A disgusting attempt of Discrimination

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What better way to scare any and all Americans from Virginia than to pass a policy that discriminates their own students? What people fail to understand is that these kids want to just be seen as who they really are. They aren't perverts, they aren't future groomers, and they certainly aren't deviants. They are people just like everyone else that deserve rights regardless of someone else's religious beliefs. My religion should not determine the rights of another human being. They are beliefs, not laws. This type of discrimination can be incredibly harmful to a child's mental well being and YOU will be responsible to the harm that these children will face when you take away their rights.

Laws like these scare americans away from your state. Why live or even visit a state that doesn't see a protected class as equal to others? Me and many others will refuse to step foot in this state if policies like these are passed. You won't get a cent out of me. Do better.


I support Governor Youngkin

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I support Governor Youngkin.

It is important to recognize that the Trans population is a very small part of our society.  Best estimate (not from a group that has an agenda to promote) is that about 0.4% of the population is trans.

So why would we have the liberal left solution that the 99.6% of our population be subject to having boys in the girls locker room (or girls in the boy's locker room)?  This would be crazy.

The other way to look at this is that for a school with 1000 students, only about 4 would be Trans.

The simple solution is to have 2 or so single person bathrooms in a school of 1000 students where the Trans students can have their privacy while preserving the privacy of the 996 non-trans students.


This Bill Will Have a Death Toll

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It is is sickening and appalling that this bill is even being considered. The transgender suicide rate is well known and astronomical, and this bill will be constructive in nothing except adding to that number. It is terrifying how well the people in support of this bill and the ones who proposed it are able to disconnect policy from the corpses of children that will inevitably arise from this. I mourn the children whose lives will be lost if this bill passes.

The fact that the people who support this bill and bills like this claim that they care about children is bewildering, when clearly all they care about is control. Fighting against children is the least productive thing any government official could be doing during these incredibly tumultuous years.

To anyone reading this, I beg of you. Picture the kids that will be affected by this. Picture the lives being lost. I am not exaggerating. I'm sure the transgender suicide rates have been stated hundreds of times already in this forum. They aren't just numbers. They are the lives of thousands of people who lie in your hands.


Trans kids are creating hostility by demanding to be on girls sports teams.

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<p>Why can’t we all just get along? Play nice. Be respectful of others and they will respect you back. </p>


Parental Rights

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Parental rights are God given rights. Parents know what is best for their children. Parents are the first and best teachers of their children. Teachers should teach the basic subjects. Parents are responsible for the faith, health and well being of their families- nobody else should be involved without the permission of parents. I get to decide what is right and wrong for my kids based on my values and God given truths.


AGAINST-Bigotry, mysogony, and transphobia are not protected beliefs.

I am not in favor of any law, statute or guidance that allows teachers, administrators or  students to abuse, mock, or misgender anyone, or allows their so-called "religious" beliefs to empower discrimination against vulnerable minors or adults.The government is expressly allowed to compel people to treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of gender, age, sex, race, class, religion, ethnicity, ability, language, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and is also duty-bound to punish those who discriminate against those protected classes.
This guidance is a shameful step backwards for our commonwealth. and should be defeated.

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I am not in favor of any law, statute or guidance that allows teachers, administrators or  students to abuse, mock, or misgender anyone, or allows their so-called "religious" beliefs to empower discrimination against vulnerable minors or adults.

The government is expressly allowed to compel people to treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of gender, age, sex, race, class, religion, ethnicity, ability, language, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and is also duty-bound to punish those who discriminate against those protected classes.

This guidance is a shameful step backwards for our commonwealth. and should be defeated.


This policy is a disgrace

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All kids, including trans kids, deserve to be acknowledged for who they are and treated with respect in school. This includes using correct names/pronouns and allowing access to bathrooms. Trans kids are not a threat, they are simply kids and should be treated no differently than their peers.

It is horrifying to see VA using trans kids as political pawns. VA must do better.


Support parental rights

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That is a good start but needs to go further


I Fully Support the Model Policies Proposed by Our Governor and Administration

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We need to restore the role of parents in public education.  I am in full support of the Model Policies proposed by Gov. Youngkin's administration.

Thank you.


Stop discriminating against girls and pass this legislation.

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Why do trans rights need to take away our rights. Give us back our sports teams. We don’t want males playing on our sports teams and we don’t want to compete against males. You wonder why people are ed? Stop creating enemies.f


Strongly oppose

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<p>I strongly oppose and ask the Governor to leave our children alone. They are already targets at school for just being different. If this policy passes, there will be many Virginia children who are left with no one to turn to. No safe spaces for them. Their pronouns help them on their journeys and believe it or not, it’s simple to use the preferred name and pronoun. Our kids deserve to be respected. They already fight every day to just fit in and get an education without being harmed while at school. Please help them feel safe </p>


Protect Trans Students

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It's 2022.  We must be accepting, and we must protect student's choices. Hate won't win.


Leave the kids alone!

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I agree 100% with Gov. Youngkin!! Teachers and schools only job is to teach our children reading, writing,  arithmetic and science, nothing else. Parents have the absolute right in the moral and spiritual upbringing of their children.

We need to bring to an end the corruption of our children. The teacher's union needs to stay in their lane and focus on improving test scores.  The health and well-being of each child is the responsibility of the parent, not them.


Common sense policies in schools

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I strongly support Governor Youngkin’s common sense school policies leaving parents in charge of their children and protecting constitutional rights.


This policy hurts children

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<p>I am a Virginia resident and a mental health professional at a local Community Services Board. I work with underserved youth and families and I can say unequivocally that this policy change will hurt a very vulnerable populations. Trans youth are far more likely to experience depression, anxiety, self injury and suicidal thoughts as compared to peers. They face discrimination everywhere they go and it is unacceptable that school would no longer be a safe place for them to express themselves and receive support. Is this who we are as a society? Ostracizing a marginalized population and pushing children into mental health crises? I very much hope that this policy will not be implemented and will be discarded as the discriminated policy it is. I want to be proud to be a Virginian. Please protect trans youth and their families with acceptance and support, not with hate and discrimination! </p>


I support the Governor

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<p>I support the governor  </p>


You kin new school policy

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Agree with Younkin’s new policy.


I support this policy 100%

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<p>I totally support Governor Younkin’s policy on trans gender students. We need to protect our children from all of this grooming and dangerous woke policies </p>


Lead by example and respect students - I oppose this policy

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<p>I oppose this policy. Calling trans kids by their pronouns and the names they wish to be called is the bare minimum amount of respect to grant another human being. Social transition such as using the pronouns requested by a student, calling them the name they wish to be called, wearing clothes that align with their gender identity, and allowing them to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify can mean the difference between a happy student and a depressed and suicidal one. Kids have autonomy and they have the right to own who they are and have their identity respected by adults they interact with every day. </p>


Thank you Governor for following through on your election promises and restoring sanity to schools

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Or restoring power to the parents.


This policy puts many peoples livelyhood in danger

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<p>Transgender people simply want to live their life the way that they believe their creator intended. If trans people wanted to to disrupt society, especially in a “sexual” manner, they wouldn’t have to transition to do that. So many cis people are capable of doing the things these kind of policies seem to deem disgusting/immoral, but only care when it’s about a minority group. </p>


I do NOT support this needless harassment of children

I live on the Virginia-Kentucky border, could easily walk to Virginia. My family is from there and I still have family there. I fear for kids like me as a transgender high schooler myself when this kind of rhetoric inevitably spreads to surrounding states, but more importantly I fear for my young queer family members living in the state of Virginia. I want the world to get better, not worse. They should not have to endure the same harassment in school I have went through for my identity, but now it seems they may even get it worse than me.Grow up. Leave LGBT kids alone. This is needlessly cruel towards such a small percentage of the population that I would consider it targeted harassment. If this passes, I do not think I could continue traveling to Virginia and supporting the businesses and government of Virginia and keep a good conscience. That's all I have to say.

