teaching your children about trans people won't turn them trans, you ing loser

I spent 26 years watching the most heterosexual garbage on my tv because people like Youngkin thought watching anything queer would turn their precious children gay, god forbid that ever happen (eyeroll). Yet here I am, a cis woman, eating pussy like it was made for me. If your kid is trans and you let them do what they want, you'll have a happy trans kid. If you try to "persuade" your trans kids into being cis, you end up with a dead kid.What a child watches or knows about, doesn't suddenly change turn them into that thing, but hiding information from them is a sure sign you are at the very least manipulating your child and what they are allowed to think is "okay". If your child is begging teachers not to tell you that they're trans, maybe you should reflect on why your child is so scared of you. Children should be able to trust that their parents will help them, and be there for them, not actively abuse them every time them intentionally use the wrong name or tell them they don't know anything.Does no one remember what it was like being a child? Didn't you wish you could just cuddle with your momma and not worry about anything? Why are you so afraid of letting children feel safe within themselves?

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I spent 26 years watching the most heterosexual garbage on my tv because people like Youngkin thought watching anything queer would turn their precious children gay, god forbid that ever happen (eyeroll). Yet here I am, a cis woman, eating pussy like it was made for me. If your kid is trans and you let them do what they want, you'll have a happy trans kid. If you try to "persuade" your trans kids into being cis, you end up with a dead kid.
What a child watches or knows about, doesn't suddenly change turn them into that thing, but hiding information from them is a sure sign you are at the very least manipulating your child and what they are allowed to think is "okay". If your child is begging teachers not to tell you that they're trans, maybe you should reflect on why your child is so scared of you. Children should be able to trust that their parents will help them, and be there for them, not actively abuse them every time them intentionally use the wrong name or tell them they don't know anything.
Does no one remember what it was like being a child? Didn't you wish you could just cuddle with your momma and not worry about anything? Why are you so afraid of letting children feel safe within themselves?


STRONGLY OPPOSE - Support and protect LGBTQ+ kids!

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I strongly OPPOSE any changes to the 2021 guidelines. The proposed changes will hurt and endanger LGBTQ+ kids. Requiring faculty and staff to out trans and nonbinary kids to their parents is cruel and inhumane. Kids should be allowed to identify how they wish instead of having compulsory heterosexual ideas forced upon them by bigoted, narrow-minded politicians.


Strongly Oppose

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As a Canadian watching the deepening divide south of our border, knowing that these divides inevitably colour the Canadian political landscape, I must voice my strong opposition to this policy as early as possible.

Our culture gives youth too little credit. We do not trust our own children to speak their minds and make their own decisions. Coddling them and speaking for them does them terrible disservice. We must foster strong critical thinking skills and bring fresh minds and voices to the table as they grow into adults.

This bill hamstrings kids. It tells them that they cannot speak or think for themselves. It sets them up to stagnate, parroting the opinions of the previous generation without ever having the chance to form their own.

We must do better by our kids. Let them speak for themselves. As a parent, if you disagree with what your child is saying, TALK TO THEM. Don't legislate their voice away. You may find your own opinion changes in the process.


SUPPORT AND PROTECT TRANS YOUTH

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SUPPORT AND PROTECT TRANS YOUTH! Trans rights are human rights.


Strongly oppose

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If a child is afraid to tell his or her parents I don't think that parent is exercising his or her rights to the benefit of the child


Strongly support!

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Do not give in to the demands of a tiny portion of misguided people about a phenomenon that will be looked back upon by history as utter insanity.  If you want to pretend your child is another gender for attention, maybe you are the one who should homeschool instead of rational parents having to change everything to accommodate your mental illness.  Children are assigned a gender at birth because gender is a biological fact.


Oppose

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Strongly oppose. This will kill trans kids. They deserve equal rights and to be treated like cis kids


Strongly Support

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Parental rights trump those of the groomers


Trans kid's identities matter

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Do you know how harmful it is for trans children to not have identity affirming care?


