’s correct name and pronouns, then the staff member should seek employment in a private sector where this form of discrimination is tolerated.

2. Requiring schools to out transgender students to their parents will put students at risk. For some students, including many of my child’s friends, school is one of the only places where they are able to be their true selves. Thankfully, my son and his friends have found caring adults at school who listen and support him in a way that I am sometimes not able to as a parent.  Forcing adults to out students to their families will expose some students to abuse at home, or even homelessness. Furthermore, it will deter teachers and other school professionals from supporting transgender students out of fear of negative consequences under the new restrictive policies.

3. Prohibiting students from using the bathroom that matches their gender is unnecessary and discriminatory. This requirement puts transgender students at risk for violence and bullying. Imagine, for example, the experience of a transgender girl under the model policies: existing and presenting as a young woman but expected to use the boys’ bathroom. Inclusive policies, such as allowing students to use the appropriate facilities, are key to creating a “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students”.

Two additional comments:

The authors of the model policies attempt to completely erase the existence of nonbinary students by not mentioning them at all. Despite your failure to mention nonbinary students, they can be found at every level in Virginia schools, and they deserve respect and compassion as much as anyone else.

These policies claim to be “evidence-based best practices”, however the “evidence” cited fails to mention best practices for educating LGBTQ+ students as a special population. The resources referenced focus on the importance of parent engagement in schools and strategies for stopping bullying, both of which are widely accepted and valued. But where is your evidence to support your position that it is best practice to misgender students, out them to unsupportive families, and deny them access to appropriate facilities? I’d encourage the model policy authors to dig a little deeper into the CDC website (which you cite) to read the following:

“Schools can help address the adolescent mental health crisis by implementing policies and practices that support LGBTQ youth. CDC research shows that inclusive practices benefit LGBTQ students and heterosexual students, with heterosexual students seeing greater benefit in some risk categories. The reverse is also true. Restrictive LGBTQ policies and practices negatively impact heterosexual students as well.”

In conclusion, our students deserve better. These not-at-all model policies that have been presented are dangerous for transgender students and a step backwards for our Commonwealth. I call on Governor Youngkin to retract these policies and work constructively with educators, parents, and students to truly create a “positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students” in every Virginia public school.


Oppose Anti-Trans and Anti-Freedom Policies

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I strongly oppose these harmful policies. While they are presented as protecting freedom of religion, respect, and parents' rights, they fly in the face of all of these.

They do not respect my rights as a parent to have my children in a safe and respectful environment. They allow teachers and administrators' to misgender children even if a parent has requested the change, but do not allow a teacher who believes otherwise to use a students' requested name or pronouns. They create a harmful environment for non-gender conforming individuals, who are already at increased risk of bullying, self-harm, depression, and suicide.

As a parent, I want to know my children and others are in a safe environment, and that they will learn to treat others with respect and safety. I strongly oppose this discriminatory and harmful policy.

Sincerely,

Marisa Vertrees

parent of 3 ages 6, 9 and 11


Oppose

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<p>This new policy is written by people who have no respect for transgendered students.  By singling out transgendered students to require support of both parents to request the gender identification, name, and pronouns appropriate for the mental health of the student, this policy provides every opportunity for one or both parents to resist the student’s sincerely held truth about themselves. This policy also provides ample opportunity for parental bullying, or ‘encouraging’ the student to hide their true identity until they are safe from their parents who do not have their child’s best interests in mind. This policy will lead to mental harm, and quite likely, physical harm as well, all in the interest of pushing a dangerous agenda of thinking that parents know best for their children.  </p>


Transgender policies

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As a MS teacher I strongly oppose Gov Youngkin’s proposed changes to transgender policies.


Failed Policies

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We witnessed the terrible result of transgender policy in the Loudoun school district. A male student identifying as female raped one girl. This incident was hidden from her parents and the public. The offending student was transferred to another school, where he committed the same heinous crime on another student. The solution was to have the first girl's father arrested. Governor Youngkin's policies make sense to protect our students.


This is not about parental rights.

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I believe our most vulnerable students are being used for political gain by this proposal. If one of these students has found a sympathetic teacher, please give that teacher credit for using his/her best judgment as to whether to involve the parents. I had a student who tried to commit suicide rather than have his parents know he was homosexual. Please think first about protecting our children!