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I live on the Virginia-Kentucky border, could easily walk to Virginia. My family is from there and I still have family there. I fear for kids like me as a transgender high schooler myself when this kind of rhetoric inevitably spreads to surrounding states, but more importantly I fear for my young queer family members living in the state of Virginia. I want the world to get better, not worse. They should not have to endure the same harassment in school I have went through for my identity, but now it seems they may even get it worse than me.

Grow up. Leave LGBT kids alone. This is needlessly cruel towards such a small percentage of the population that I would consider it targeted harassment. If this passes, I do not think I could continue traveling to Virginia and supporting the businesses and government of Virginia and keep a good conscience. That's all I have to say.


Ann Marie Barrett (LCPS counselor) arrested for sexual relationship with transgender student

Let the counselors in school address sexuality? not my kids!

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The lemon county school board will see numerous lawsuits as a whole personally.


This policy will harm children

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<p>As a current high schooler, these policies terrify me. I am scared for my transgender peers, scared that they will become even more alienated, scared that Youngkin will harm children by forcing them to be something they are not. The percentage of transgender youth who have seriously considered suicide in the past year was 44%. For cisgender youth, it was 16%. I am scared that Youngkin, whether on purpose or not, will make this disparity even more enormous. I am scared that the world will lose even more students who would grow up to be scientists, writers, and artists than we already have lost. All students at Virginia public schools are valuable, but with this policy, Youngkin and all who concur are showing that they do not believe that to be true. I am scared because I know that this policy will harm my peers, that it will make them feel more lost and out of place than they already are. Youngkin holds in his hands the power to destroy children's lives and it is shocking how easily he does. I am scared because of men like him, and even more scared because of policies like this.  </p>


Youngkin is a disgrace, this policy is tragic


Trans rights are human rights

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<p>Governor Youngkin’s policy to force teachers to misgendering trans children and force them to use the bathroom that aligns with their sex is absolutely disgusting. Policies like Governor Youngkin’s will lead to an increase in suicide amongst trans kids, who are already the most vulnerable group for suicide/depression. If you actually want to protect kids, you should be offering them nothing but love and support, not threatening them and ostracizing them because you don’t understand them. You don’t have to understand transness to not be a bigot. That is all disgusting policies like this are, bigotry and ignorance. Trans kids deserve to be protected, and as a Virginian I will vote Glenn Youngkin out if he continues his attack on LGBTQ+ individuals </p>


Protect Trans kids from this dangerous policy

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<p>I am a Virginia resident, public school teacher, and a parent.  This proposed policy will actively harm children who are already disproportionately attacked verbally, physically and emotionally.  Many of them at the hands of their own families.  This risk increases due to transphobia, which this policy clearly encourages. Every parent wants to know what is going on with their child.  It is the job of the parent-the adult-to create and maintain an environment in which their child feels safe. If a gender expansive child does not come out to their parent or guardian-there is a reason for that...  </p>
<p> </p>


I support protecting children and I support this bill


I support this policy that supports parental rights and is truly best for the children

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It is time to forget politics and give parent back their rights to do what is truly best for their children - whatever that may be.  This agenda is being pushed on our children and confusing our children.  If a child is struggling with gender identity the parents will do a much better job of handling that situation than the schools.  They have loved their children since birth and will handle ups and downs throughout their beloved child's journey.

Put it into perspective -- if I walked into the school and demanded being called Her Majesty because I identified as the queen of England, wouldn't most of my loved ones suggest that I get help?  Yet, if a girl insists that she identifies as a boy, that's okay?  Handling this situation with loving care and professional help is what the children need -- Not supporting a political agenda and excluding the help of his/her loved ones.


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<p>Parents have the PRIMARY responsibility for their children! What world are we living in??? </p>


Unequivocal SUPPORT for this Policy

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We offer our categorical and unequivocal support to Gov. Youngkin's policy. Let parents BE parents - and as parents, they are the primary educators of children.

The madness, depravity and downright cruelty of those who want to corrupt children has got to stop.

Thank you.


Common sense

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Student participation in sex-specific athletics, school activities and events should be determined by sex, e.g., for overnight travel accommodations and locker rooms.


Gov. Younkin is doing the right thing.

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Governor Younkin is acting in accord with the will of the people.


I support this document

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Because it acknowledges the primacy of parental rights.


2022 Model Policies on Privacy, Dignity and Respect - Support for Governor Youngkin

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I support the 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools (2022 Model Policies) which withdraw and replace the highly objectionable Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. Among many other positive changes, The 2022 Model Policies make it clear that “Parents have the right to instill and nurture values and beliefs for their own children and make decisions concerning their children’s education and upbringing in accordance with their customs, faith, and family culture” and that “Parents are in the best position to work with their children and, where appropriate, their children’s healthcare providers to determine (a) what names, nicknames, and/or pronouns, if any, shall be used for their child by teachers and school staff while their child is at school, (b) whether their child engages in any counseling or social transition at school that encourages a gender that differs from their child’s sex, or (c) whether their child expresses a gender that differs with their child’s sex while at school.”


Transgender Rights are Human Rights

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Hello,

I am the parent of a transgender child. I am also on the Board for the Richmond Chapter of PFLAG.  I know firsthand the physical and mental health concerns of transgender students. My son attended Hanover County Schools. He came out in 8th grade. Then began high school (9th grade) as a boy with a new name and pronouns. He was only allowed to use the restroom in the administrator's office area. He had to change there for gym class which made him late for gym. He had issues with teachers not using the correct pronouns or name until it was court-ordered. By doing this he was outed to those who didn't know him previously. He was made fun of, humiliated daily, and treated badly on the bus, and no one was held accountable. When you have class on the top floor and the restroom you are allowed to use is on the first floor by the office, you do not have time to use it between classes. Or you have to wait until the class begins and ask for a pass, drawing further attention to yourself and missing class time to use the restroom. As a result, my son didn't drink water or other drinks all day. He would get terrible headaches from being dehydrated. This is a huge health concern, for mental clarity, bladder, and urinary health, etc.

I understand why people are concerned. But I assure you once a trans boy presents as a male, grows facial hair, and looks male, you don't want him in the girl's restroom. The same applies to those who are female trans. They only want to use the restroom. They don't want to do anything to anyone in there. No one would come out as transgender and go through harassment and fear, embarrassment and humiliation, if they weren't truly transgender.

As for not allowing students to change pronouns or names without a parent's consent, well that is ridiculous. How many people use a nickname or other name than what is on their birth certificate? Seriously, how is this hurting anyone, but the person who is being disrespected? As a parent, my child is not my property, they have a voice and they must be allowed to use it, speak their mind, and make their own choices.  Names and pronouns are not a health concern in general, not a safety issue per se, so they should be able to make a choice. Actually, the trans person does have a huge safety issue if not respected. They suffer greatly mentally, physically, and possibly academically, and may even attempt suicide or self-harm.

We need to make schools safe and welcoming for everyone. Take the fear and ignorance out of your decisions. This is a serious issue for everyone. Treat one another as you would want to be treated. Find a way to allow everyone a safe and private place to take care of their own bodies. All you need is stalls and doors that actually lock and don't have huge gaps on each door panel.

Respect and support for everyone.