Strongly Oppose these Guidelines

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I am commenting to strongly oppose these guidelines as they will further harm at risk kids and erode school districts rights and obligations to offer safe education to all students. Although these guidelines are supposedly in support of “parental rights” they only support parents who have one viewpoint. And we cannot sacrifice the actual rights of the students for supposed parental rights. All students deserve to be treated with respect and supported by their schools and teachers. I am a parent with a child in the Fairfax County Schools and I do not wish for our school system to be bound by these guidelines. Also I believe the guidelines violate Virginia Law, including recently passed Human Rights legislation.
LQBTQ+ kids deserve support and respect and not to be political pawns.


Strongly opposed

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<p>All evidence suggests that acceptance of trans identities leads to better outcomes. Forcing kids to out themselves or de-transition will have harmful effects. Let people be who they are and quit using trans people as a political cudgel. </p>


Harmful Policy for Transgender Youth

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It is incomprehensible that Gov. Youngkin has a genuine reason to propose this policy after the transgender policy, created by Gov. Northam, was designed according to best practices, after extensive research and aligns with the  Virginia Human Rights Act. Furthermore, studies consistently show that transgender children have higher rates of suicide, depression and anxiety, especially if they are Black or Brown women,  as assaults and murders of transgender women are an epidemic, according to the Leadership Council on Human and Civil Rights.

This is a perfect recipe for bullying, raping and shaming transgender students. Furthermore, LGBTQ plus children are subject to abuse and familial rejection if their parents refuse to acknowledge their gender identity, which is traumatizing.

Governor Youngkin is exploiting children to further his political goals, as children as young as three experience gender dysphoria. I sincerely hope that the state superintendent soundly rejects this harmful policy and shows their support for the rights of all students.


Outing, Banning amd Excluding is Tyranny

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Forcing trans girls into restrooms full of men will put them in danger and will encourage men do enter girl's toilets to do "investigations".  Banning pronouns is literally restricting speech. Outing people willlet bigots find easy victims to hurt peope.


OPPOSE-Our childrens’ lives are not your political fodder

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<p>I strongly oppose Youngkin’s proposed roll back on transgender kids’ rights. As a parent of a transgender child,  this is NOT about parental rights. Please take a cue from the Republican governor of Utah who doesn’t see eye to eye, but understands these are vulnerable children who deserve protecting, not bullying- which is what this is. </p>


Students Have Rights

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This legislation is unconstitutional. Students have a right to privacy and dignity. Trans youth are one of the most marginalized groups in the world and this will lead to more death and tragedy. All students have a right to dignity of not being misgendered by school staff. All students have a right to privacy to not be outed to their homophobic parents. All schools must be inclusive to all students and treat them with respect. I am a Virginia public school alum and I expect schools to become more safe for all students, including trans students. This policy is shameful and barbaric. Trans rights are human rights


Oppose Change - violates state law

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I don't actually expect anyone in the Youngkin administration to read these comments because he ran on a platform to harm kids.  But I'll add my comment anyway.  When a child is in an abusive household, often times their only safe place is school.  This policy removes that safe space and now puts more kids at risk of abuse and abandonment.

Far more kids are abused by members of their own family or their faith community than by schools which have structures in place to prevent abuse.


Support parental involvement

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100% support. Parents know better than schools what is best for their individual child and should be kept informed and involved in all decisions regarding their child.


Strongly Oppose

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This proposed policy is silly at best and inhumane at worst. If a student chooses to go by a nickname at school, must parents produce legal documents? If students fear a negative or even abusive parental reaction to their identities, must educators choose between ignoring a student's wishes or subjecting that student to potential abuse? Parents have a right to know their children are safe at school, and these policies, in addition to be illegal per § 22.1-23.3, will harm student safety.


Oppose

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STRONGLY OPPOSE 100%. THIS IS ABUSE TO TRANS KIDS. THEY DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT AS CIS KIDS.


