Oppose hateful DOE proposed policy

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<p>As the mom of a gay child and a long time PFLAG facilitator and founder of the first LGBTQ PFLAG youth group in Northern Virginia, I hate to see the progress Virginia made in the past few years undone by this hateful, destructive, transphobic policy. Don't go back! Keep moving forward. I've seen first-hand how protections help trans students grow into the authentic people they are meant to be. Everyone has the right to live as their authentic and true selves. </p>


Oppose: exposes kids to abuse and is not based in science/medicine/research

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As a teacher, the changes to remove protections for kids who identify as trans is frightening. These decisions are being driven by a small, vocal minority of religious extremists, and are not based on scientific or medical research. The misquotes from the DSM demonstrate that the writers of this proposed policy have zero understanding of what it means to be transgendered. "It is important to note,” DSM-5 states, “that gender nonconformity is not in itself a mental disorder. The critical element of gender dysphoria is the presence of clinically significant distress associated with the condition." That distress is almost always caused by PARENTS and the religious communities they associate with. When a kid confides to a trusted school staff member, it is because they CAN'T be themselves at home. And when a trusted staff member betrays that trust, the child is more likely to experience verbal and physical abuse, recrimination, and psychological damage from the parents. Thousands of trans adults have testified to this over the years. Why would a government want to cause more damage to children by removing protections put in place because the evidence that they were necessary was so strong??

This policy has no support from the mental health or medical communities. It has no support from peer-reviewed research. It has no support from the educational community. It has no support from the vast majority of Virginia voters. It is religious hysteria wrapped in a cloak of fake concern.


I strongly oppose

Trans and nonbinary children will be harmed irreparably if this policy goes into effect. It is hateful and dangerous.Using children's wellbeing to score political points is disgustingly immoral.

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Trans and nonbinary children will be harmed irreparably if this policy goes into effect. It is hateful and dangerous.

Using children's wellbeing to score political points is disgustingly immoral.


Fully support a return to common sense

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Thank you, Governor Youngkin, for re-introducing common sense back into our school  systems with this policy! It is a horrid and evil thing to influence a child into gender confusion - and worse body mutilation. And yes, that is exactly what IS happening in our schools by our teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators who choose to be activists. Parents absolutely have the right to know what’s being fed into their child’s mind, especially when it falls outside of the parameters of the core subjects and curriculum.

And for those who would argue this is an attack on trans kids, it is abundantly evident the bullying has come from the supporters and practitioners of transitioning towards those who oppose it. This policy will help to protect EVERYONE’S rights instead of hoisting up only the rights of a select group within our schools (and by extension, our society).

Hopefully, this policy is part of a larger effort to bring back merit-based academics which will help our children focus on their goals and abilities (which raises self-esteem and lowers risk of suicide), not their “identities”.


Support involvement of parents or guardians in critical areas of youth's lives

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I am a parent whose child is trans-identified. I love and support this child and want only the best for them.  My child was struggling before and intensely more during COVID, by isolation, self-consciousness, unhappiness with social pressures.  COVID forced tremendous time online which we learned included intense rumination on forums pushing children and teens to label themselves as a sexual minority or the opposite sex (or both), videos celebrating surgical/hormone transitions, etc.  My child was a member of the school "GSA" and we supported that as they identified first as bisexual then as homosexual. Later we learned that my child was socially transitioned as the opposite sex just turning 14 and no notice to us despite at that point years of open and good involvement with the school social work team and teachers regarding our child's struggles which included significantly self-harm!  By the time our child did discuss this with us, first having been totally reinforced, celebrated and "baked" into a view by the school's "affirmation" behind our back, it was very hard for us to engage with our child as to why they now, suddenly, identified in this way, why, suddently, their focus was hatred of their body and self (when they identified as bisexual and homosexual that was not the case).  The school meanwhile is not supporting our child's whole needs, we are.  We support parent involvement and notice of major life choices which may indicate depression, unmet needs of mental health, a history of trauma, and more.  Guidance involvement of parents and guardians is necessary because children and teens "social transition" is not a simple step but a powerful psychological immersion and experience.  Parents and guardians must know.  Only if there is actual evidence of abuse or neglect ought a school involve child protection - policies which socially transition children and teens without family knowledge assume the worst of parents, pit the child against the parent, and reinforce to children regardless that their parents are caring and concerned, that they are "unsafe" (and that by contrast the school system can and will provide for their mental and health needs!).  These messages are harmful to the children and family.  Children exploring gender need the notice to parents who can then understand and explore this with the child, not be kept in the dark - especially given so many children like mine come to this new identity after periods of bullying, time online, lonelyness, perhaps struggling with homophobia, etc.


Fantasy

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<p>Why does the government waste money on these fantasy people </p>


Stop hurting Trans kids

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<p>Bad parents hurt trans children all the time. This proposal puts kids in danger. Don’t you want to protect kids, especially in school? The land of the free can’t stand children learning about opposing viewpoints? Doesn’t sound free to me. Please try and learn from the people most affected by this. </p>


Strongly opposed

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This is another ridiculous effort to groom our kids.

if your born with a penis

Your a male

Born with a vagina

A female

There is NO in-between!

Dems are slowly trying to destroy America.


Fully support a return to common sense


Strong opposition to this horrific bill

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<p>These children are being used as political props. The government of Virginia wakes up and bullies children with these bills designed to make their lives less safe and more miserable. What kind of adult would do this? What kind of human being would seek to harass innocent kids in this way? It’s unconscionable. Trans kids don’t harm anyone, and they are not harming themselves by seeking to express their identities. Furthermore, as a teacher, the government has no right to tell me I can’t respect the basic wishes of my students. This is state overreach at its most disgusting. </p>


Strongly Oppose Transphobic Policies

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I strongly oppose the 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity and Respect For All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools.  These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids.  A majority of Virginians in polling consider these proposed policies to be transphobic in nature.  As a parent of three children I love each of them no matter how they express themselves or choose not to share with me.

I intend to attend my local school board meeting and speak publicly concerning our views.  Please listen to our voices and let elected officials know we are paying attention to what is going on.  Thank you, Frank Whorton


ADAMANTLY OPPOSE

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Bodily autonomy is a human right. This proposal is an encroachment on young peoples safety and many people’s cultural and foundational beliefs. Our trans children deserve our support and resources to help them lead happy lives in the bodies they want to be in.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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This guidance greatly reduces the abilities of school faculty and staff to support trans youth with unsupportive parents. Trans rights are human rights. This guidance would be unfathomably cruel to gay, lesbian, or bisexual students, and it is just so cruel to trans students. They are not the property of their parents. They are people with free will to express themselves however they choose. This guidance silences them and their allies.


Thank You for standing up for parents, Governor Youngkin!

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Thank you Governor Youngkin!


OPPOSE, protect LGBTQIA+ kids

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protecting our most vulnerable children is the most important job parents, teachers, adults and our government can do. OPPOSE


Believe our trans kids!

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We didn't believe our gay kids. We called them confused. We blamed them and their parents. We were wrong. Now we need to believe our trans kids and not blame them or their parents for who they say they are. These proposed policies do the opposite. They stigmatize trans kids and put them at risk for more bullying and stress. Trans kids need our support, just like our gay kids did and still do!


Strongly oppose

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I vehemently oppose these policies that put trans kids at risk-- these policies are based in ignorance, bigotry, and hate. Those claiming to want to protect our most vulnerable youth should fight these policies and support trans youth.


Opposed

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As a transgender woman myself, I can tell you what harm this will do.  Transgender children have the same rights as other children and should not be demonized by the state


Strongly opposed. Stop taking away student’s rights.

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Why does the needs of the parent outweigh the needs of the student? The system as of now is flawed, however at least it’s able to protect students from potentially harmful home situations. If not, the student would tell their parent on their own time. This shouldn’t be regulated by the school.


Strongly Opposed

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<p>I am strongly opposed to this proposed legislation. Transgender and non-binary  students are being targeted, in our state and country. Transgender and non-binary students do not deserve the hate and mistreatment that they are being treated with. </p>


Oppose

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<p>This policy does not protect the rights of all children.   We need to move past targeting  marginalized people.  Grow up, people are different from you.  </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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This is putting so many children in harms way at school and at home. The fact that this exists disgusts me. Trans  rights are human rights and children should not have to be fearful because of this.


STRONGLY OPPOSE


I Oppose this Change in Guidance

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The change in how Trans/LGBTQ children will be treated in schools under this proposed guidance will put these children at increased risk. Virginia's most vulnerable children should not be put at risk by this extremely divisive policy. This new guidance is not based in best practices and is opposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Every child should have the right to be called by their preferred name. Our schools should be safe spaces embracing respect for all children regardless of their differences. This guidance allows these children to be bullied by their peers and by adults. This guidance will most likely result in higher suicide attempts and child abuse. Not all parents are nurturing nor are all school staff. I have seen children thrown out on the street by parents because of all sorts of reasons. Any policy that increases the abuse of children, has been poorly thought through.


Just Admit You Want Queer Kids Dead

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Because you know that's what this bill will do. There's plenty of clinical evidence. Let these kids have ONE place where they feel safe to be themselves.