Trans kids did nothing to deserve this

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You know the anti trans hate is based on lies. You know it. You are making up the lies as you go. You are hurting and killing children. Your only gain is the admiration of bigots. They will vote for you as you rob them blind. Congratulations. You are hurting Virginia. I'm working on a plan to move and take my Virginia paycheck to another state. I'm not the first and will not be the last. Virginia will lose our familes, our relationships, our taxes, our charitable donations, our paychecks being spent here. Luckily my job is remote so I will take money from a Virginia business and spend it elsewhere.


I oppose this policy change

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<p>I am an advocate for human rights, and I see this new policy as an infringement on human rights.  I am a cis-gendered straight woman.  My friends have children who are transitioning.  The kids read/hear the news and feel unwelcome in certain states in this country, because rights are being diminished for specific populations in those states.  I want them to have the optimism of a free and unconstrained future that they may choose for themselves.  </p>


Support Governor Youngkin’s policies

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I support Governor Youngkin’s transgender policies for our government schools.


Support Gov Youngkin!

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I support Governor Youngkin’s proposals because the new policies honor the sacred role of parents in the care of their children during school, athletics and other activities. Parents know their children’s needs better than anyone. If children are struggling with gender dysphoria, they need guidance and emotional support from their parents. Under the new policies, school officials must keep parents fully informed, and require schools to enforce laws, regulations and policies that prohibit and deter bullying or harassment. Student participation in sex-specific athletics, school activities and events should be determined by sex, e.g., for overnight travel accommodations and locker rooms. Students should use the bathrooms that correspond to their sex. Single-user bathrooms and facilities should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students. Finally, the new policies protect the fundamental religious liberty interests of personnel and students.


Youngkin’s Death Sentence for LGBTQ Youth

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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is, whether intentionally or not, creating a death penalty for many LGBT youth. That sounds a lot like hyperbole but sadly that is not the case. His model includes a REQUIREMENT that teachers out their students to their parents, the most important people in their lives. My work with PFLAG has made me very familiar with the coming out process, as has the experience of having two gay sons. Most anyone will tell you that parents are usually some of the last a person will come out to, and for good reason. If a kid comes out to a friend, peer or teacher and they are non-affirming, oh well. If you come out to the people that are most important to your care and safety and they are not accepting, all Hell can break loose for this person.

 I have had the unfortunate experiences of speaking with family members of four separate kids who have committed suicide. In one case both parents, asked me repeatedly to tell them that their son’s suicide by stepping in front of a train was not their fault. Many in their family, including their daughter were blaming them. I asked why she would think such a thing.  They had first attempted to have their teenaged son undergo the psychologically horrible reparative therapy.  Both the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association have deemed this to be harmful. When that witch doctor was unsuccessful in “curing” this young man, they chose to send him to live with his evangelical grandparents. Two days later he was dead.

Aside from the suicides I’ve had the fortune, not good fortune, both in my various roles in PFLAG and through connections from friends to speak with many people. This includes a 16 year-old who was kicked out of his home by an angry dad.  Living on the street, this young man was abused, both physically and sexually while living with adults in a homeless shelter.

Another young man had been beaten so badly by his own father, that several teeth were knocked out and one eye had become detached.

It’s not always the father. In one case a mother actually hired a male prostitute to have sex, (rape), her own daughter to “straighten her out.”

Youngkin may be of the delusional belief that all parents are great people. They aren’t, and in most cases their kids know their parents better than the governor or their teacher.

On a similar note, his model requires the teacher to only call students by the name on their birth certificate, rather than their chosen name. Whereas he says this is to show “respect for all students,” how exactly does this jive? I know he doesn’t want Andy to be called Audrey, but who actually wants to be called by the name on their birth certificate? I know a particular Phil who doesn’t want to be called Phillip, the name on his birth certificate. Does Joe want to be called Joseph? Does Angie want to be called Anjelica? If his model is in effect, there better not be exceptions.

Getting back to the all-important suicide issue, nobody studies them more than the Trevor Project. Here’s what they say.

-Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24 (Hedegaard, Curtin, & Warner, 2018) — and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at significantly increased risk.

-LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers (Johns et al., 2019; Johns et al., 2020).

-The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 millionLGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. — and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

-The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.

If Youngkin’s plan is successful there WILL be a vulnerable young person put into a horrible position and the result could be tragic. Tell him his model, well-intentioned or not, is a terrible idea.


Leave the kids alone - you may harm them

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Please stop this madness. Do you not realize that you could be putting the kids in harms way - the parents may physically &/or emotionally harm the child or kick them out of the house. Let children have a safe space to choose their path in life.


I oppose this policy change

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I'm a Virginia resident and parent and I oppose these revised policies because they will harm vulnerable young people already at high risk for bullying, depression and self-harm. The current policy, allowing trans students to be themselves at school, does not harm other students or force any kind of ideology on them or school staff. It only demands basic human decency and respect.


Parents are the first teachers of their children and have an irreplaceable role in guiding them

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The government has, at best, a tertiary role in teaching children.  Parents are first and irreplaceable in that role.   Choose whatever source of rationality you wish for that axiom.

Governor Younkin's Model Policies ensure First Amendment rights of students and staff and rationally protect the rights of parents.  You must, to avoid irrationality and violation of bedrock legal principles, enact the Model Policies.


I Support Gov Youngkin's efforts

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The new policies honor the sacred role of parents in the care of their children during school, athletics and other activities.

Parents know their children’s needs better than anyone. If children are struggling with gender dysphoria, they need guidance and emotional support from their parents. Under the new policies, school officials must keep parents fully informed, and require schools to enforce laws, regulations and policies that prohibit and deter bullying or harassment.

Student participation in sex-specific athletics, school activities and events should be determined by sex, e.g., for overnight travel accommodations and locker rooms.

Students should use the bathrooms that correspond to their sex. Single-user bathrooms and facilities should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students.

The new policies protect the fundamental religious liberty interests of personnel and students.


Protect our children and improve education

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I support Gov. Youngkin in supporting any measure that protects our children and improves their education.  Parents are their children's first and most important teachers.  Parent have the right and responsibility to determine their children's education.


I support Youngkin’s proposal — no mandated transgender policies in public schools

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<p>Just like we are supposed to keep religion out of public schools, so too should we keep transgender policy out of the public schools.  Deal with it at home in your own time.  Don’t make my children deal with your religion — or your transgender issues — at school.  </p>


Unfettered bigotry- you should be ashamed

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<p>I am a citizen in Elkton, VA and am appalled that our governor has chosen to target children to rally his base. Schools should be welcoming for all who walk through their halls, not just those who look like you and share your values. People seeking to exclude their children from others are welcome to 1) homeschool as they see fit or 2) send their child(ren) to private school. Public education, free from bigotry, oppression, exclusion or othering is the right of every child in our United States. A Governor who seeks to RESTRICT FREEDOM cannot be trusted. Public schools should be for everyone. </p>


common sense not common law

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I write this hesitantly because I was a former educator.  I have taught in public schools from elementary to high school.  I understand that not all people are the same and that each person has a different upbringing.  I also know that one size does not fit all.

However, I have seen throughout my 25 years in education how "fickle" kids can be.  Elementary students want to be butterflies.  Middle and high school students constantly think about their sexuality and identity.  Educators have tried for years to help curb sexual activity-going as far as handing out condoms in schools.  Did it work?  No.  The problem doesn't lie in the school.  The problem lies at home.  Therefore, I truly believe that's where the issue needs to stay.

Educators are more than just teachers.  They do impose their values whether a parent likes it or not.  With that being said, allow me to share mine.

1)  If students want to identify as a transgender that is their choice, however there are bathrooms that are for just one person.  They can use those bathrooms.  Most homes only have bathrooms for one.

2)  If transgender students want to play sports, then have them have their own league.  There is a competitive disadvantage to a person born as a male than a female when it comes to strength in many circumstances.  That's why we don't let boys play girls volleyball now.