Strongly oppose

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This proposal will do nothing to ensure trans people are treated equally, humanely, or safely. Those who advocate for "parents' rights" in education and defend themselves for being transphobic by citing the First Amendment are almost universally not interest in the welfare of any children, and are rather using children in schools to push for their agenda of making trans people unacceptable in public. Repealing previous protections because parents have complained about their right to control their child's education and environment is not only an absurd overreaction to the concerns of a minority on an issue that does not affect their child's safety, it is an overreach of the BoE in that it is listening only to a privileged few who dedicate their lives to hurting others and allowing transphobes to control the school system. No other group this small has ever been granted this much power to control the policies that affect every student in Virginia. If parental rights are so important, what about the right of trans children's parents to not have to treat their children's depression and inability to be themselves? Because that's what they're going to have to do if the proposal becomes policy. The people supporting this proposal don't care about children, they just want to be able to train their children that hating and hurting others is normal, okay, and encouraged. Don't let them.


FULL SUPPORT

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I fully support Youngkin's policy.  I fully support parent's rights - schools (the state) should never keep information from parents.  I fully support protecting our kids - restrooms/locker rooms should be separated by gender (not gender identity).

Our public schools are NO PLACE to be pushing gender ideologies!!


Protect Trans Kids

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<p>There is no reason to aid in children attempting suicide, which we already know this will do based on statistics. Glenn Youngkin is a danger to children and should be impeached for even proposing this. </p>


Opposed- I Support Trans Kids!

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Opposed. Trans kids deserves the same rights as CIS kids.


I support trans youth!

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<p>I support trans youth! </p>


Oppose- Public School Teacher, Parent

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I strongly oppose any government interference in the self-expression of children understanding their identity. The human mind and body is more complex than the fears of religion. We do not live in the United States of Jesus Christ. Public schools are for ALL children.


This law will kill children.

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The science is clear. Trans kids need affirming care. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-the-science-on-gender-affirming-care-for-transgender-kids-really-shows/?amp=true


Opposed

I am opposed to this policy as it approaches legalization of bullying.  There needs to be a better balance of the rights of teens to realize their gender identity with grace and compassion.  This policy actually prohibits teachers from using preferred pronouns without permission in writing from parents, and allows them to not use them even if the parents expressly give permission to do so.  This is a subtle form of bullying and prioritizes personal beliefs of teachers over those of students and even parents.I remember how much I hated using public restrooms in school when I was growing up without having to navigate it through personal gender identity questions.  I can't even imagine the level of anxiety produced by that.

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I am opposed to this policy as it approaches legalization of bullying.  There needs to be a better balance of the rights of teens to realize their gender identity with grace and compassion.  This policy actually prohibits teachers from using preferred pronouns without permission in writing from parents, and allows them to not use them even if the parents expressly give permission to do so.  This is a subtle form of bullying and prioritizes personal beliefs of teachers over those of students and even parents.

I remember how much I hated using public restrooms in school when I was growing up without having to navigate it through personal gender identity questions.  I can't even imagine the level of anxiety produced by that.


opposed.

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these measures will harm children.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>These policies are trash and trans and non-binary kids deserve love and support, not abuse and to be pawns to exploit for the Trumplican party. </p>


oppose


Strongly Support!

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The previous policy was an overreach and failed to demonstrate a compelling interest to exclude parents from critical information regarding the safety and well-being of their children. Thank you Governor for enforcing the 14th Amendment protections of families and recognizing that parents are in the best position to determine what is best for their child.

This is a well-thought-out policy that identifies the LAWS that are applicable, as well as case precedent.


protect our trans/non-binary students

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I oppose the proposed policy reversal b/c it doesn't give autonomy to trans and non-binary students and doesn't allow them to feel safe or gender-affirmed in their school environment. Please keep the Northam-era policies in place - they are better for students, parents, schools, and our communities as a whole.


STRONGLY OPPOSE! Protect trans kids from discrimination!

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Nobody should be forcibly outed. Nobody should be forced to use state-sanctioned pronouns. Nobody should be forced to use bathrooms which don't align with their felt sense of identity.