The Proposed Guidance Does Not Comply With VA Code 22.1-23.3.A

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The proposed guidance should not be issued as proposed for at least three reasons:

The proposed guidance does not adequately consider contexts in which communication of a student’s confidential sensitive information regarding gender identity (as protected under VA Code 22.1-23.3.A.6) to such student’s parent would subject the student to physical harm or physical and/or mental abuse by an abusive parent.

The proposed guidance eliminates the evidence-based guidance provided to schools in the 2021 guidance document (see, e.g., pg. 13) regarding reductions of suicidal ideation in transgender youth through affirming identification and fails to provide an evidence basis supporting this change, which fails to meet the requirements of VA Code 22.1-23.3.A.

The proposed guidance improperly interprets legal precedents to require that schools become an ideological arm of a parent, which interpretation suggests that a minor does not have individual rights to personal or religious beliefs.  The proposed guidance suggests that legal and constitutional principles require a school to aid a parent in imposing ideological and religious beliefs on such parent’s minor child, which is both (a) in contradiction to the precedents cited by the proposed guidance and; (b) unsupported by the precedents cited in the proposed guidance which concern a parent’s right to homeschool or visitation rights and are inapplicable to the proposed guidance.   Accordingly, the proposed guidance fails to provide either a legal or evidentiary basis for the change from the 2021 guidance and does not comply with the requirements of VA Code 22.1-23.3.A.


Vehemently oppose

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This is dangerous and harmful to children and I am deeply opposed to this policy.

Children do not need the help of parents to self identify. Kids know what they need and when they are being treated with respect, and when their basic needs are being denied for cheap political gain.


This policy is misguided, dangerous, hateful and harmful

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<p>This policy is contrary to state law, best practices, and public sentiment.  It will result in further alienation of vulnerable students and seeks to erase the presence of Trans and non-bianary students. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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If I could oppose this even more, I would have committed a federal crime. (Anger Joke)


I Strongly Oppose this hateful and harmful proposal! Shame on you!!

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<p>Shameful!! I am so disappointed that you would introduce such a hateful bill into law.  I a mother of a non-binary, queer child.  I have raised my children to have a voice and to be who they feel inside, not what society says they should be. Therapist will tell you that the highest suicide among teenagers are transgender and mostly because their families reject them, abuse them and even goes as far as kicking them out of their homes.  School is a safe place for them and they should not have to seek approval from mom and dad to use a name that makes them feel better about themselves.  For the love of god, you are doing this to score political points! Stop using our children to fulfill your agenda. </p>


Bigotry is Unacceptable

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The proposed restrictions on transgender children are thinly-veiled bigotry. If you aren't trans and think that these restrictions won't affect you, bigots do not stop with one group. They keep going as long as they can get away with it.


Rights belong with parents and kids.  Radical left is destroying America!

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<p>Governor, you were elected for this reason.  You promised to give rights back to the parents.  This movement is not out of support, it is grooming.  Many children have regretted transition I got too young. It is incredibly creepy to see so many adults pushing for this.  Do more kids need to be raked and then the school covers it up before people wake up.  Support this policy as kids and parents should be the deciders.  </p>


Strongly support Gov. Youngkin's proposed changes

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<p>This is common sense. </p>


Thank you for supporting parents who love their children the most...

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Gov. Younkin, thank you for supporting parents by giving back and strengthening parental rights who are the best positioned to care for their children.  Parents love their children the most.  Thank you!


Strongly Agree! Stop grooming our children.

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<p style="text-align: justify;">Disgusting that we have to stand against the grooming of our children. This path of normalizing mental illness is an attempt to control our children. Parents have rights! </p>


Decimates the rights of children, parents, schools, and teachers

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The recent decision regarding trans children in schools decimates the rights of children, parents, schools and teachers. It kills the right of children and teens to explore their identities and make their own decisions on how they wish to navigate the world, the right of parents to help their children make those decisions and do what they feel is best, including allowing their children to change their name and pronouns, or seek safe medical care to help them feel comfortable in their own bodies and delay making permanent choices for a later date, and requires schools and teachers to disrespect family decisions. It is absolutely ridiculous to require schools and teachers to prevent students from having preferred names, as this includes nicknames, or even simply going by a middle or last name, which many students choose to do for no other reason than they want to. And to say that even if the parents request a different name of use for their child or legally change their child's name, teachers and the school may still deny this request serves no other purpose than to demean Trans children and institutionalize harassment towards them. These decisions make schools unsafe for Trans children, who are still children by the way, when the focus should be making these places safe for all children. I am a Trans person myself, and a recent high school graduate, so I can say with a certain amount of authority that other high schoolers do not care when people are Trans, and will fight these decisions and respect their classmates, so all this does is make teachers, the school, and the government, a group of adults who should know better, comfortable with disrespecting and harassing students without cause, which they already do when they want to, by the way - those who want to respect Trans people do so, and those who do not, don't. Additionally,  requirements to out Trans children may cause abuse of children by parents, and the feelings of unsafety all these decisions cause will increase mental illness and suicide attempts amongst an already vulnerable population,  when current mental health and medical guidance suggests doing the opposite will help prevent these. Going through with this decision will put blood on your hands. But I'm sure you already knew that and don't care. The majority of adult Americans in this country and in this state disagree with decisions such as these, but I suppose that doesn't matter when party lobbying is involved. It makes me sick to my stomach to hear the decisions you make, and I fear for my young Trans siblings who cannot vote and make their voices heard, who are shouted down by detractors at every turn, whose supporters, including mental physical health professionals, are ignored in favor of money, looking good to party representatives, and church lobbying. What ever happened to love thy neighbor as thy self? Or does that only apply to neighbors who look and think exactly the way you do.


Strongly Oppose

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Former teacher here... I was happy to use my student's preferred pronouns within the classroom AND introduced them as such to their other teachers so they would as well.

Republican "policy" is disgusting. Trans rights are human rights.


Strongly Oppose!!!

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<p>I am strongly opposed to normalizing behavior that marginalizes, threatens and traumatizes children who are already facing so much. </p>


Oppose

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<p>Strongly oppose. </p>


Vehemently oppose

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I vehemently oppose this legislation. It will directly put children in dangerous situations, and will result in so much pain, suffering, and death. We must protect trans youth, not kill them.


At long last have you no sense of decency

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Gov Youngkin, people are going to remember you the way they now remember Senator McCarthy.


Support our trans friends and family

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This policy is hateful and dangerous. It will kill children. Transphobic hysteria is costing lives. Stop being idiots.


Strongly Oppose Youngkin's Attacks on Trans Kids

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I strongly oppose the model policies as rolled out by the Youngkin administration.  This administration makes a hobby of treating trans kids like a punching bag to score political points for the far-right elements in this state.  This has nothing to do with so-called "parental rights" or protecting anyone.  It is meant to actively hurt kids, which is not surprising coming from the GOP.  I am a parent, and I don't want trans kids to have less rights to be themselves while attending school or feel that they are not in a safe, welcoming environment.  We should be doing more to protect trans kids, not less.  This is a terrible policy and it must not be allowed to be implemented here in Virginia.  We must be better than this.


I STRONGLY OPPOSE these policies that put the most vulnerable trans kids at risk

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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.


Strongly oppose

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Why are you actively making the lives of children harder? Shameful and soulless, and unchristian.


Strongly Oppose


Support

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<p>This is a step in the right direction </p>


Cruel and unnecessary

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<p>Why is a political party trying to regulate how people want to be perceived? This is fear-mongering under the guise of "parental rights." I find everything about this policy abhorrent and a waste of the voter's time. Focus on infrastructure and jobs. Not who people are. </p>


FULLY support 2022 policies

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Children do NOT belong to the state.  It is not the school or instructor's place to guide or reinforce children in who they are.  An instructor's beliefs about what's right for a child do not supersede what the parents believe.  They do not have the power to undermine a parent, which was inexcusably granted to them in the 2021 policies.


Stringly Support Changes

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<p>These policy changes allow for teachers to focus on teaching.  The layers of policies added over the years, have added an unnecessary burden to teachers and administration.  Biology is important and factual.  </p>


Strongly oppose

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<p>Strongly oppose. Protect trans kids! </p>


Strongly Opposed

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<p>Republican of over 40 years. Now it's become the party that takes away rights. We have real problems that need to be addressed and trying to attack individual rights is a huge step back for the party, our state, and our nation. Work to address real issues and stop trying to tear down. Virginia is top in the nation on education and you're trying to destroy that. </p>


new legislature sucks


Youngkin Trans Policies

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The new policies are discriminatory & endangering. It is setting the chopping block for trans and non-binary children. I don’t even know why we elected him, because he is murdering these kids. Please stop these policies and save thousands of lives. Please listen to the people for once.


Strongly Oppose - Stop picking on the most vulnerable

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What a disgusting political stunt targeting the group you think has the least support. What kind of people are willing to hurt innocent kids who only want to live their lives to pander to extremists?


I STRONGLY OPPOSE these policies

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DO NOT enact these policies in my name, a VA public school parent. These policies put trans kids at risk who are most in need of safety at school.  I FIRMLY OPPOSE these policies.