I just think it's quite ironic that I sit here and write about this topic about students under 18 years of age being allowed to choose their identity when we as a society don't allow people to vote until they are 18; we don't allow people to smoke or drink until 21.  I wonder why this is?  Could it be that scientists have proven that our minds are still developing and haven't fully matured until we are in our 20's?  So tell me why we allow surgeries and ideologies for students when their minds haven't reached full maturity?  Interesting.


Pro Parent Policies

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I support Pro Parent Policies in our schools!


Catholic and Christian parents do not support this bill

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Please do not pass this bill.  Parents do no want to give up their God given rights in any way.


Protect Emotionally Vulnerable Children and Parental Rights!

Dear Virginia Dept of Education,

Schools should never secretly socially transition students and keep the child's new name, pronouns and gender identities from parents. I am pleased and relieved that the Virginia Department of Education's revised model policies support parental rights and ensure that school employees don't cut parents out of critical decisions for their children.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued "model policies" in 2021 that encouraged every school district in Virginia to hide a child's new gender identity from parents who choose to affirm the child's biological sex. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, the VDOE's revised policies make it clear that all children should be valued and parents' rights and beliefs should be respected. The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools keep parents involved in major decisions in their children's lives.

The 2021 VDOE "model policies" encouraged schools to create "a plan (that) may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians."

I strongly support the revised policies that end this practice. Virginia schools should not drive a wedge between parents and their emotionally vulnerable children. Virginia school districts, including those who have already communicated their plans to ignore the 2022 revised model policies, should put an end to secret Gender Support Plans now.

Sincerely,
Colleen Bjork
8087 Chasewood Loop
Colorado Springs, CO 80908

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Dear Virginia Dept of Education,<br /><br />Schools should never secretly socially transition students and keep the child's new name, pronouns and gender identities from parents. I am pleased and relieved that the Virginia Department of Education's revised model policies support parental rights and ensure that school employees don't cut parents out of critical decisions for their children. <br /><br />The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued "model policies" in 2021 that encouraged every school district in Virginia to hide a child's new gender identity from parents who choose to affirm the child's biological sex. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, the VDOE's revised policies make it clear that all children should be valued and parents' rights and beliefs should be respected. The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools keep parents involved in major decisions in their children's lives.<br /><br />The 2021 VDOE "model policies" encouraged schools to create "a plan (that) may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians." <br /><br />I strongly support the revised policies that end this practice. Virginia schools should not drive a wedge between parents and their emotionally vulnerable children. Virginia school districts, including those who have already communicated their plans to ignore the 2022 revised model policies, should put an end to secret Gender Support Plans now.<br /><br />Sincerely,
<br />Colleen Bjork
<br />8087 Chasewood Loop<br />Colorado Springs, CO 80908<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657523/148598920" width="1" height="1" />


I oppose this

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As a parent of a Trans Boy, I feel completely saddened and disappointed that we are still in denial that our society has many different colors and minds with unique beauty. We should have evolved in a way of acceptance, understanding and love. Yet we are still using hate and division. I oppose this bill and I will dutifully fight for my son’s rights till the end of my days. I hope you are aware how impactful your hateful message is. If you have a sliver of love in your heart please back out and give our kids an opportunity to thrive. Love is love!


I Oppose Youngkin's proposal and hope Virginians will follow Fairfax County's lead in caring for all

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Fairfax County has worked hard to create a supportive environment for all students no matter their gender, race, or other factors.  Please, Virginians, let's work together to create a caring environment for all students.


Thank you, Governor!

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<p>We as parents have legal responsibility for our children until they turn 18 - and that includes medical care. The fact that schools would hide from parents if their children decided that they are the 'wrong gender' is absurd - what about the mental health issues that follow?  Schools and parents are supposed to be a partnership, it's the community that surrounds us. Where does the assumption that parents of transgender children would be out to get them comes from? And why does the school system assume that it knows better than a parent what is best for a child? </p>


Most Importantly: Protect all children

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Governor Youngkin and elected officials:

Parents know their children’s needs better than anyone. Under the new policies, school officials must keep parents fully informed, and require schools to enforce laws, regulations and policies that prohibit and deter bullying or harassment. In an effort to prevent this type of behavior across the board, students should use the bathrooms that correspond to their sex. However, single-user bathrooms should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students. This will assist those students who may feel more comfortable not sharing multi-use facilities.


THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS BILL.

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To my Brothers and Sisters and Siblings,

Hijab or not, no one should have to be naked or undressed in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable. This is not a reason to discriminate against Trans Youth-- this is ANOTHER reason to support them! Why do we require any sort of undressing in front of each other?

If you want to argue that our Daughters should feel safe (which ALL of our children should feel safe) then you should be pushing for Single User Restrooms, and Actual Privacy.

Unless you plan to genital check Every Student, you're not going to know who is using what bathrooms when. So give students Privacy. Leave them alone. Protect all youth, ESPECIALLY Trans Youth.


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<p>I don’t live in Virginia and  won't spend money in the state on travels if they don't respect people on both sides of this issue. Trans kids deserve to be love and respect for who they are. </p>


You will kill innocent kids if there isnt an opposition

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Everyday, every minute theres a trans child who's been misgendered and bullied because who they are, even without dangerous laws such as this one being suggested. If this is made legal, you are putting hundreds of trans children, potentially even adults at risk for depression and suicide. This doesnt protect people, it harms them. Being Transgender doesnt effect anyone else, except the fragile egos of biggoted people, especially the ones running our own government. This is fascism at work, not allowing an individual freedom to be expressed. "Home of the Free" my ass. Protect Trans kids now!! Sincerly a trans teen who used to reside in Virginia.


Gov Youngkins proposed TG policy

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I have read the proposal of Gov Youngkin and agree with it.  I believe in birth certificates and being used.  I feel this protects all children.

Jean W


Transgender policies

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Thank you for everything you are doing to give parents a say in their child's education. We, as parents, should not have to worry about the opposite gender entering the school restrooms. It seems that some are trying to sexualize topics that shouldn't even be discussed. Keep up the good work!


Strongly Support Youngkin

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<p>Thank you Gov Youngkin for bringing sanity bsck to Virginia Government and respecting the power of families. </p>


retired caring educator

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<p>I oppose the new policy and hope that Virginia schools will follow Fairfax County's lead in helping all children to feel safe and appreciated no matter who they are or what their gender is.  This is, after all, a free country and we should all be able to make our own choices. </p>


Highly disapprove

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Until Mr. Youngkin has a transgendered child, he needs to STFU and sit down when he tells those that have, or are transgender, that he knows best how to parent. This “law”, and I use that phrase sarcastically, is going to cause even more harm… and potentially get some kids killed, either by their hand, or at the hands of others. For all the chest-thumping of being “the party if parentsl rights”, and “God-loving Christians”, et cetera, ad nauseum, et merda… this policy is anything but.


Trans kids deserve our love and support

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I'm a Virginia resident and I personally know many trans kids. We should be looking at the recommendations of doctors, scientists, psychologists in how best to support kids who are dealing with gender dysphoria. These are people who have dedicated their lives to trying to help kids who may be struggling with their gender identity grow up to be happy and healthy adults no matter what gender they decide they are. The evidence is overwhelming: allowing kids the option to explore their gender through name, pronouns, clothing, and social interactions improves their mental health. It allows them to learn better, improves their self esteem, reduces their risk of suicide, and allows them to enter life confident in who they are.

Sadly, some parents will abuse children who don't comply with their demands to use the name and pronouns the parent wants. Requiring a school to "out" a kid to their parent means that teachers and staff are being forced to aid and abet in literal child abuse. A teacher's responsibility is first and foremost to their students. Schools MUST put student's rights and privacy needs over that of the parents.