This policy will harm children if it passes.


Strongly Oppose

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Stop using policies and laws to hurt trans kids. Violence against children in any form is vile and uncalled for.


Strongly oppose

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<p>  This policy is political theater meant to appeal to the far-right crowd.  This does not consider the rights of teachers and students.  The far-right crowd wants to believe that educators are "encouraging" students to become trans, but many students are still trying to find out who they are. Being supportive and building trust is essential in the classroom.  No one is encouraging students to come out as trans--educators are simply being accepting of their students.  Classrooms are meant to be inclusive.   </p>


Strongly oppose

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As a cisgender former student of Gloucester High School, I supported trans student's rights while Gavin Grimm was taking GHS to the Supreme Court and I continue to support them now as a student employer in a Higher Education setting. Schools should let students explore their identity without punishing or embarrassing them in front of their peers. I believe this policy is a violation of student privacy.


Cis people shouldn’t get to make rules about trans people.

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<p>Glenn Youngkin should be impeached for supporting state sanctioned violence against children. Forcibly outing anyone is a form of violence and anti-Christian. Glenn Youngkin  is a hypocrite and a danger to children. </p>


This policy is abhorrent

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This policy will force teachers to call students by whatever is in the system regardless of if the child strongly opposes the name. Why should a parent have to sign off on what a child wants to be called by teachers and peers? We understand that someone mispronouncing a person’s name constantly is considered disrespectful, why does this not apply to calling a trans child by the name they don’t identify with?

Trans people have high suicidal thought and attempt statistics. This policy will only make those statistics worse.


Standing Up For Parents Rights!


Please support children

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More than 50% of transgender youth contemplate suicide. The fear of being rejected by the people they love the most often stops them from coming out and addressing the depression they feel. As a parent I would rather my child come out to anyone they feel safe with than for them to possibly decide they can’t take it and in a moment of fear take their own life.  Children, teens and young adults are more likely to follow through with thoughts of self harm as the frontal lobes of their brain are not fully developed. Being transgender is hard for a child they don’t feel like they belong in their own body. This policy could actually kill children.


Proposed model harms kids

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This proposed model will harm these kids who are already vulnerable. Not all children have supportive parents, and they will be at risk for greater abuse if this moves forward.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

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<p>I am writing to express strong support for the model policies. If anything, policies do not go far enough to protect students from activist teachers. Parents should be informed of everything. No secret names, no secret closets. Teachers don't get to substitute their judgement for parents' when they don't agree with their choices. </p>


TRANS KIDS DESERVE BETTER

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These policies are not on contrary to state law, but will be extremely harmful to trans kids. Do better!


Strongly Oppose, this policy will kill children

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By continuing to treat trans and nonbinary people as less than human, without the decency to live authentically as themselves, this policy will inevitably lead to more suicides in children. I don't think the people who wrote this policy understand how vital it is that we allow our children to be themselves. Trans and nonbinary children without supportive family and teachers will become depressed. They just want to live happy lives, as themselves, and this policy is setting them up for failure by refusing to acknowledge that they are people independent of their parents identities. Parents, your children are not meant to be extensions of yourself. They are not supposed to be mini-yous. They are their own person, and trying to force them to be what they are not will backfire spectacularly on you. I know I likely cannot change the minds of transphobes, but I will fight like hell to protect our children from them. If you continue with this policy, I swear you will have their suicides on your heads. May God forgive you for the sin you commit by enacting this policy.


Safe to go to school again

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Parents should be informed.  Students should be safe.  A small, but noisy legion of insistent degenerates shouldn't make parents so afraid that they don't want to risk their children going to school anymore.

Thank you for standing up to Trans bullies and their intolerant, hateful rhetoric.  Would that there were more of you around.


Strongly Oppose

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This is a harmful and shameful political policy. It will create an even more hostile environment in schools and communities. Our children all deserve respect and safety. I strongly oppose this legislation.