Oppose

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<p>Youngkin is completely wrong on this desperate and idiotic republican attack on children.  We don’t need neo-fascist behavior from our elected officials.  </p>


strongly oppose

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protect trans kids this is wrong!!


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great policy if you want children to kill themselves, congratulations


Strongly oppose Youngkin's proposals

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Why are Republicans fascinated by other people's junk?  Perverts.


Teacher for trans inclusion and against youngkins policy

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<p>I believe that parents have rights, but they don’t have the right to force teachers to treat kids in a way that goes against best practices and inclusion.this policy clearly operates under the assumption that trans-ness is harmful to children by saying we HAVE to report it to parents. I report things like signs of abuse, lack of adequate care, etc. trans-ness does not indicate or go with any of those things. In fact, reporting a child’s trans identity to their parents could result in actual abuse or harm, statistically.  I did my masters study on trans and queer student inclusion best practices. Outing children is WORST practice. It negatively affects education for children to feel unsafe and unwelcome. Outing them to parents as if their identity is a harmful thing negatively affects their education. Teachers jobs is not to push ideology on a kid. It’s to accept the kid for who they are and educate them. Thus, using a child’s name and pronouns is best practice to show them that they are accepted, so they can accesses good education. Transness is not an ideology. It’s an identity. Anti-transness is an ideology. That’s fine if someone is anti trans in their personal life, but public schools should be about including all identities without question. It doesn’t exclude anti trans people to include trans kids. If we wanna talk personal beliefs, it goes against MY personal beliefs to out  students to their parents. I will not accept being forced to do this. I think that Glenn youngkin should stand up for education by standing up for teachers, listening to teachers, and letting teachers do their job that they studied for and work hard for everyday. Glenn youngkins children did not go to public school—- but I am in a public school every day. Perhaps I know more about public school childrens needs than Glenn does. There is a teacher shortage right now. Focus on that, and not culture war issues. Let teachers do their job. Let children live their authentic lives. Stop attacking a minority group with policies they have explicitly said they don’t like just for your own political gain. </p>


STRONGLY oppose

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This proposed policy does not support students and should NOT be put into effect.


Disagree so strongly with Gov Youngkin

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Trans-Rights are Human Rights and the school should always be a safe place for humans to grow and develop even when they don’t agree with their families. Changes in these policies will create threats to our children.


Support common sense rules

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I support Governor Youngkin's proposals as a common sense way of addressing a difficult situation.  The rules have to balance the rights of all parties; the parents, the children seeking their identity and the students who are not seeking to change their identity.


Protect trans kids.

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Trans rights are human rights and it's better to have a trans kid than a dead one. Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean it's wrong or evil. What happened to separation of church and state?


Department of Education 2022 Guidelines

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I strongly support the 2022 Guidelines.  They represent a careful balancing of the rights of parents, teachers, and transgender students.

Parents have a duty and the primary responsibility for the upbringing and education of their children.  Parental wishes with respect to their children's names and forms of address, are to be respected.

Likewise, the most sacred principle in our nationhood is freedom of conscience.  This is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution.  No one, teachers included, must be forced to speak in a way which violates their sincere beliefs or face a risk to their job.

Finally, all students regardless of any transgender issue are to be treated with respect and dignity.

I urge adoption of the 2022 Guidelines.


Va DOE Transgender Student Policy

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I support the Governor's rewrite of the very unfair and disrespectful former Governor's policy regulation on this issue.


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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.


Strongly oppose

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<p>Help keep transgender students safe by opposing.  </p>


Stop encouraging Mental Illness and Grooming

Parents have a Right to know about their children.  Not the "I'm afraid they'll reject me" self-victimizing garbage.  Teachers should not be encouraging secrecy and inappropriate topics from the parents' knowledge.Everyone has a Right to Freedom of Speech.  This does not mean one can demand being addressed/described in grammatically incorrect fashion to massage one's sensitive feelings in mental illness.If the opponents to this measure have to lie, "It's transphobic, it puts trans youth at risk", they know they have a morally wrong position to begin with."

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Parents have a Right to know about their children.  Not the "I'm afraid they'll reject me" self-victimizing garbage.  Teachers should not be encouraging secrecy and inappropriate topics from the parents' knowledge.

Everyone has a Right to Freedom of Speech.  This does not mean one can demand being addressed/described in grammatically incorrect fashion to massage one's sensitive feelings in mental illness.

If the opponents to this measure have to lie, "It's transphobic, it puts trans youth at risk", they know they have a morally wrong position to begin with."


Moving Virginia backwards

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<p>The Governor’s proposed transgender policy continues a determined, misguided effort to move Virginia backward. It is bad policy and will endanger vulnerable students by creating a hostile learning environment for them. It encourages bigotry and suspicion toward those most in need of supportive, safe learning spaces. </p>


Strongly opposed to this dangerous change in policy

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<p>This proposed change in policy will bring harmful consequences to trans youth who have been exercising their current rights to name and pronoun declarations. To change the policy currently in place will create stress, anxiety and depression which could lead to daily trauma and possibly suicide. Teens in particular will have a difficult time with the flip-flopping of policy due to the anxiety and uncertainty that is a natural part of adolescence. To give them the right to declare preferred pronouns and name changes and then take away those rights is not only dangerous, it is cruel. </p>


Oppose


STRONGLY OPPOSE


Oppose.

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Can’t think of a more divisive set of policies than those in Model 2022. A stage set for hurtful encounters, bullying, and a teaching environment that is possibly more policing  than compassionate.


Single-user bathrooms for trans/non-binary students is discriminatory.

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2022 Model policies aim to segregate trans/non-binary students to single-user bathrooms.  I would like to know who this (GUIDING Principle D in 2022 model) policy is protecting? It's certainly not protecting all students. Requiring certain students to use single user bathrooms is discriminatory. I'm sure there are schools that do not have single-user bathrooms, which is besides my point, but presents a logistical issue for compliance. I would also like to know what happens when students do not comply to your discriminatory practice? Why are we placing such political distress on students? Haven't they endured enough living through a pandemic?

"All children in Virginia have a right to learn, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. School division policies shall therefore implement the requirements of the Act in a manner that ensures no student is discriminated against or harassed on the basis of their sex. To this end, local school division policies shall implement the requirements of the Act in a manner that demonstrates respect for each student."

Requiring trans/non-binary students to use single-user bathrooms is discriminatory. It is no different than requiring black students to use a single-user bathroom. This is not about protecting students. It is about a political agenda. Shame on Youngkin for using children as pawns in his efforts to advance his political agenda.


Strongly oppose these changes

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I strongly oppose the proposed changes to "Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools" and the withdrawal of the 2021 Model Policies.

Point 1. The rigid definition of sex and gender as binary that is presented in this document is against current scientific and medical understanding that demonstrates that sex, gender, and sexuality are all far more complicated than a binary conceptualization, and that simplifying this spectrum into a binary of male and female ignores the diversity of human experiences and potentially leads to the exclusion of intersex, transgender, and gender expansive people (e.g., https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/sa-visual/visualizing-sex-as-a-spectrum/). A 2021 study found that 26% of youth identify as nonbinary or gender expansive (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/diversity-of-nonbinary-youth/). The proposed policy changes with their insistence on binary sex and gender completely erase the experiences of these students.

Point 2. The proposed policy changes go against the American Psychological Association's best practices for supporting transgender and gender expansive students in schools (https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/programs/safe-supportive/lgbt/school-administrators.pdf), particularly with regards to allowing the student self-determination in the name and pronouns they use and access to bathrooms and locker facilities that match their gender identity.

Point 3. These policies prioritize the rights of the parents over the rights of the student, opening transgender and gender diverse students to potential abuse at home and escalated victimization at school. Studies have found that fewer than 1/3 of trans and gender expansive students feel safe and accepted in their homes (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/assets/static/trevor01_2022survey_final.pdf). Requiring parental permission for any gender-affirming practices at school such as use of chosen name means that trans and gender expansive students must navigate an impossible choice between suppression of their identity at school and risk of abuse or rejection at home. Removing a child's agency and self-determination in matters of sexuality and gender identity is both a human rights violation (https://yogyakartaprinciples.org/) and a violation of Title IX law (https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-confirms-title-ix-protects-students-discrimination-based-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity).

Point 4. Part D of the proposal is so broad that it will effectively prohibit students from using nicknames or alternate names regardless of gender identity without their parents legally changing their name or providing that change in writing. For example, if a student named Jennifer wants to be called Jenny, this is disallowed by this policy without changes to her legal name or parental permission. In an attempt to restrict the rights of trans and gender expansive students, this policy will negatively impact all students and parents.