Again, this isn't simply my opinion, this is the resounding voice of decades of research and studies across all of academia. Please don't listen to anti-trans voices who prioritize controlling children over the best interest of the students. Trans kids deserve our love and support, not enabling and empowering those who would do harm to them for who they are.


Leave trans people alone

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Leave trans people & trans youth alone, bullying children isn’t cool & debating what to do with with such a small population of people based on nothing more than fear-mongering & politics is a crappy thing to do. Let them live their lives with their friends at school & have fun, if you pass this, you’re only skiing the lives of the children miserable, what happened to “protecting children.”


Protect Trans Youth & Trans Futures

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This shouldn't be a topic of discussion anymore... trans kids just need to use the bathroom and they should be allowed to feel as comfortable as anyone else when they're changing for gym or after school sports. It's asinine that any parent can claim that they care about any child, let alone their own, if they oppose children being able to enjoy their lives. I hope, for any child of these parents, that someday they learn to change their ignorance and learn to open their hearts to more than their extremely narrow views on the human experience.


Strongly Oppose

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I am strongly opposed to the 2022 proposed model school policy.

I note that there is a substantial difference between the proposed policy and the one issued in 2021. The former omits the language about respecting and acknowledging a child's feelings and fears.  What happened to the concern for the privacy of the child?

While I can appreciate a notice to parents, for example, that a child is being bullied, or is a bully, or that the child is inattentive or is ill.  These are issues that pertain to the child's ability to learn and the safety of the child and/or their classmates.  However, to intrude into a family's life by notifying parents that a child is identifying as gay or transgender at school could be injurious to the child, or to the school staff designated to make the report, and seems to me unnecessary.  This is far too sensitive an issue for the school to insert itself between the student and their parents.  Some things are best left for parents and children to muddle through, without the intrusion of third parties.

I do not think that the pretext for the policy - that parents deserve to know about a child's gender identification because they have a right to participate in their child's upbringing- is the actual underlying reason for this change in policy.  The new policy strikes me as regressive, moralistic and authoritarian. However, accepting for the moment the stated reasons for the policy, I can foresee some unpleasant consequences if it is implemented.  For instance, suppose the parents who are notified are unwilling to accept the meaning of the notice?  Suppose they instead react violently to whoever from the school does the reporting?  Or, suppose the parents don't want to acknowledge their child's identity and, as long as they can believe it is going undetected by the community, are willing to ignore it? In that case, if the parents perceive the information as shaming, it could result in harm to the child by the parents, or the child, who may be unready to acknowledge the situation openly with their parents, could commit self-harm.  Not everyone is as enlightened as they could be.

Thus, in consequence of my views presented here, I respectfully request that you reconsider this new very ill-considered change.


Goodbye, LGBTQ+ tourism

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My husband and I were planning a trip to Shenandoah for our anniversary in the spring, since we've been before and enjoyed it. But we have a rule about traveling to areas where people like us and our friends are discriminated against, shamed, and treated as sub-human, and Virginia is headed not only doing this, but despicably targeting children.  Luckily, there's some lovely options in places closer to us and in states where the political establishment doesn't brutalize minorities to win the votes of bigots.


Oppose this guidance. Protect all students.

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I am writing to voice my OPPOSITION to the proposed new guidance regarding transgender youth. These youth, just like all other human beings, deserve to be treated fairly. Requiring transgender students who may experience abuse at home if they express their gender identity need to feel safe at school. Forcing them to choose between their preferred name/pronouns/identity at school and their safety at home will pose a tremendous risk to their mental health.

Schools do not seek to control children or undermine parents. Teachers, counselors, and staff want to educate children. In order for children to learn, their basic needs must first be met. Children who are suffering depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and are experiencing threats, bullying, and risk of sexual abuse at school are not going to be able to learn.

I invite you to please look at these research studies which find that transgender youth are at highest risk of suicide and sexual assault when their preferred name/pronouns/gender expression are not permitted. And I also ask you to reflect on who is creating this issue. Is it truly the very small number of Virginia students that are transgender people? Or is it the politicians who want to divide us, scare us, and use innocent children as pawns in their ideology wars?

Live and let live. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Austin, A., Craig, S. L., D’Souza, S., & McInroy, L. B. (2022). Suicidality Among Transgender Youth: Elucidating the Role of Interpersonal Risk Factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(5–6), NP2696–NP2718.

Murchison G. R., , Agénor M., , Reisner S. L., , & Watson R. J. (2019). School restroom and locker room restrictions and sexual assault risk among transgender youth. Pediatrics, 143(6), e20182902

The Trevor Project. (2020). 2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. New York, New York: The Trevor Project.

Thoma, B. C., Eckstrand, K. L., Montano, G. T., Rezeppa, T. L., & Marshal, M. P. (2021). Gender Nonconformity and Minority Stress Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(6), 1165–1183.


Transgender policy input

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As a school social worker who has served in multiple states and multiple settings (public and private) over the past 18 years I write to submit public comment on the current transgender student policies. Some schools in Virginia currently have policies in place that don't require parental permission. That said, if those policies were to be rolled back it would have significant impact on those individual students who are already at higher risk-just given their LGBTQ/Trans status.  A 2022 study on LGBTQ population (of 34,000+) reflected 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Fewer than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth found their home to be gender-affirming. LGBTQ youth who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide. LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not.

We need these proven statistics to speak for our LGBTQ youth and we need their schools and communities to support them (AND their families). If we implement policies that are the opposite those stats will continue to speak for themselves and we will lose lives.

Don't just say you support children and parents -show it in evidence based practice and choices, decisions, and policies that back all children and families.


Stop discriminating against Muslims- Muslim community supports Governor Youngkin

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Please follow through on your election promises governor. We will continue to support you. Keep our Muslim children safe.


Oppose


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The Muslim Community 100% Supports- please read and help governor.

For some of our daughters and women in our Muslim community, wearing a hijab is the core culture and a strict religious practice. Our daughters have been observing this for modesty and privacy, and they do not feel safe changing their clothes in the presence of biological males, since they remove their hijab only in the presence of other females.

We demand segregated washrooms, change rooms and field trip accommodation for biological males and females use be clearly written in details in the Code of Conduct and strictly implemented to ensure safety for all school students. Our daughters must not only be safe but feel physically, emotionally, and morally safe when they use washrooms, change rooms and field trip accommodation


NO adults encouraging boys to use the girls restroom opens them up to bullying. not the other way.

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If you don't want kids to get bullied then stop encouraging them to act creepy at school.


Help Trans, Gay and Bi teens and their families

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<p>The new regulations are not going to help Trans, Gay and Bi teens and their families.  We need more social workers, more educated teachers and less blame and condemnation.  This is a political stunt which is inhumane and definitely not showing love of neighbor.  Shame on the Governor.  </p>


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Governor Youngkin's Proposal makes common sense and should be adopted by all school boards if you do really do care about children who attend public schools.  Female athletes should not have to compete against transgender persons and female students should not have to be subjected to transgender persons in student rest rooms.  At any other time in our history, allowing these practices would be considered abominable by any truly civilized society which respects natural science and not a presumed science that is completely contradictory.  Unfortunately, students are very easily brainwashed and parents unwittingly acquiese with their misguided wishes even when these wishes or desires are irrational and based upon their immaturity.  It is misguided when students, not parents, dictate behavioral policy and when teachers, not parents, usurp what are and should be parental responsibilities.


trans students just need to use the bathroom - stop the hate

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I can promise you that every trans child just wants to use the bathroom, (usually) wash their hands, and leave. Forcing a trans child to use the bathroom that does NOT MATCH who they are and quite frankly what they look like is psychologically abusive and opens them up to bullying and violence.