STRONGLY Oppose

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This policy change will accomplish nothing but to bring harm to an already vulnerable population of children who already face persecution for attempting to assert the simple truth of their own identities. This policy accomplishes nothing except to allow the governor to score political points at the expense of the welfare and lives of many very real citizens of Virginia. Support EVERY Virginian's right to identify however they wish, oppose Youngkin's politically motivated policy changes.


I oppose this policy!

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<p>My comment refers to proposed changes to treating transgender students in VA public schools- restrictions to bathrooms and using names & pronouns other than what they have requested. </p>


Support!

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I am in full support of Gov. Youngkin's revised policies.  Parents have the right to know what is going on with their children at school regarding education, discipline, and especially regarding their child's physical well-being.


OPPOSE!!

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I live in VA and I STRONGLY oppose this policy! These are children we’re talking about - they should be treated with care and respect. I can’t believe people actually support Youngkin.


I oppose this bigoted and hateful policy

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<p>My family and I oppose Governor Youngkin’s bigoted and hateful anti-trans children policy. </p>


Support!


YES ! Support


Parents' rights were never in question

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If you're saying you want to be involved in every step of your child's transition, including medically, that means you support them, and they are already out to you. I encourage you to get your head out of your butt hole and think about families who would mutilate their child far worse than any gender-affirming surgery.


Support new policy

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<p>Parents are responsible for their children, not the state or education system. Children lack legal capacity until age 18. Serious mental health issues should be addressed by parents. The previous policy assumed no parent acts in the best interest of their child. I strongly support the common-sense approach of the new policy. Let families support and guide their children until they are adults. </p>


Support new policy


VEHEMENTLY SUPPORT!

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Fire all school board members who oppose!


Oppose !!

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Forcing kids to be out at home, which could potentially be dangerous.

If they are out at school, assuming legal documents are taken care of (which is a ridiculous requirement in its own right), does not mean that other kids are forced at school to do anything they wouldn't do if the trans student were cis. Teachers aren't giving lectures about trans people and no one is forcing anyone to be trans. Merely exposing cisgender kids to this will not make them trans, which follows the logic that exposing trans kids to cis people won't make them cis. Allowing kids to be themselves just means that people who want to respect them can, and people who don't just suck.


Don’t support!

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<p>I agree with Youngkins Policy! </p>


OPPOSE

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Sometimes I wonder how you people sleep at night. Trans folks aren't hurting anyone but this policy sure as hell is.


Oppose: Youngkin Only Wants to Run for President

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Youngkin appealed to Virginia voters, who are overwhelming moderate, by pretending to be a moderate Republican. But there are few examples of these anymore, and this is just an attempt to appeal to the MAGA base because he knows he can’t run for consecutive terms.
This was not a problem to be fixed. It’s just a distraction. It’s a shame we didn’t elect someone like Abigail Spanberger, who actually focuses on things that affect most Virginians’ lives. Don’t think suburban women don’t see through you, Governor.


Total agreement  with Gov Younkins policies

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<p>• 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.</p>


Oppose

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<p>The proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids. Protect trans and nonbinary kids. RESCIND these model policies. </p>


Children will die

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This policy will increase both suicide and homicide of children. Or death by exposure when their parents kick them out on the streets. And sexual trafficking while they are living in the streets. This is vile. You don't actually care about children and stop pretending that you do.


trans kids deserve compassion and respect, not bigotry!

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<p>This policy is absolutely hateful and abhorrent.  Leave these poor students alone and let them be who they are, and provide safety and compassion in schools. Schools should be safe and caring for all students. DO NOT force schools to misgender and degrade students daily. </p>


this is oppression.

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<p>this is oppression. as a queer member of virginia i strongly oppose. </p>


Stevik Family is opposed to this policy

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We strongly oppose this policy and support transgender youth.


As a parent and a teacher, I oppose this cruel policy.

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<p>I've been a teacher for over 15 years.  I've taught trans kids, cisgender kids, and nonbinary kids.  It's not hard to meet them where they are; kids are just kids.  My elementary-age son has two trans friends at his school.  They're just kids.  Kids who are trying to be themselves, like anybody.  Trans people don't want to convert you.  They don't want to bother you.  They just want to be seen as the people they are, rather than the mismatched bodies they're in.  Kids -- especially since the pandemic -- are just so vulnerable.  Trans kids are especially at risk of suicide and depression, when they are told they are wrong and bad.  Why be cruel to young people?  Do we not want them to grow into respectful citizens?  Then show them respect.  Let this tiny, tiny percentage of humans grow into themselves without harassment.  As a teacher, I can say from experience that it's better for everyone in the classroom when kids can be themselves. </p>


We oppose trans gender affirmation. My daughters understand and your sons can keep dilating.