Point 5. Virginia's schools have the potential to be protective and nurturing spaces for trans and gender expansive students, but this policy makes that virtually impossible. A 2018 study found that each additional setting where people used a trans youth's chosen name predicted a more than 5 times decrease in depressive symptoms, a 29% decrease in suicidal ideation, and a 56% decrease in suicidal behavior (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X18300855. Specific to schools, trans and gender expansive students whose school was a gender-affirming space reported lower rates of suicide than those whose school was not (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/assets/static/trevor01_2022survey_final.pdf). A recent study identified that schools that use students' chosen names, offer clubs that support LGBTQ+ students, and that create and use sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression inclusive policies significantly improve educational outcomes for these students (higher academic performance, lower absenteeism), have lower rates of victimization and social aggression based on their sexual orientation and gender expression, greater school safety, and higher school connectedness (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/23727322211068021).

Rejecting these proposed changes will:

Support better academic outcomes for our students

Protect our students' human rights and Title IX rights

Keep Virginia schools safe for all our students

I urge you to reject these proposed changes and retain the 2021 Model Policies. Doing so supports the Virginia Department of Education's mission and vision to maximize the potential of all learners and advance equitable and innovative learning.

Thank you,

Dr. Mer Francis, MSW, PhD


Strongly Oppose

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These actions will cost trans lives. As a gender non-confirming person I can’t be quiet about this. Not allowing trans kids to express their gender identity will cost the lives of these children. Trans people are already at higher risk for suicide and forcing them back in the closet will cause irreparable harm. Everyone should be allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender. Everyone should have the correct pronouns used. If you were a cis-man and constantly have someone not let you use the bathroom or call you “she” you’d realize how demoralizing and degrading this treatment is. Outing trans kids will cost trans kids lives too. We live in a society that often is not accepting of people who are different and this will lead to shunning by either parents or unaccepting peers. It is a singular choice of when to come out and should never, ever be in the hands of someone else.


Oppose

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Dear government officials:

I appreciate the complexity of these issues and the strong feelings on all sides.  Still, I urge you to retain the existing policy.  People often fear or hate what is different or what they don't understand.  Girls' bathrooms have stalls.  There is no greater risk to a girl by having a trans female in a separate stall than having a male student outside the door to the girls' bathroom.  The risk to girls is not the issue.  The fear of different life choices is the issue.  Young people will wrestle with their identities and make choices about them regardless of what we do.  Let's support them, not reject them.

Thank you for considering the views expressed by the public.  I hope you will truly factor them into your decision-making.

Sincerely,

J. Torres

Parent of children in VA schools


Children will die if you do this! DO NOT DO IT, RIGHTS FOR LGTAQ+ AND TRANS KIDS!!!!


HEY!   TEACHERS!

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Leave them kids alone

--Pink Floyd


Strongly OPPOSE - Support Trans Youth and Save Lives!!

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<p>I STRONGLY OPPOSE this policy and urge my fellow Virginians to speak up against it. This will only serve to disrupt and harm the lives of trans and gender non-conforming youth, those who are already dealing with so much and being so brave just by trying to exist as their authentic selves. Those who support this cruel and punishing model policy are driven by anecdotal fearmongering and a lack of compassion for the kids who need our love and support most. By forcibly outing trans students to their parents, refusing to honor their names and identities, and forcing them to use bathrooms that are incongruous with their identity, you are actively taking safety away from these kids and setting them up to be hurt — whether from parents who might hurt or kick out their own child, or by showing the example to all the other students that their trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming classmates don’t matter. Please do the right thing and amend this horrendous policy to PROTECT LBGTQ youth, not do them further harm.  </p>


I support this common sense bill


OPPOSE. Protect all children, including trans youth

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I am a Virginia resident and the mother of 2 children. I oppose this guidance and ask that VDOE reject these revised model policies.

These policies endanger the lives of trans and non-binary youth. We should be protecting all of our children, especially our trans/non-binary children who are most vulnerable to abuse, bullying, and suicide.


Strongly oppose

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<p>Students walking out of their classrooms all over Virginia today should tell you all that you need to know. This law seeks to actively harm children all over the state of Virginia. These laws are partisan and meant to silence and snuff out any differences. Trans children should be celebrated, they should have a space to feel safe, they should be allowed to be children.  This law is cruel and will harm so many more children than it protects. Why are the rights of some parents prioritized over the rights of others, and the safety of children. This cannot be allowed to stand. This law should not be passed. The people who proposed it should be ashamed at their political grandstanding. I am truly disgusted in what has become of the great state of Virginia when legislation like this is proposed. The cruelty is the point and that is truly devastating. </p>


Gov Youngkin’s New Model Policy gor Transgender /LGBTQIA Students

I have just read the New Model Policy Gov Youngkin will be implementing in 30 days and although I do not live in Virginia, I am the Mother of a transgender child, now young adult. This policy is rooted in fear and hatred. I say to Virginians anytime you se anyone discriminating the “other,” - Beware. This policy will be extremely hurtful to LGBTQIA students. Our son always had our support, but we saw many children whose lives lacked the support they needed. Support for every student at school is vital, and LGBTQIA students are no exception! This will not encourage a good sense of community at school.I just returned from a trip to the 70th anniversary of a UMC church, where my father-in-law had been the Sr.minister for 13 yrs. All the children were asked to return and celebrate. A story was recounted about how in 1963 and how my father-in-law was quoting MLK,Jr. in church & took the Black janitor to register to vote. In those days, “the others ” had to have a white person vouch for you in order to vote. One  night the KKK burned across in their front yard while my mother-in-law was home alone with the kids. Beware when they come for “the others “  The Governor is going to be on the wrong side of history. It can be super simple if the Governor will lead with love- not hate. Love your neighbor as thyself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Respect others. It’s not rocket surgery.

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I have just read the New Model Policy Gov Youngkin will be implementing in 30 days and although I do not live in Virginia, I am the Mother of a transgender child, now young adult. This policy is rooted in fear and hatred. I say to Virginians anytime you se anyone discriminating the “other,” - Beware. This policy will be extremely hurtful to LGBTQIA students. Our son always had our support, but we saw many children whose lives lacked the support they needed. Support for every student at school is vital, and LGBTQIA students are no exception! This will not encourage a good sense of community at school.
I just returned from a trip to the 70th anniversary of a UMC church, where my father-in-law had been the Sr.minister for 13 yrs. All the children were asked to return and celebrate. A story was recounted about how in 1963 and how my father-in-law was quoting MLK,Jr. in church & took the Black janitor to register to vote. In those days, “the others ” had to have a white person vouch for you in order to vote. One  night the KKK burned across in their front yard while my mother-in-law was home alone with the kids. Beware when they come for “the others “  The Governor is going to be on the wrong side of history. It can be super simple if the Governor will lead with love- not hate. Love your neighbor as thyself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Respect others. It’s not rocket surgery.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>This is simply terrible public and education policy that will only serve to harm vulnerable children and undermine their safety.  It does nothing to protect anyone because supporting Trans kids isn’t a threat to anyone.  This is government at its worst and most transparently ideological.  It is despicable that the government is willing to target children and hide behind  warped notions of ‘parents rights’ </p>


School Counselor Strongly Opposes

Kate Serrao, Henrico County Public Schools

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My name is Kate Serrao and I am a school counselor at Highland Springs High School. One of my biggest passions is advocating for LGBTQ+ students, as they are a vulnerable population with one of the highest suicide rates among marginalized groups. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24, and LGBTQ+ kids are at an increased risk due to the discrimination they face from society (Hedegaard, Curtin, and Warner, 2018). LGBTQ+ youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers (Johns et al. 2019). According to a survey done by the Trevor Project, more than 45% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously contemplated suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.

The reason for this disproportionality in suicide among LGBTQ+ youth and their straight peers is the discrimination they face from society. Policies such as this one proposed by Governor Youngkin are dangerous as they encourage forceful outing and isolation of LGBTQ+ students, especially transgender and non-binary youth. For a population that already faces increased rates of suicide, depression and anxiety, forcing schools to follow these discriminatory policies will only make the problem worse.

If students are comfortable enough to come out at school and ask their counselors, teachers, and school staff to use their preferred pronouns, it should be celebrated, not punished. It is an act of bravery to come out, especially at school. As a counselor who supports many LGBTQ+ students and sponsors our school's Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA), I hear their concerns about these policies. They are worried that their identities will be erased, and fear for their safety if they are forced to come out when they feel unsafe doing so. If these policies go into affect, they will cause significant harm to all students impacted.

As a school-based mental health professional, my job is to support and advocate for ALL of my students. I do this every day. Please don't pass this policy. It is against my professional and ethical guidelines as outlined by the American School Counseling Association to act in a way that will cause harm to my students. Coming from somebody who works with LGBTQ+ kids every day, I can tell you without a doubt that this policy will cause harm.

For Governor Youngkin to act as if he thinks this policy will help students and parents is absurd. He knows what he is doing with these transphobic practices. We must not move backwards. I implore the committee to think of the students who are directly impacted, and decide not to pass these policies.