When these children are beaten up at school

when these children experience severe depression

when these children die by suicide

that violence is a direct result of these hateful policies. History will not be kind to you for legislating hate.


Comments posted by Liberal trolls not even from Virginia

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People who are are not even from Virginia and the people who post anonymously are posting multiple comments against Youngkins policy. Just how they would send people to speak at school board meetings who don't even live in the county to try and push the trangender policy down our throats. We know what you are doing. More people agree with his policy then don't. Do not be confused or be swayed, keep doing what is right and protect our children. We are with you Governor!!! And Department of Education we see you, don't try to force you agenda on us. .


Trans rights

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<p>Not from Virginia, but if this bill passes I will make sure to never even think about going. </p>


Support Gov. Youngkin's proposal

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It has always been accepted (common sense) that parent's have the responsibility and right to direct their children's education.  The very fact that some school districts feel the need to hide information from parents about their own children should be a big red flag.  Parent's need to be involved in any major decision involving their children and that doesn't stop at the school property.

So many raising their voices for the "rights" of the trans student who one day may be this and another day that.  But, the great majority of students want to be comfortable in their restroom or locker room.  They don't hate the trans student but their own rights are just as important and should not be trampled.

These new regulations do not eliminate every possibility of a trans student to participate as they wish.  But it requires a serious, informed process for what will impact not only the trans child but likely others who want to maintain their own rights of privacy.

Let's hold to common sense about this.  Support the new policy.


Protect Trans Youth

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I am urging the Youngkin administration to NOT implement its proposed policy for transgender youth. Transgender youth deserve to express their identities freely in school, use bathroom facilities that match their gender identity, have teachers call them by their name and pronouns, participate in sports that match their gender identity, etc. I am taking an adolescent development class this semester, and we learned that transgender youth experience much less depression, distress, and anxiety when they are allowed to express their gender identity. Please DO NOT exacerbate mental health issues that are already affecting our kids, especially LGBTQ+ kids. Please DO NOT enforce this policy. This will make schools even less safe for trans youth, and they deserve to learn in a space that recognizes and respects their gender identity. Please PROTECT TRANS YOUTH. DO NOT follow in the footsteps of other states who have implemented these policies when it is clear that they only harm trans students. Please allow Virginia to lead by example and PROTECT TRANS YOUTH.


Do not disregard the 90% to appease the few

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<p>I do not want my daughter’s bathroom and locker room shared with human beings that have a penis. Why, if a school has no trans babies/young kids, that school still allows any biological male that says he is a trans in the baby/young girl’s bathroom and locker room. NO BIOLOGICAL MALES IN THE GIRL’s PRIVATE AREAS. Youngkin’s plan does not do enough for me but it’s a beginning. DO NOT DISREGARD THE MANY TO APPEASE THE FEW. </p>


Guns cause way more damage than pronouns

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Who cares if a kid wants to be called he, or she, or they? Or all three?! Teenagers try on all types of identities, it’s what teenagers do. It’s normal neurological development. I am WAY more worried about guns and gun control and the harm that a mentally ill person with unfettered access to a firearm may do to my kids than I am worried about their pronouns. I am way more worried about my daughter being attacked by a heterosexual rapist than I am about her sharing a bathroom with a transgender kid. Your policies are harming kids, not helping them. I hope they teach my kids CRT- those who don’t remember the sins of the past are doomed to repeat them! I hope my kids learn empathy for those struggling with their identity, and compassion for the mentally ill. Republicans need to stop slashing funding for mental health programs and start implementing gun control and stop worrying about trans teenagers who are bothering no one but themselves. I hope Youngkin loses BIG next time and I’ll be helping to campaign for his opponent, whomever they/he/she may be.


Support for Patent’s Rights

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<p>I absolutely support policies that return rights to parents!! No public entity should overstep a parents right to care for their children. Every child should feel safe in school as an institution for education, not medical care, not overstepping parents wishes. </p>


Distasteful hate against children

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The people that promote hate filled policies against children, or anyone, are misinformed inhumane beings. I can only pray for them. The politicians that instead of promoting these hate filled policies should be promoting humane policies that encourage people should not have any business in politics or any making decisions that affect lives.

Observe yourselves!


A Policy is Not A Law, Please Refrain from Changing our Award-Winning Public School System

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<p>Once again you are taking a fringe issue at best and blowing it up for your political gain with the presumed ultimate goal of closing down award-winning Virginia public schools.  Stop it, please.  We cannot all afford to send our children to your elite schools, nor do we want to. Our public-school educated children know the difference between a policy and the law, as well as right from wrong, and truth and lies. They also know that we are all created equal with the same rights. </p>


Well now you can never try another child as an adult in court

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If a child isn't capable of asserting how they want to be addressed at school then how could any child ever be charged as and adult for a crime in the state of Virginia?


Dangerous Policy

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As a trans teacher in VA it is incredibly disappointing that this is the type of policy that my state is trying to put into place. For trans kids, but especially those with unsupportive homes, school should be a place of acceptance and a respite from the disgusting insensitive bigots in the world. Keep your policy out of how I run my classroom.


Lol- only Christian’s don’t want their daughters to see penis and balls in their locker rooms?

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95% of society takes exception to the woke lefts invasion upon little girls restrooms and locker rooms. It’s called morality- not Christianity.  It is only the perverse progressives that are ok with sending males into little girls bathrooms. It’s only woke progressives that are obnoxious enough to demand that males play on female sports teams.


Trans bill opposition

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I oppose this!

If you continue with it I will not spend my money in your state and actively tell other tourists not to spend their money


Transgender rules

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<p>That you target this unbelievably small population for your own political gain is shameful.  Leave them alone and focus on your own shortcomings as a human being.   Not an issue for anyone but you. </p>


Dangerous and wrong

Tim Tate -- Pastor in The United Methodist Church

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As a pastor, I seek to live by and share 2 simple rules -- "love one another and love your neighbor as you love yourself."  Though this seems like an easy rule to live by, it's a lot harder than we think, because it demands that we seek the best for the other.  As a United Methodist pastor, we have 3 other rules that we live by, the first of which is "do no harm."  Again, this is much harder to live into that it might seem.

I am the father of a transgender daughter and the spouse of a high school nurse in the county, and both of those roles have solidified for me that the proposed policy is both dangerous and wrong.  To force school officials to "out" students who are trying to understand who they were born to be and/or are dealing with gender dysphoria risks the increased chance of that student hurting themselves or committing suicide, or going home to face rejection, anger, or abuse.  If every parent were educated on gender dysphoria and would listen, then that is one thing, but we know that is not the case.

As for setting a rule for assigned bathroom use and team membership, I refer back to my first paragraph.  From my perspective that is not loving nor and certainly has the potential to do harm.  Use of the bathroom is a basic human right, and when someone is dealing with issue of gender dysphoria, they need safe spaces and safe people to be around.  The risk of the opposite of that happening is greatly increased with this proposal.

As a parent I can understand a need and desire to know information such as this, but I also know and have dealt with many parents and people in my vocation to know that such information in the hands of some parents is dangerous.  Not to mention the harm that is being done to teachers and administrators in forcing them to "out" youth who are already dealing with far more stress than the average student.

I invite all who are reading these to do the research.  Seek to understand the impact of gender dysphoria and how these dangerous policies put children at risk, sadly in the very institutions that are often the only safe spaces for many kids.

Thank you for your time and consideration and reconsideration of approval of this reckless policy.