KEEP TRANS KIDS SAFE

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<p>Kids deserve to be treated with respect and should be allowed to be themselves safely. </p>


I stand with trans kids.

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I strongly oppose this bill. Trans kids, like all kids, deserve to feel safe in school. They just want to exist, and it's our job to support them. This is hateful and harmful to so many.


Strongly opposed

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Trans rights are human rights and should be protected, especially the rights of trans kids.


TRANS KIDS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS CIS KIDS

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<p>As a person who identifies as trans and went to public school in chesterfield county, I can say that this policy will lead to an even bigger rise in suicide rates amount trans kids. We just want to live. We are scraping by to survive just dealing with our own identities etc and we do not need adults controlling EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. We matter just as much as you. We matter just as much as your child. If you pass this policy, YOU are going to have blood on YOUR hands. YOU are going to be the reason for these kids killing themselves. It will all be on YOU! YOUR fault, not their parents and not theirs. I URGE YOU TO NOT PASS THIS POLICY. DO NOT BE THE REASON FOR COUNTLESS SUICIDES. I am begging you to allow trans kids to be KIDS. If you can allow a cis child to do what they want you HAVE to let a trans child do the same exact things. If you’ll recall there’s a word called “discrimination” which seems to have been forgotten when it comes to people who are not cis, straight, white, a male, a Christian, etc. If YOU have rights then so do I and if you think otherwise, WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE ARE EQUAL. </p>


Awesome! Finally getting parental rights back!

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I strongly support this. Parents have a right to know what it going on in their children's lives. It is important to know what kids are being encouraged to do by others.


Strongly opposed to this. Trans rights are human rights.

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<p>This is nothing more than transphobic cruelty. Trans people are human beings and they do not deserve to be treated this way. Trans rights are human rights. </p>


We have lost our Moral Compass

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<p>I pray for those who are lost. </p>


Oppose

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<p>Please just leave the kids alone, it’s already hard enough to grow up and these types of policies are just cruel and single out groups of already marginalized kids. </p>


Strongly Oppose

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Youngkin and the DOE are blatantly disregarding science and the mental health of trans youth. The proposed policy is cruel.

I'd advise all of those involved with this proposed language to talk to doctors and scientists who actually understand the implications of such a policy and address their errors.


Bring Back 2021 Model Policies

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The 2021 model policies for transgenered students were carefully crafted with a lot of input and collaboration from every type of stakeholder. The categories of stakeholders involved is clearly stated in the document, and it includes parents. However, the 2022 model clearly states that it includes the VALUES of parents. This is disturbing as a "wolf disguised in sheeps clothing". The basic issue here is NOT about empowering parents. People who are uninformed about transgenedered individuals are fearful and naturally want to protect their own children. And we all know that many children do not value peers who are different. This issue in the 2022 model policies was clearly written with a reactionary lens. It's not ok to discriminate against trans kids due to our personal values. This issue is about protections sadly necessary for transgenedered students. "The Virginia Department of Education continuse to be ommitted to working with school divisions to ensure a positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students." Note that the quote states "all students", not just cis students. Please, let's empower trans students to live the lives they choose to, without discrimination against them and threats to their physical and mental well-being.


Support Support!


Atrocious bill

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This won't result in fewer trans kids, just more dead ones.  You're not protecting anyone, you're chasing votes in an election year.


Support Parental Rights

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I support the new Model Policy.  Thank you Governor Youngkin.


Strongly oppose

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<p>I was outed to my parents by a guidance counselor in high school and it kept me from being myself for many years.  Even if the parents are supportive, this is a deeply humiliating thing to do to children who already have every aspect of their life measured and compared to others in school.  Children are full individuals who deserve privacy, dignity, and respect.  </p>


Strongly oppose

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<p>The new model’s guidance on trans kid is. It solving any existing problem and will likely cause significant issues to the children exposed throughout this policy. </p>


Keep our transgendered children safe!