VA TG Policy

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<p>I strongly support the new governor policy on transgenders in our schools.  Parant's input is very important and their input should be strongly considered when making decision related to transgenders and CRT policies in schools.  A small minority of transgender students are attempting for force social change on society.  Virginia should not go down that road. It will lead to further separation of the masses.  Gov. Glenn Youngkin is on the right track by using a common since approach to address the school and social issues of our time.  The masses are all thinking this but are not speaking out.  I am trying to do my part to change this.  </p>


Parent Involvement

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I support the spirit of the proposed Model Policy. It is vitally important for parents to be involved in the raising of their children, especially when it comes to their sexual identity. A student that does not feel comfortable in their biological sex should have the ability to have what they feel is their true sex reflected in their school record BUT parents need to be involved. As a parent, it is not right to make life-altering decisions about my child without my involvement. If I choose not to get involved then that is my choice but I should have that choice.

However, I would like to see language in the proposal that makes it clear that if a student chooses to reflect their sexual identity which is not their biological sex, they should be allowed to use facilities and services that reflect that choice.

Finally, I hope we can all have this conversation about education policy civilly so we can come up with something that protects these children as they deal with something very profound for them while ensuring that a parent's rights are respected.


Fully support new 2022 Model Policies— No Secrets From Parents!!

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Regardless of one’s position on the trans issue, these new “model policies” are simply a

Regardless of one’s position on the trans issue, these new “model policies” are simply asking that kids not make these serious decisions WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT. If a boy suddenly wants to become a girl, why should this be kept a secret from his parents? If he/she wants to suddenly go by the pronoun “xe” or “they”….or use the bathroom of the opposite sex, shouldn’t parents be aware??

“Affirming” a child in their delusional thinking can have disastrous effects. It would be similar to affirming an anorexic child based on his/her distorted self-perceptions and body image issues. This is one huge social experiment we are doing on the next generation. Research shows that if a child takes puberty blockers and then cross sex hormones, there is increased risk of bone damage, cancer, and severe mood swings (among other issues). If they go on to have surgery later, the suicide rate is 20X higher ten years after gender reassignment surgery.

Is this the path we MUST let kids follow if they suddenly get sucked into this trans craze? It’s a social contagion, especially among teen girls. And the damage can be IRREVERSIBLE. Even if just socially transitioning, these kids cannot keep secrets with their teachers on such such personal health information. Let kids have these discussions with those who love them the most and want what’s best for them - their mother and/or father! Please adopt these “new model policies” for 2022, in order to truly protect parents rights and the well-being of children!!

sking that kids not make these serious decisions WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT. If a boy suddenly wants to become a girl, why should this be kept a secret from his parents? If he/she wants to suddenly go by the pronoun “xe” or “they”….or use the bathroom of the opposite sex, shouldn’t parents be aware??

“Affirming” a child in their delusional thinking can have disastrous effects. It would be similar to affirming an anorexic child based on his/her distorted self-perceptions and body image issues. This is one huge social experiment we are doing on the next generation. Research shows that if a child takes puberty blockers and then cross sex hormones, there is increased risk of bone damage, cancer, and severe mood swings (among other issues). I’ve researched this extensively due to my nursing background and interest in this health issue. If these kids go on to have surgery later, the suicide rate is 20X higher ten years after gender reassignment surgery.

Is this the path we MUST let kids follow if they suddenly get sucked into this trans craze at school or by influencers on social media? It’s a social contagion, especially among teen girls. And the damage can be IRREVERSIBLE. Even if just socially transitioning, these kids cannot keep secrets with their teachers on such personal health information. Let kids have these discussions with those who love them the most and want what’s best for them - their mother and/or father! Please adopt these “new model policies” for 2022, in order to truly protect parents rights and the well-being of children in Virginia!!


Shameful Proposal

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Governor Youngkin,

This proposed anti-LGBTQ policy is shameful. If enacted it will have devastating effects on Virginia’s students and school staff. School is supposed to be a safe environment for teaching and learning.  Yet, the proposal mandates an unsafe exclusionary environment which, according to recent studies, would contribute to a higher risk of suicide for trans and nonbinary students. There is no place for such cruelty in the Commonwealth.


Strongly Oppose Restricting Rights of Transgender Students

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As a parent of two teenagers and an education researcher, I oppose this guidance for multiple reasons:

1. Research clearly demonstrates that students learn best when they are emotionally safe, supported, and affirmed (see https://doi.org/10.54300/165.102).

2. The guidance is not responsive to the legislation to develop model policies that are in accordance with evidence-based best practice. The current guidance is not evidence-based or aligned with best-practice.

3. The guidance is not consistent with scientific evidence about human biology, which shows that a binary concept of 'biological sex' is inaccurate.

4. The guidance places transgender students at higher risk of mental health challenges and suicide. Transgender youth in supportive environments are signficantly less likely to attempt suicide than transgender youth in nonsupportive environments.

5. All students are negatively impacted by injustice and discrimination.

This guidance threatens the well-being, health, and education of Virginia students.


Strongly Oppose. Stop taking people’s rights away.

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The system works fine as it is, why make it incompatible for students with possible transphobic parents?


Transphobic policies are directly harmful to children.

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It's disturbing to see so many people supposedly intent on the welfare, education, and development of children who are simultaneously fully committed to hurting a certain subset of them.

Trans children suffer when they're prevented from presenting as their gender, when they're barred from bathroom accommodations, and when they can't trust the adults around them not to out them to potentially unsafe parents and administrators.  This is documented.  This is, quite simply, the truth.

The fact that this administration is actively choosing to harm extant trans children for the benefit & comfort of adult transphobes who think trans children aren't real,  or should be forced into their assigned gender, despite all research and good moral sense to the contrary, is obscene.  You should be ashamed of yourselves if you choose to pass this.


OPPOSE. Vehemently.

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To put an already vulnerable population of CHILDREN in government crosshairs in a craven attempt to appeal to a minority of Virginia voters is simply unconscionable. Our children are not political pawns. This is a non-issue. It’s simply red meat for the “culture warriors.” My three children attended Virginia public schools. The private bodily autonomy of humans isn’t a matter of government concern. This proposal is gross government overreach.


Transgender Students have a right to safety and human dignity

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The proposed changes by Governor Youngkin are discriminatory, dangerous and harm arguably the most vulnerable students in our schools and community. Finding a community where you feel safe seen and embraced is hard enough to do as you grow up. Our children are also grappling with recovery and re-entry into schools in the wake of a global pandemic. A re-entry that the Dept of Education in VA has done a  poor job at recognizing the needs social, emotional and academic for these children to not only learn, but thrive. The idea that the Dept of Education in VA and this governor are willfully making that harder and in doing so putting transgender children at further risk of isolation and harm than they already are is discriminatory at best and humanly wrong. The fear and hate of the few shouldn't supercede the fact that Transgender children deserve human dignity for exactly who they are. As a family we have faced increased mysoginy and racism not just at school, but in our community. That the Governor and state would intentionally seek to put additional barriers and harm to children in school is offensive and intolerable. We should be seeking solutions and methods to make schools safer and accepting, not more isolating and dangerous. This should be struck down and abandoned.


PERFECT! They are clear, concise, and to the Point

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I see nothing wrong with the requirements noted. They have done a great job clearly listing the laws and clearly specifying how transgenders should be cared for from a legal perspective.

Separation by sex is by all means the way to go; however, one may accommodate transgenders within their own unique group if they insist on being inclusive. Sport competition should be by sex, again if transgenders wish to compete against each other, that's fine, but others should not be forced to compete against transgenders when there's obvious differences.

Overnight travel accommodations, locker room and intimate spaces should be indeed separated by sex. Again, transgenders can unite if they wish to be treated different, but those who don't fall within the same category should be respected.

Bathrooms should enforce sex only options, if necessary, create a transgenders bathroom so they can mingle on their own domain, but respect to other's perspective is essential. Just because someone claims to be 'transgender' doesn't mean they always are. As long as they haven't done a surgery, they are biologically male or female.

Unfortunately, the transgender community likes to push their ideologies down people's throat like no tomorrow. I have encountered individuals who just pushed it on you even if you say no, they still force it. They have ZERO respect yet expect respect to be given- that's not how things work.

Those I agree with the changes submitted 100%! This isn't about Republican or "Democrats/Communist"  ideologies, this is about common sense being applied while upholding and respecting the morals and ethics of the majority.


Strongly opposed

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Allowing trans kids to choose their pronouns, name, and gender expression, is associated with lower risk of suicide and better mental health all around. It's a no-brainer.


Strongly support policy and parental rights!!

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<p> I support this policy and Governor Youngkin supporting parental rights. The rights of a small minority should not Trump the safety of others. Parents should be involved in the kids decisions.</p>


Strongly Opposed

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These changes put unnecessary burden on supportive parents of trans youth and will be complicit in the abuse of trans youth with non supportive parents.  This is true "big government".


Privacy, Dignity, and Respect?! Hardly.

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I am a parent with children in the Fairfax County High School system. I strongly OPPOSE Governor Youngkin's harmful policies in his ironically named "2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools."

The policies in these guidelines are a step backward, are clearly not in touch with how students feel today, and don't have students' and teachers' best interests in mind. Governor Youngkin's proposed policies seek to erase transgender and non-binary youth from the classrooms, creating a hostile school environment. They take away the trust students and teachers need to develop in the classroom and interfere with learning.

This is a waste of time and money. Step into a Virginia classroom and talk to students and teachers and you will find communities overwhelming supportive of their trans and non-binary students and classmates.