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<p>Trans gender affirmation is destructive. Its body mutilation. The Frankenstein surgeons preforming those procedures need to be locked up in prison. "Do no harm" my ass. Keep dilating fellas, you will never be a women. </p>


Vance Wilkins is wrong

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Do you think kids hit the public showers anymore after a sporting event?


Oppose

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<p>Trans students aren’t a danger to others. Their existence doesn’t limit the freedom or privacy of their peers. The government should focus on putting forward protections for this vulnerable population instead of blocking trans-inclusivity through policies like these. Go back to the old guidance.  </p>


Support New Policy - Transgenderism is a Hoax

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The governor made the correct policy.  No one is born transgender and the medical community has confirmed 90% of sexually confused children grow out of it by adulthood.

It is biologically impossible to change human sexes, as human DNA is ingrained within each human cell that permanently denotes the human sex assigned soon after conception.  And there are only two human sexes, permanent and non-changeable.

Giving children dangerous and deadly drugs, giving them unnecessary and harmful surgeries, sterilizing them, and lying to them about biology is cruel, barbaric, inhumane, and child abuse.

And pushing children into permanent high suicidal risk groups associated with transgenderism, as well as the high self imposed injury and death rate from gender dysphoria, is likewise cruel, hateful, unjust, diabolic, and evil.

The entire movement is a medical hoax that not just harms sexually confused patients, but also the public that is negatively impacted and harmed by men in female sports, rapists and perverts gaining easier access to vulnerable women in private places like bathrooms and lockerrooms, weakened military forced to accommodate mentally ill delusions instead of successful missions, and medical professionals told to lie about biology and science.

People should be outraged at the hoax and child abuse perpetuated by activists, who do not care for the children one bit.


My family is Opposed

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Love not hate. Furious Father is furious with this


I support Gov. Younkin’s transgender policy changes

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I Strongly Approve of Gov. Youngkin's Transgender Policy Changes

Our publicly funded schools need to focus on the primary job of educating children. Not indoctrination. The primary responsibility of public school teachers is to teach children the objective subjects of reading, writing, math, science, and history so that they have a knowledge base to be an “informed electorate.” Parents have the responsibility to teach their children their morals and their belief systems, not public school teachers. Parents have the ultimate authority over and the ultimate responsibility for their children's lives, not school administrators and teachers.

Children who are too young to legally drive or vote or consume alcohol or even receive Tylenol at school without parental permission are also too young to make irrevocable choices which will mutilate their bodies and/or chemically castrate themselves. Teachers have no business introducing children to topics of homosexuality, transgender sexuality. Teachers are paid to teach children how to think, not what to think.

Gov. Youngkin's policy is a good first step in preserving parental rights over the upbringing of their children.


Strongly approve of Youngkin & his policy

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Girls go in girl bathrooms & boys go in boy bathrooms. The education process needs to include the parents.


Jesus loves trans kids too if he made them he loves them

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An alive child is more important than your unsubstantiated fears and feelings.


Firmly Oppose

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Definitions:

cisgender: Adjective, the counterpart of transgender. Referring to a person whose true gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

nonbinary: Adjective. Referring to a person whose gender is neither fully male nor fully female.

transgender student: A student who knows their gender to not match the sex they were assigned at birth, regardless of whether that student's parent(s) recognize their true gender. "Trans" is short for transgender.

Myself:

I am a homeschooled trans student. I attend a Virginia Community College and I'm taking a class at a local university. These guidelines terrify me. They won't directly impact me, and yet my heart is pounding as I write this, because they will directly impact people I know, and will encourage the kind of anti-trans sentiment that is already expressed all around me. Lawmakers keep going back and forth on our lives. We aren't pawns in your political game, we're people.

My message for parents and lawmakers:

First, the proposed document either A) assumes that parents have their children's best interests at heart, or B) knows that some parents don't have their children's best interests at heart and doesn't care. The physical and mental wellbeing of transgender students does not matter to anyone who supports this document. I look at many of the comments here and feel fear: fear that few care to listen or research, that few are able to consider anyone's interests but their one, and that few consider me or my transgender peers as human or equal to my cisgender peers.