Governor Youngkin's proposed rule on transgender students in Virginia schools

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VA Dept of Education,

These proposed rules are inconsistent with both federal and state law.  They are written to appease bigoted people who think that their views of transgender people should take precedence over everyone else, including those young people whose wellbeing and perhaps lives could be put at risk if these rules are fully implemented.

They are mean-spirited and sully the image of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which was once known as one of the most welcoming states in the United States.  Please do not implement them.

Stephanie Mercier


Oppose this hateful policy!

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I urge Virginian lawmakers to oppose this dangerous and hateful policy. Trans kids deserve to have their identities and needs respected and protected from this kind of reactionary hostility disguised as policy!


Arrest parents who drink while they trick-or-treat

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<p>Parents in my neighborhood flaunt the open container laws and walk around town like it madras gras on Halloween night.  Many of the parents then proceed to drink and drive with children in the car.  I've even seen parents take babies to the bar!  Someone has to protect the children from these people. </p>


Treatment of Transgender students

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I support your policy on the treatment of transgender students and hope you will not change any of this safe and needed policy!


Support for the Youngkin

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<p>I support Governor.  My 8 yr old knows girls use the bathroom with girls and boys use the boys together. Boys aren't allowed in the bathroom when she using the bathroom or taking a bath. </p>


HATEFUL, BULLYING POLICIES!!!!!!!!

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Republicans continue to strip away basic freedoms, and this is just another example. Think beyond white, “Christian” men, and find some compassion for all. These are bullying and hateful policies that are a disgrace to a large amount of Virginians. Cannot wait until you are out of office, and there is a return to basic human decency!


Blood on your hands

What a sad state of affairs. You would force students who just want to be themselves into a miserable existence, should their parents not be supportive, and turn teachers into accomplices.Let kids be who they want to be. They are not asking to do drugs. They are not asking to smoke. They are asking you for a shred of human respect, and you would dare deny them that in the name of a science that implores you to do the contrary.
You will have blood on your hands should this pass.

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What a sad state of affairs. You would force students who just want to be themselves into a miserable existence, should their parents not be supportive, and turn teachers into accomplices.

Let kids be who they want to be. They are not asking to do drugs. They are not asking to smoke. They are asking you for a shred of human respect, and you would dare deny them that in the name of a science that implores you to do the contrary.

You will have blood on your hands should this pass.


Oppose this hateful, dangerous policy

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<p>Misgendering, outing, and othering of trans youth has a gross negative impact on their mental health and can sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. This is not for the parents to decide, it's the students and they're overwhelmingly against it. Please vote no. Virginia is better than this. </p>


Protect children. Defend parental rights. Support sanity.

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It is a good law, put parental rights back into schools

Teachers, administrators, and elected officials who oppose this law have a choice. Follow the governor who was democratically elected. If you don't want to obey the law then quit. What you can't do is ignore the law, parents, and treat our children as your own. Any ideologue who undermines the governor should not only be fired, but prosecuted. End child abuse through this poppycock of 'affirming trans health care'.

Trans mutilating surgery is a very serious step to alter one's outward appearance but does nothing to change one's gender. Parents should absolutely be the ones to notify the school and not the school "hiding" a student's choice.

I understand that a small minority of students who identify as a gender not of their birth may be reluctant or even fearful of telling a parent, because they are mentally ill. Parents need to know of this mental illness so that it can be addressed in the privacy of the doctor's office, not in a public school.

This is a good law; put parental rights back in our schools!


Oppose Transgender Policy Change - Creates Risk of Suicide and Abuse

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<p>Your proposed policy includes no provisions to protect students who may be transgender -- who are among the most vulnerable in the school system. It places them at greater risk from teachers and other students who bully them by refusing to address them as they prefer; it puts the political views of those who oppose transgender people ahead of the political views of those of us who support transgender people; it puts transgender students and all LGBTQ students in a harmful, negative position overall, thus, heightening the risk of suicide or self harm; it fails to include any protections for students who would be subjected to abuse from a parent; it perpetuates the ongoing use of sexual stereotypes and harmful bullying on the basis of sexual preference -- it includes NO language providing consequences for bullying of transgender students by teachers or other students or school staff, which is incomprehensible; finally, instead of identifying opportunities to provide meaningful counseling that can save kids lives, the policy expressly withdraws counseling from kids who are most in need of it.  If you don't believe in transgender rights, then by all means use whatever pronoun to refer to yourself, but you have no right to determine the name of another person and your beliefs about someone else's pronoun use are irrelevant.  Wrapping this policy in the dressing of "parent rights" imposes the beliefs of a small, vocal, often mean spirited or worse set of parents on the rest of us.  It should be rejected and rewritten with the goal of protecting vulnerable students rather than using them as political pawns to divide people into "us" and "them" to perpetuate fear and hatred towards others.  </p>


Not all of us want to be forced to live as “Christians”!

Don’t tell us how much you love all babies, then tell us how much you hate gay people as these policies imply.
Stop trying to use coercion to steer us back to your hypocritical sense of “Christianity.”You ran on lies and deception. Pray for your soul. You are the worst governor ever!

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Don’t tell us how much you love all babies, then tell us how much you hate gay people as these policies imply.

Stop trying to use coercion to steer us back to your hypocritical sense of “Christianity.”

You ran on lies and deception. Pray for your soul. You are the worst governor ever!


Protect trans youth

Good day,My name is Claire Aran and I am a transgender woman. The proliferation of anti-trans legislation across this country has left me speechless more than once in the last year. I know what it is like to feel alone and terrified of being different, only when I was in school decades ago now, there was no support at all, and I barely survived. I stayed in the closet into my 30's and it liked to have killed me. These kids are not asking for anything more than their cisgender peers. Respect, dignity, and for adults to stop behaving like terrified children. It is utterly bizarre to see grown adults assuming the absolute worst of children, as if the only reason a child or young person might express their transness would be to take advantage of some way to get into the girls locker room for nefarious reasons. This is asinine. These are kids. They are not monsters.They are scared and feeling the very heavy judgement of a society that can't understand them and refuses to try. Your job is not to abuse them by forcing them to be something they are not, but to help them become the best version of themselves they can be. Shape up and get it together, before it is too late. Protect trans youth!

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Good day,
My name is Claire Aran and I am a transgender woman. The proliferation of anti-trans legislation across this country has left me speechless more than once in the last year. I know what it is like to feel alone and terrified of being different, only when I was in school decades ago now, there was no support at all, and I barely survived. I stayed in the closet into my 30's and it liked to have killed me.

These kids are not asking for anything more than their cisgender peers. Respect, dignity, and for adults to stop behaving like terrified children. It is utterly bizarre to see grown adults assuming the absolute worst of children, as if the only reason a child or young person might express their transness would be to take advantage of some way to get into the girls locker room for nefarious reasons. This is asinine. These are kids. They are not monsters.

They are scared and feeling the very heavy judgement of a society that can't understand them and refuses to try. Your job is not to abuse them by forcing them to be something they are not, but to help them become the best version of themselves they can be. Shape up and get it together, before it is too late. Protect trans youth!


Transgender children should be protected

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<p>Transgender children should be able to use the pronoun and name they are comfortable with and not involve anyone else.  they should be able to use the restroom they are comfortable in.  Involving their parents may not be in their best interest if they are not being supported at home.  I disagree with this policy. </p>


I fully support these common sense policies

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I support and believe in these common sense policies to protect our children.

School is a place for education and learning. Reading, writing, arithmetic, science and history, these are the hallmarks of a quality education. These are also things that seem to be lacking in today's classrooms. We do not send our children to school to be indoctrinated by activist educators. We do not send our children to school to be groomed for sex and LGBT..... lifestyles. There is no room in our children's education for gender theory, critical race theory or drag events.