This is political posturing and hateful rhetoric. Virginia is currently ranked 41st for state per-pupil funding. This new guideline is a red herring that only divides us more.


Strongly opposed

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I am strongly opposed to Governor Youngkin's and the Virginia Department of Education's draft model policy that would remove and replace 2021's model policies on the treatment of transgender and non-binary youth in schools. This model policy is harmful to trans and non-binary kids. This creates a hostile learning environment. We should be supporting trans and non-binary kids.

I have friends with trans kids, so I feel strongly that those kids should feel welcome in the classroom. I have two kids in Virginia public schools and want them and their school friends to feel safe and supported no matter their gender identity.


Strongly Opposed - Trans children are children too

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The proposed 2022 Model Guidelines do not represent the values of Virginians. Forcing children who simply want to be happy and comfortable to face discrimination at the hands of the teachers they trust is despicable. All students should be allowed to indicate to teachers and classmates how they want to be referred to. This has never been a problem in the past and it is absurd that people would claim that calling a child by their preferred name would infringe upon their religious rights. Adults who have nothing at all to do with the trangender children in question, who are not their parents, doctors, or physiologists, should not be making decisions for these children. Trangender children deserve the same respect that any other child receives upon asking a teacher or classmate to refer to them by a nickname or middle name. This is no different. School should be a place where children feel comfortable learning and growing into the adults they will become and they cannot do that if they are being psychologically abused by their teachers and peers and when they face having their identities spoke about to family members who may abuse them for it. Not to mention that misgendering and deadnaming transgender children results in an increased rate of suicide and self harm. These children deserve to feel loved and respected. By inacting these policies you are killing innocent children.


Oppose Gov. Youngkin's Proposed Changes

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I oppose Gov. Youngin's proposed regulatory changes that would strip protections for trans youth in k-12 public schools.


Strongly Support Gov. Youngkin's Policies

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Governor Youngkin's policies of giving parent's a role in their children's education is the right path. Parents are the first educators of their children and only delegate an educational role to schools.  They have every right to ensure that their children are educated properly and not brainwashed by public school systems.


Strongly Opposed to this cruel, bigoted policy

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Trans kids have rights, hate has no place in education. Support all children, discrimination is wrong. The proposed policy is based on hate and will undoubtedly harm children.


Strongly opposed. Trans kids will die

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This bill is dangerous and must be opposed at all costs.


Strongly Oppose The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students

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<p>The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools is clearly targeting transgender students. The "sample policies" suggested for use by school divisions clearly prioritize people's ability to misgender and disrespect trans students over the actual creation of a safe learning community for trans students. The VDOE should be embarrassed to even be entertaining such a ludicrous policy.  </p>


Very Opposed

This policy would endanger the lives and safety of children.

In detail;

This policy sets out a plan to ‘out’ LGBTQ children to their parents, potentially endangering their lives and safety.In the United States, 7% of youth are LGBTQ; yet 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ (Williams Institute, 2015), usually due to parental rejection. Conversion ‘therapy’ is proven to increase suicidal ideation in victims - 28% of LGBTQ youth subjected to conversion therapy attempted suicide in 2021 (Statista Research, Jun 2021). Abusive parents have even killed LGBTQ children.Schools should not participate in, or enable child abuse.

This policy bans trans children from the bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity. Yet multiple studies have proven that doing so exposes trans people to violence and discrimination, and that trans inclusion does not harm cis women or girls. (Gender Identity Non Discrimination Laws, 2018, Williams Institute).The so called ‘bathroom predator’ myth - typically used to ‘justify’ this kind of policy - was factually debunked via criminal statistics years ago. Anti-LGBTQ group Mass Resistance has even admitted that it was a fabrication.In other words, the Virginia School Board is proposing a policy proven to harm children, on the basis of a debunked and fabricated myth.

This policy protects the ‘right’ of children to bully trans children, and face no repercussions for bullying. This is obviously unacceptable.

This policy also protects the ‘right’ of adults to deliberately refer to children by the wrong name and pronouns.I cannot imagine what sort of adult would would want to invoke that ‘right’. Or why Virginia School Board thinks that kind of individual deserves to be catered to, but again, schools should not be enabling adults to bully children.

LGBTQ youth subject to the abusive and discriminatory practices proposed in this policy are more prone to depression, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. There is a proven 11% increase in suicidal behaviour for pronoun misuse alone (Elflein, 2022).

Schools that are not LGBTQ affirming spaces increase suicide risk in children by at least 4% (Elflein 2022).

Putting children at a proven, increased risk of suicide, in order to pander to prejudiced adults, is absurd.

To summarise; the Virginia School Board’s new policy sets out plans to:

Endanger the lives and safety of LGBTQ children.

Deliberately harm the mental health of trans children.

Protect children and adults who want to harm LGBTQ children.

Violate the privacy, dignity and safety of LGBTQ children.

Violate the First Amendment rights of citizens to be free from the religious beliefs of others.

All in order to pander to a handful individuals who dislike trans people, and want to inflict that dislike on children.

The lives, safety and well-being of innocent children are more important than the unfounded prejudices of adults.

Many abusive parents exist. Schooling environments should mitigate, not enable and perpetuate that abuse.

I urge the Virginia School Board to discard this absurd, harmful, dangerous policy.

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This policy would endanger the lives and safety of children.

In detail;

This policy sets out a plan to ‘out’ LGBTQ children to their parents, potentially endangering their lives and safety.

In the United States, 7% of youth are LGBTQ; yet 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ (Williams Institute, 2015), usually due to parental rejection. Conversion ‘therapy’ is proven to increase suicidal ideation in victims - 28% of LGBTQ youth subjected to conversion therapy attempted suicide in 2021 (Statista Research, Jun 2021).
Abusive parents have even killed LGBTQ children.

Schools should not participate in, or enable child abuse.

This policy bans trans children from the bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity. Yet multiple studies have proven that doing so exposes trans people to violence and discrimination, and that trans inclusion does not harm cis women or girls. (Gender Identity Non Discrimination Laws, 2018, Williams Institute).

The so called ‘bathroom predator’ myth - typically used to ‘justify’ this kind of policy - was factually debunked via criminal statistics years ago. Anti-LGBTQ group Mass Resistance has even admitted that it was a fabrication.

In other words, the Virginia School Board is proposing a policy proven to harm children, on the basis of a debunked and fabricated myth.

This policy protects the ‘right’ of children to bully trans children, and face no repercussions for bullying. This is obviously unacceptable.

This policy also protects the ‘right’ of adults to deliberately refer to children by the wrong name and pronouns.

I cannot imagine what sort of adult would would want to invoke that ‘right’. Or why Virginia School Board thinks that kind of individual deserves to be catered to, but again, schools should not be enabling adults to bully children.

LGBTQ youth subject to the abusive and discriminatory practices proposed in this policy are more prone to depression, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. There is a proven 11% increase in suicidal behaviour for pronoun misuse alone (Elflein, 2022).

Schools that are not LGBTQ affirming spaces increase suicide risk in children by at least 4% (Elflein 2022).

Putting children at a proven, increased risk of suicide, in order to pander to prejudiced adults, is absurd.

To summarise; the Virginia School Board’s new policy sets out plans to:

Endanger the lives and safety of LGBTQ children.

Deliberately harm the mental health of trans children.

Protect children and adults who want to harm LGBTQ children.

Violate the privacy, dignity and safety of LGBTQ children.

Violate the First Amendment rights of citizens to be free from the religious beliefs of others.

All in order to pander to a handful individuals who dislike trans people, and want to inflict that dislike on children.

The lives, safety and well-being of innocent children are more important than the unfounded prejudices of adults.

Many abusive parents exist. Schooling environments should mitigate, not enable and perpetuate that abuse.

I urge the Virginia School Board to discard this absurd, harmful, dangerous policy.


End the hateful anti-trans agenda

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Stop targeting trans and LGBTQ kids with hateful policies designed to hurt them. Youngkin is a bigoted bully dressed in politician’s clothing. End these harmful and hateful programs and protect the most vulnerable among us who have the same right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as anyone else. Stop stomping on their rights and let them thrive! Hate has no place here!


Trans-Gender and Non-Binary policy proposal

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To the VDOE, besides the fact that this is an illegal policy, think about these kids.  If you adopt these policies, you will be writing a death warrant on the lives of the transgender and non-binary youth in Virginia, as the risk of suicide from gender dysmorphia will rise.  If you believe that you are pro-life and vote to adopt this bill, you are pro-birth and that's all.  As human beings, in this country, we all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Please don't forget that!


Totally Opposed to this terrible bill

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<p>Parental rights only for white “christians” obviously. This bill will kill children and cause them to be bullied. Do you care at all or do you only care when they are in the womb? </p>


No way to treat our kids

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As the parent of a gender non-conforming young adult, and having two kids on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, I find these guidelines to be seriously harmful to our kids. There are many parents who are not supportive of their kids, put them out or worse if their kids confide about  their gender exploration. These guidelines put these kids at risk physically mentally and emotionally, and it further imposes some peoples beliefs on others, adding negative stigma to all on the LGBTQ + spectrum.  In many cases, school is the only safe haven for these kids. Therefore I am not at all supportive of these guidelines who will require school staff and administrators to put kids or further harm those kids who are driven further in the closet for fear of exposing their true identities.