Additionally, parents' wishes cannot be generalized. The parents of openly transgender students will hopefully want their children to be able go use the bathroom when they need to, have teachers and refer classmates refer to them accurately, and generally have the same rights and privileges as their cisgender peers. Parents---either of cisgender or transgender children---who do not understand that transgender students are also humans may not care about our wellbeing, or may hold misguided views about our natures (for example, that transfeminine students and trans girls are sexual predators. They, and transgender people as a whole, are statistically far more likely to experience sexual violence than to perpetrate it). By asking for parental consent for things given freely to cisgender children, such as the ability to be called by nicknames or the correct pronouns, this document will harm every transgender student. Trans students whose families aren't accepting will be hurt in ways that lawmakers cannot begin to imagine or predict. The lucky trans students whose families are accepting will have to go through the humiliation of asking for the treatment their cis peers get by default.

Interestingly, this document makes no mention of nonbinary trans students. I am not even sure how school officials would apply these guidelines to transgender students who are not fully male nor fully female. What sports teams could we play on? Which bathrooms would we be able to use? This lack of clarification leads to dangerous ambiguity. When procedures for nonbinary students are not outlined, we are at the whim of school officials, who have no assistance from this document and frequently little knowledge of transgender people.

Finally, and please hear me: there is no way to implement these guidelines in a way that respects every student. These guidelines will harm every transgender student in Virginia public schools. Under these guidelines, while literally petitioning for any right, such as the ability to use the correct bathrooms or play on the correct teams, transgender students will suffer enormously. Our parents, accepting or otherwise, are not the authority on our genders. We are. Cisgender adults, our lawmakers, our parents, let me ask you: do you not know, as a fact of life, that you are a man or a woman? We, too, have that deep-seated knowledge. School officials cannot treat us with compassion without acknowledging our humanity, our ability to know our own genders, and our right to the same necessities afforded to cisgender students.

My message for people who are commenting that they support these guidelines:

Please, consider these questions:

What are the problems that you hope these guidelines will solve? Can you produce a specific example, from a Virginia public school,  of one of those problems? To those whose message was simply 'Thank you' or some variation, what are you thanking Youngkin for?

Have you read the entire document?

Do you know a transgender person personally?

Do you genuinely believe that transgender people can be treated with basic decency under these guidelines? How and why?

What about any of this has to do with medical treatment? Where did you get the idea that teachers might diagnose gender dysphoria? (To be clear, they can't.)

For one specific anonymous commenter: What on Earth is 'transgender sexuality'?

Bonus fun fact: 'transgenderism' isn't a word!

One last note for those in support: your comments suck. I'm not even talking about the values you hold. I'm a high school student and these are my community's rights we're discussing, and I'm doing just fine. Consider thinking a bit, and making a comment that isn't just a half-hearted regurgitation of a conservative rallying cry: this isn't about left vs. right, it's about students' rights. Consider taking more than half a second to A) make a political call on a document you haven't read and B) argue in favor of that document with a few sentences with the most despicable grammar I've ever seen. At least pretend to make an effort.


What a misguided proposal

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I am strongly opposed to this revised policy.  Our Governor Youngkin does not seem to really understand the dynamics in schools these days.  Parents should have a say in their child’s education, but this change in policy will lead to future targeting of a group of students who need all the support they can get especially if they are not getting the support at home.   Transgender kids (just as gay, lesbian, and bisexual kids) don't decide they want to become different, it is biologically pre-determined i.e. not something over which humans have control.  To make them reveal their "secret"  to parents when they are not ready to, will destroy the  trust they have in their schools, teachers and the government and increase their their stress.    Being transgender is not inherently a significant risk to their health.  Physicians are not required to reveal certain issues such as sexual activity, pregnancy, etc. without the minor's consent so why should a teacher or school reveal this information without the child's consent for disclosure.

Just imagine you are transgender and live in a culture where that is the norm, and since you are not transgender everyone looks at you differently and ostracizes you and pushes you to change to conform to the norm.  That is how these students must feel.

Please don't force them to proverbially "wear a sign on their back" declaring  their sexual preferences  (it would be similar to what a politician running for re-election in November is proposing to do to have all kids with HIV be identifiable to all others).   Targeting a child would increase  the chances that the child would  be marginalized and bullied by other classmates and possibly school staff.

Please focus your energies on supporting these kids which would more likely result in more  healthy outcomes, not continuing to stir up controversy where it shouldn’t or doesn’t exist.


Strongly Support Proposal

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<p>Strongly support the Governor’s proposal. Gender is given to you at birth. </p>


Firmly oppose

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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.

Requiring parental permission to address children by their chosen name and pronouns puts the lives of trans kids unnecessarily at risk. I FIRMLY oppose this proposed policy.