The parents of the children have the last say in said children's education. Period. We do not want gender confusion or self hate to be at the forefront of education. We do not want to have to deprogram our kids every night when they get back home. We want our children to have an academic education that prepares them for collage and the real world. I believe that these new policies will help prepare our kids without the confusion of self that will ultimately hinder our children when they grow up to face the trials and struggles of real world life.


PARENTS are the protectors of their children. Not the School. Not the state.

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<p>The language that insinuates that children need to be "protected" from their parents during such sensitive and difficult times (like puberty!) is chilling. It is the parents' role, privilege, and responsibility to raise, protect, and MAKE DECISIONS for their children. Not the school's. Not the states. The dangerous idea that a school, school system, administration, or government can know a child BETTER than his or her parents needs to be countered. Children do not have the maturity, ability, or emotional capacity to make life altering decisions. That is what parents are for. Parents are the primary, and most important educators, decision makers, and guardians of their children. Full stop. </p>


Oppose!

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I am writing as a concerned citizen and oppose the proposed "Model Policies" that would roll back transgender rights in Virginia. It would deny transgender youth the ability to use the facilities they identify with, create an arduous process to be acknowledged with proper pronouns, force teachers to expose one's gender identity to their parents (which can be very unsafe for many youth), and no longer require school employees to not discriminate against trans youth. Transgender youth have already extremely high rates of suicide, self-harm, and mental health crises, and this will only make that worse. Please revoke support for the Model Policies and refuse to implement these policies.


Hateful, hypocritical policies!!

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From WAPO:

”If these so-called Christians want their children to be raised with their religious beliefs, then they should homeschool them or send them to religious schools. However, they won’t do that because they don’t want to make the necessary sacrifices. They’re “Christian” enough to try to impose their beliefs on everyone else, but not enough to give up the money or the time necessary to pay tuition or homeschool.”


It is a good law, put parental rights back into schools

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I am a teacher in a school district that seems to oppose this law. I don't understand it. As a parent and a person who has an extended family member who is trans through surgery, this is a very serious step to alter one's gender that requires thoughtful and persistent consideration. Parents should absolutely be the ones to notify the school and not the school "hiding" a student's choice.

I understand that a small minority of students who identify as a gender not of their birth may be reluctant or even fearful of telling a parent. Worse, that their parent would not condone such a conversation or behaviour. Yet, as the custodian of this child until they are 18, they should know and have the opportunity to support their child full stop. If the parent harms the child because of this, parental rights need to be at risk.

This is a good law; put parental rights back in our schools!


Trans rights are human rights for all!!!!!

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<p>Trans rights are human rights! We need to support one another not constantly break eachother down till they mold to our own beliefs. </p>


OPPOSE your bigoted policy. Trans students have rights. Change the law.

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The law should be changed to support trans students rights.  "It's the law." is not a valid argument. Many stupid/biased laws have been changed. Oh...and why don't you do something useful instead of leaving the state to go campaigning?  Resigning would be good, you are destroying the Commonwealth of VA. Take your vest with you!


Promises made; promises kept

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<p>Thank you, Governor for delivering on exactly what you said you would do if elected. The people have spoken and you’ve kept your promise. </p>


“Parental rights,” my butt!!

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Youngkin said during a recent interview: “We must have parents at the front of the line — not at the exclusion of a trusted teacher or counselor — but parents must be the first stop for these decisions.”

How shortsighted of you! Not all of us are so dumb to fall for this.

While this might work if the parents are loving and supportive,  but what if they aren’t? Then what? You may end up with blood on your hands.

What basis do you have to overrule all of the major psychological associations that have designed standards of care for trans minors over the last several decades? Answer: You don’t. You are just a transphobic bigot!!


Pro parent is pro child

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<p>Sadly our current culture has been diminishing the role of parents in the formation of their children’s education and/or school environment. Thank you Gov. Younkin for restoring this God given right. I am the parent not the state. My taxes pay for public schools to exist. It is an upside down world if I have to be informed of my child taking a Tylenol but can’t know of current bathroom policies. </p>


Board of Education Policy

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STRONGLY SUPPORT as I do the immediate termination of any employee complicit in deceiving or lying to a parent.


Strong disagreement

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As a parent of two children in Virginia schools, one entering the transgender process, I most strongly disagree with the proposed changes to the guidance document. They are written to create harm to all children in Virginia schools. My transitioning child already faces bullying and discrimination from teachers and classmates, while having expressed intent to self-harm. This policy change will only make things worse for all-transgender children.


Parent / Veteran / Voter and Taxpayer

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Dear Governor,

I wanted to beg you not to cave to the liberals who think Transgender rights trump a parent’s rights.  They are the right thing for every student and all parents.  No child should should be favored over any other child.  If these people believe in science then using biology is the fairest way to administer this fairness.    I have kids in high school in Henrico County.  I’m angry with all the things that our school board has been allowing.  They locked up my kids during COVID, it has hurt them more than I can tell you.  Now they are back in school and I have to think every day, are one of my kids going to come home from school with a story like what happened in Louden County?!  You’re doing what is right.  Do not back down from these bullies!  They aren’t worth your time to even consider their misguided thoughts in this issue.  Parents should have more rights over their own kids than anyone else.  You know that is the right position.  Stand up for us!  Put these policies in place as soon as possible.


Virginia is for haters with these policies!!!!

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These policies send a message of hate and rejection towards transgendered youth! Virginia will live in shame until you leave office, and things go back to normal then. Worst governor who deceived the naive and ran on lies! Please tell me how that is being a good “Christian”?

I was taught that we were all made in the image and likeness of God. You obviously do not agree, so what kind of Christian are you? Hypocrite!


Opposed

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I am strongly opposed to the proposed school legislation aimed at transgender and LGBTQ+ students. These rules, while seeking to give the parents more say in their child's life, will actually do more harm than the good they supposedly are offering. We should aim to protect a student's right to privacy, as well as protect their mental health. Publicly outing a student who is LGBTQ+ is harmful to the student and can even be dangerous. I think school should be a safe and welcoming space for all students. These policies would have the opposite effect. What if a child doesn't feel safe at their own home, but was forced to have their parents find out about their sexual orientation because of these policies? That is a frightening scenario. How will you feel if you pass this legislation, only to be met with an increase in already high student suicide rates? Or an increase in hate crimes against the affected students? These proposed laws are rooted in homophobia, transphobia, and generalized misunderstanding of how best to protect all of our students in my home state. Please consider these points and do not pass these measures.


Kids deserve freedom and safety to be themselves at school. Please stop the hate/bigotry of trans!

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I have always been a Republican but I strongly oppose Gov Youngkin's plan regarding the 2022 Model Policies. It ignores the current thinking and guidance from childhood educators, physicians, psychologists and mental health experts. It furthers an agenda against trans kids which will be harmful and it promotes a school environment which will be detrimental to the social atmosphere.


Quit forcing “Christian” nationalism on all of us!!!!

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From WAPO:

Contrary to statements that suggest otherwise, the 2022 model policies do impose a specific ideology. Christian nationalism is not relegated to churches, extremist groups or religious-political leaders; it exerts control and fosters political violence through public policies and institutions that seek to exterminate non-White, non-Christian, and non-heteropatriarchal thought from the nation.


Opposed to these horrible policies

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I am adamantly opposed the proposed model policies regarding trans students.

These proposals do nothing but target trans students in ways that are unconscionable – let them be kids and leave them alone.  You claim all students are treated with dignity when these policies are anything but vile and hateful and designed to harass, humiliate and subject them to possible physical, mental and emotional abuse and bullying.

These policies are against Virginia Human Rights Act and you will waste thousands of taxpayer dollars to defend this malicious policy in court