DO NOT PASS THIS PROPOSAL.


Support parental rights and protect children

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More parents all across the nation are choosing to homeschool because we have lost trust and confidence in public schools. Parents the absolute right to know what is happening in their childrens’’ schools. Shame on any teacher or administrator who would withhold information from parents or encourage secrecy between students and staff.

Gender identity, ideology, and trans genderism are not founded in reality. These concepts not only confuse children, but put their health and safety at risk. Keep it out of schools.


Oppose

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<p>This is discrimination hiding behind terms like constitution and parental rights.  If you truly cared about creating non discriminatory and safe environments, you would impose such horrid policies that hurt and scare our children.  Scaring our children with threatening policies will only stunt their growth into well functioning, empathetic, and kind adults and perpetuate the cycle of prejudice and hate.  </p>


Allow students to be themselves; but consult parents if a student feels gender dysphoria; sports

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The top priority is for schools to create a nurturing environment were all students feel accepted for who they are. This requires preventing bullying and harassment of students, especially those most vulnerable to harassment because they act differently from the majority of other students.

It does not matter if a student dresses, or engages in activities, not typically associated with their sex at birth. Schools should not interfere if a student wants to dress, or engage in activities, not typically associated with their sex at birth. There's no need to inform parents, and schools should not do so. As I entered adolescence, I wondered why I didn't like frilly "girl's" clothes and wanted to wear what society considered "boy's" clothes, but I was fully comfortable as a heterosexual female. I remain comfortable with my sex at birth, and still do not like many "female" clothes.

But, if a child feels their sex at birth conflicts with their gender, and/or wants to change their gender identity, parents should be informed so they can help the child navigate their gender dysphoria. If parents think it is best to forbid the school to call a student by a pronoun opposite of their sex at birth, that is the parent's decision until the child is legally an adult.

It is fine to have students participate in sports according to their sex at birth, because XX or XY chromosomes affect things like skeletal structure that are not changed by hormones or surgery. If a student does not feel comfortable using a bathroom according to their sex at birth for any reason (including fears of bullying, gender identity), they should be given access to unisex bathrooms, but not to use the bathrooms for people of the opposite sex.


stop this new policy

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<p>this policy is horrible. its unreasonable to endanger the innocent lives of one of the most vulnerable group of children. LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated like everyone else. </p>
<p> </p>


Opposed- trans kids have rights too!

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Anyone supporting this bigoted proposal should be ashamed of themselves. Trans kids are the vulnerable ones here, and no one has the right to oppress these children’s freedom of expression. Shame on governor Youngkin! Shame!


Support healthy families

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Parents have a right to know! Strongly support parent rights. This trans thing is not normal!!!


Great now stop Medicaid from paying for "treatment" that furthers their delusions

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<p>Stop forcing taxpayers to pay for this nonsensical </p>


Opposed- trans kids have rights too!


Totally Disagree with Youngkin’s Transgender Policy

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I strongly disagree with Youngkin’s proposed policy.  These children are trying to find out who they are and if they are not getting support at home during their discovery process they need another adult be it at school, church, etc. to help them.  Without an environmental where they can discover without criticism, bullying or  threats these kids will become anxious, depressed and even suicidal.  Children need to grow up to be themselves whoever that might be not the version of themselves someone else wants them to be.           I hope someone is going to track the suicide rate after this policy goes into effect.  I can guarantee it will rise.  Parents need to wake up and truly be there for their kids regardless of who they are.  God loves all of us.


STRONGLY OPPOSE - PROTECT TRANS KIDS

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I am a trans kid. I am lucky that my father and my close friends and family believe in me and support me, but not everyone is as lucky. I Have friends that have been physically harmed by their family just because of their identity. Friends that cant risk even cutting their hair short or they would be exiled from their house, community and their family just because of the IDEA of being trans. My own BOYFRIEND was kicked out of his house because he was dating a trans kid. He isnt even trans and he was kicked out. Do you understand the importantence of not passing this bill?

School is a safe place for kids like us. If you pass this bill, you will ruin the lives of so many children. What happened to protecting the kids? Voting this bill would ruin the lives of THOUSANDS of students in FCPS. School was the first place I was able to go by my chosen name. Its been over a year now of me going by Ashtyn. I am fortunate that my friends and teachers support me and what I do but not everyone is the same. Just because you agree with something does not me EVERYONE ELSE agrees with you.

Do not pass this bill. Protect trans rights. ESPECIALLY teen trans rights.


Strongly oppsed

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<p>I am strongly opposed to Gov. Youngkin's xenophobic proposal to take away protections for transgender students. This proposal is just more fear-mongering from those who would take away rights from women and minorities, any who's not a white Christian male in other words. Allowing transgender students to live their lives as they believe they should is far healthier for them than forcing them to conform to antiquated concepts based on ignorance. If he is truly commited to protecting children, then maybe he should look closer at the violence perpetrated by men against women and children. </p>


concur with governor !

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our children are our, the parents' responsibility - NOT THE TEACHERS' responsibility

look at our education standards vis a vis the rest of the Free World - we are way behind almost every other country in the basics = math, science, reading/writing skills.... exactly what we the parents hire teachers to do - My sainted mother was a public-school teacher for over 60 years - never forget the day teachers unionized, she said that was the end of quality public school education in the USDA - and time has proven her correct


Keep parents in the loop

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Schools should partner with parents, not keep them out of decisions affecting underage kids.


Protect Trans Kids

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Allowing kids to choose the bathrooms where they feel the most comfortable is not a threat. Forcing them to accept an externally mandated guideline that does not reflect who they are puts them at much greater risk of bullying, violence, mental health struggles, and more.

Ask the kids, they'll tell you this is a non-issue. Stop wasting time and money on something that puts an already at risk group in great danger. Let them think about math and what sneakers to get next and anything else than whether they can safely use the bathroom.

It's wrong for the government to erase these kids or force them to be anything but who they are. Leave them alone.


parents have total absolutle contorl over their Children !! keep your hands of our kids minds ~~

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parents have total absolute control over their Children !! keep your hands of our kids innocent minds with your perverted BS


Strongly Oppose

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<p>The 2022 model guidance is dangerous to kids. It moves directly away from guidance that supported the development of healthy, happy kids by embracing the spectrum of gender identity, to policies that subvert and punish anyone that doesn't fit perfectly in a gender binary. It's hateful and hurtful. This isn't about parental rights, but rather punishing kids who experience the world from a different point on the gender continuum. I strongly oppose the proposed guidance and want to see the 2021 guidance remain in place. </p>


Parents do not have the right to harm children

Research shows that policies that force trans youth to use facilities thatdon't match their gender identity are linked to higher rates of sexualassault.https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/6/e20182902/76816/School-Restroom-and-Locker-Room-Restrictions-andWhile some have claimed that trans inclusive policies increase assaultrates against cisgender people, research has shown this is not true.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-zOverall, research suggests that the proposed change would increaserates of assault and jeopardize public safety.Jack L. Turban MD MHSAssistant Professor, Division of Child & Adolescent PsychiatrAffiliate Faculty, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy StudiesUniversity of California, San Francisco

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Research shows that policies that force trans youth to use facilities that
don't match their gender identity are linked to higher rates of sexual
assault.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/6/e20182902/76816/S
chool-Restroom-and-Locker-Room-Restrictions-and
While some have claimed that trans inclusive policies increase assault
rates against cisgender people, research has shown this is not true.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z
Overall, research suggests that the proposed change would increase
rates of assault and jeopardize public safety.
Jack L. Turban MD MHS
Assistant Professor, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatr
Affiliate Faculty, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies
University of California, San Francisco


Trans students are human and have rights

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These new policies are an attack on the rights of transgender students. Just because they are minors does not give their parents absolute rights and authority over them. Children and teens have a right to have their identity respected and honored, and a right to privacy. Parents do not have an automatic right to control these things and be privy to this information. In fact some parents do not foster a safe environment at home and are emotionally or even physically abusive of their LGBTQ children. This policy threatens the well-being of these most vulnerable students. This is a serious overstep of the government into schools to control the teacher-student relationship that is so important to cultivate a safe learning environment. Stop catering to bigoted reactionary parents at the expense of our children!


Objection!!!

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<p>This is harmful In protecting all youth/minors in a school setting. Schools should let students be who they are and forcing a transgender student to uncomfortably use their assigned gender at birth restrooms would not protect them from harm, bullying and abuse in said restrooms. We must protect all kids from abuse and harm and sometimes school is the only place for them to be themselves. </p>


Support parents rights to protect their children

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Children are being misled and easily convinced by people that do not have to deal with the consequences. Parents should have full knowledge of what is going on in their children’s schools.


Strongly oppose Youngkin bill regarding trans and non binary students

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<p>STRONGLY OPPOSED! </p>


Strongly Oppose

I strongly, vehemently oppose Governor Tarkin - uh, Youngkin's proposal to attempt to control, if not revoke, rights and privileges in place for transgender students and faculty within our schools. Such protections are necessary for the health and well-being of ALL involved, trans or not, and to remove them would only harm the education atmosphere. No-one is being "protected" by this proposal. Quite the opposite. Only the deeply religiously indoctrinated are blind to this fact. Those who stand up for personal liberties are not.Stop it. You're not helping anyone with such a proposal. Drop it before you do irreparable harm.

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I strongly, vehemently oppose Governor Tarkin - uh, Youngkin's proposal to attempt to control, if not revoke, rights and privileges in place for transgender students and faculty within our schools. Such protections are necessary for the health and well-being of ALL involved, trans or not, and to remove them would only harm the education atmosphere. No-one is being "protected" by this proposal. Quite the opposite. Only the deeply religiously indoctrinated are blind to this fact. Those who stand up for personal liberties are not.

Stop it. You're not helping anyone with such a proposal. Drop it before you do irreparable harm.


Opposing these policies is regressive and harmful to our kids.

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I will simply re-quote Shaun Reed’s well articulated comments:

”This is a step in the right direction, we should not be encouraging kids with mental illness into believing lies like they can change their sex. Years from now we will look back in horror on how we allowed children to be sexually disfigured and sterilized in the name of progress. Parents deserve to know what’s happening with their children. The emotional blackmail used by the left when they argue this will endanger lives is not okay. Where is the evidence that trans kids are being abused by their parents in these mass numbers? It doesn’t exist because it’s not happening, but that is what they’d try and have you believe so they can force their ideology on you with emotional manipulation. Stop this nonsense in our schools.”

CommentID: 146613


New transgender legislation

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This is an outrage!  Why can’t you just leave people alone?  The government  does not belong in peoples private lives, whether they are adults or children.


Thank you for protecting gay/GNC kids

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<p>Parents need to know if their child is being influenced to view their sexuality or gender nonconformity as a problem that requires lifelong drug prescriptions and surgical intervention. This is the bare minimum: pushing children towards sterilization without parents' knowledge  opens the government to a tsunami of liability. </p>


Strongly support. Thank you Gov. Youngkin!

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<p>Thank you Gov. Youngkin.  </p>


Strongly oppose cruel new policies, will harm already vulnerable kids

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Governor Youngkin,

Data indicates that 82% of trans individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among trans YOUTH. What contributes to such a high number? Risk factors include microaggressions, stigma from others and internalized self-stigma. Your proposed changes for Virginia schools will not affect cisgender students in any way, but they will do nothing but increase trans students vulnerability and risks - students will feel more unheard, more stigmatized, and more kids will DIE as a result. This is not an exaggeration; these new policies will kill Virginian middle and high schoolers. And for what?

Leslie Billingsley

Richmond, VA


This policy will cause deep harm and likely lost lives of children

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I am a sex educator volunteer, specifically working with 8th graders. I have been doing this work for about 6 years. Even in that short time, I have seen a continuing evolution in how young teens view gender identity and gender roles. I think this is a very positive thing. As usual, young people are at the forefront of asking questions about how we act as a society by looking at our world, country and state through the lens of their own experiences. For many young teens these days, that involves deep introspection into how their bodies and identity intersect with concepts of gender and social roles.

The pandemic and social media are worsening already existing mental health concerns among young teens. Many feel uncomfortable in their bodies as it is, and symptoms of gender dysphoria only make that worse. They are just trying to find out who they are and how they want to present themselves to the world. This new guidance piles a layer of government hatred on top of that. This document tells teens that how they feel about their bodies is wrong and bad. It tells them that bullying they experience as a a result of that is right, and it empowers bullies to only ramp up their cruelty. It tells teens, who are at a developmentally appropriate period of pushing back on their parents, that schools are not a place where they can be themselves without their parents being notified. It tells them that when they want to go to the bathroom, an extremely personal act, the school will be watching and judging and potentially acting to interfere.

This policy will fail. Anyone who has ever had a conversation with a teenager knows that they do not take well to overreach, to be told what they feel is right is actually wrong, to force them to act against their moral compasses. This policy only demonstrates the ugliest side of our current government that wants to control the bodies of youth and dictate to doctors how to do their jobs because of arbitrary judgmental fears of a small minority. This policy will fail.

However, before it does, teens will die, possibly by their own hands or by the hands of others. Data show that suicide among trans teens is disproportionately high, as is violence against them. I have seen first hand that teens that do not get support in their personal journeys are at especially high risk of self harm or harm from others. End it now, before you do even more harm.


Strongly Support. Biology Is Not Bigotry !!

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There are two genders.  Seek help if you think there are more; or if your feelings for the moment cause you to think you should change what you are.


Strongly oppose

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<p>These revisions will endanger trans students and harm their mental health. As a nonbinary student at a LCPS school, I do not support these new policies. </p>


Strongly oppose

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Trans kids deserve support and affirmation, not ridicule and segregation.


Strongly oppose!

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This is massive government overreach. Keep the government out of bathrooms! Just let people go to the bathroom.


I support the rights of trans students and individuals

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<p>Trans kids have the right to feel and be respected in a school setting. </p>


I strongly oppose Youngkin’s planned policy

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Trans are human beings with the same needs as others.  This is just another way to divide the education community.  Expecting teachers to out students to their parents is an invasion of privacy that undermines teachers and students.  Not allowing students to change their names or their pronouns without written  or legal permission from  parents is disrespectful and divisive.  Youngkin’s educational policy should be opposed by everyone.


Strongly oppose.

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Politicians aren't doctors. A great many politicians are in no way educated on transgender issues. Until they are, they need to be quiet. They have no authority to speak on, much less decide, medical issues for others.


OPPOSE - Putting Trans Kids at Further Risk

ST, Mental Health Therapist and Former LCPS Student

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"Thus, we have a collective responsibility to address topics such as the treatment of transgender students with necessary compassion and respect for all students." ... If someone tells me who they are, what their name is, and how they identify, I can show them respect by believing them. It is DISrespectful to act otherwise.

Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) clearly demonstrates time and time again that use of proper pronouns drastically reduces the likelihood of suicide, and drastically improves mental health outcomes for transgender people. Imagine showing up to your school or place of work, and repeatedly called the wrong name and wrong pronouns for 40+ hours a week. How is this going to improve the health of our students? How is this going to reduce bullying? How is this going to lower suicidal ideation? It will not. It will make every one of these concerns WORSE.

This policy is nothing more than an attack on trans students simply for existing, under the incredibly vague guise of "parental rights".

Gov. Youngkin, stop hurting our youth for political gain! We will never support the removal of rights that were so fiercely fought for. Expect our resistance.


Strongly Opposed

Research shows that policies that force trans youth to use facilities thatdon't match their gender identity are linked to higher rates of sexualassault.https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/6/e20182902/76816/School-Restroom-and-Locker-Room-Restrictions-andWhile some have claimed that trans inclusive policies increase assaultrates against cisgender people, research has shown this is not true.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-zOverall, research suggests that the proposed change would increaserates of assault and jeopardize public safety.Jack L. Turban MD MHSAssistant Professor, Division of Child & Adolescent PsychiatrAffiliate Faculty, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy StudiesUniversity of California, San Francisco

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Research shows that policies that force trans youth to use facilities that
don't match their gender identity are linked to higher rates of sexual
assault.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/6/e20182902/76816/S
chool-Restroom-and-Locker-Room-Restrictions-and
While some have claimed that trans inclusive policies increase assault
rates against cisgender people, research has shown this is not true.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z
Overall, research suggests that the proposed change would increase
rates of assault and jeopardize public safety.
Jack L. Turban MD MHS
Assistant Professor, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatr
Affiliate Faculty, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies
University of California, San Francisco


Please make our schools safe for queer teens

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I am a parent of a queer teen. I live in Loudoun county. I have chosen to make my comment anonymous, in order to protect my teen’s identity. Statistics tell us that suicide rates among LGBTQ teens are higher than heterosexual teens. Suicide rates are highest in homes where LGBTQ kids are told they are deviant. However, statistics also tell us that having one supportive adult can make the difference between life and death. This proposal is under “parents rights”. But for some teens,  they will be abused or rejected by their parents if they are outed. Teens need a safe adult they can confide in. If they can’t do this, then they will suffer in silence and this is dangerous to their mental health. Please re-consider this proposal.


Full Support

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I fully support this common sense approach to this sensitive issue.


Oppose this new policy

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<p>As a mom of 3 in PWCS and an early childhood educator  I firmly oppose this new policy against transgender rights. This is not in the best interest of all the children in our schools. This will absolutely put the  mental health of our transgender youth at an even higher risk. Families are not always supportive of their children’s choices and we need to allow schools the opportunity for them to explore and learn for themselves. The current policy does not put others at risk. It does allow our students to be who they are.  However this new policy will put our transgender students at risk and will cut off their opportunities to be their true selves. Please continue the efforts made with the current policy and do not implement the new one. </p>


Strongly opposed.

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<p>You will be responsible for the deaths of trans youth if you pass and enforce this policy. </p>


Oppose; this will harm children