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It is wrong to expose the privacy of transgendered children. If they choose to come out then that is their decision and NO ONE ELSE’S! This policy will be harmful to scores of children who are simply trying to grow up and figure out their identity just like all of their peers. Many also risk backlash and harm from closed minded people who would disown them simply for being their true selves. Cisgendered children do not have to go through such an egregious breach in privacy, so why should transgendered children? Do not allow this bill to pass!


Strongly Support. Children must be protected

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This is a compassionate policy that complies with existing laws, recognizes science, and restores parental rights. Any policy that allows school officials to keep secrets from parents is dangerous to children and evil. Children must be protected from those who seek to take advantage of their innocence and lack of maturity. Children depend on adults with a strong moral compass to guide them. Those who seek to operate in secrecy do so to enable evil and lack the moral compass to be around children. Thank you for taking the stance to restore parental rights and to protect children.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>Not only is this unenforceable, it is a fundamental violation of students' and teachers' rights as in Oyez, and a deliberate misinterpretation of federal anti discrimination law. To compel misgendering and humiliation is not something all educators are willing to put up with, nor should we put young people up against violence and abuse at home once they are outed. This is a morally bankrupt, fact-free, performative waste of time. Every day it seems the "parental rights movement" is really about absolute control- abuse- of kids. Leave kids alone and keep trans kids safe! </p>


Finally Protecting Children

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<p>It is a breath of fresh air that we are now looking to protect children instead of indoctrinate them to the left. </p>


Strongly oppose. September is suicide prevention month. Act like it. Support trans kids.

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<p>September is Suicide Prevention Month. Act like it. We all know that suicide rates skyrocket when transgender children do not receive support. This awful legislation will lead to more suicide. I strongly oppose this legislation. I will always stand with transgender children. I’m asking you to do the same. </p>


Proposed Policy is discriminatory and unconstitutional

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This proposed policy is cruel to kids who already have it hard enough. That should be enough to stop this policy from taking effect. But seeing as how Virginia's current leaders may not care about how cruelly they treat kids, I would also point out that there are serious legal issues with the proposed policy as well, including constitutional problems. Discrimination against trans kids is unlawful sex-based discrimination. Supreme Court rulings have made this clear. Additionally, Virginia has a Human Rights Act that bars discrimination in schools based on gender identity. This policy violates Virginia's own law.

If this government wants to tie itself up in the costs of prolonged litigation while at the same time harming vulnerable kids, it will go forward with adopting this cruel, unnecessary policy.

Please reconsider for the sake of kids and the law and do not go forward with this policy.


Strongly oppose

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<p>This policy will be harmful to children’s mental health. </p>


Support Transgender Rights

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When one of us is chained, None of us is free.
I’m opposed to the reversal of rights.


Strongly opposed.

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<p>Trans rights are human rights. No one is using their bathroom of choice to assault others. Trans people are actually more likely to be victims of assault. This is such a gross overstep by the government. Don’t tell people where to pee, just let them do their business and stay out of theirs. </p>


transgender

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Treat all students with dignity and respect. Never bend a knee to floating pronouns.

End grooming and all indoctrination. Access to all classrooms. Never withhold information from parents who are the responsible authority.

One needs to know over the past 15 years or so as teachers have assumed greater and greater rolls in our children's education have suicides decreased. I think otherwise .


Strongly SUPPORT

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<p>Children need to be safe at school, the accommodations are there. School is for education not biological confusion. We do not offer liposuction for the anorexic. Gender dysphoria deserves proper diagnosis too. Support kids. </p>


I support trans students

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We have to support all trans students.

This is just another form of hatred bring brought by Republicans


Strongly oppose these changes.

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These changes do not take the students own rights into account nor if they feel safe enough at home to even discuss with their parents. I oppose these changes as they could lead to more harm both in school and at home.


Strongly opposed

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Transgender kids are at very high risk for suicidal behavior - not because they are transgender, but because of how they are treated by others, including peers at school. We should be doing everything we can to SUPPORT vulnerable kids. This policy is mean-spirited and tells our kids that adults don't care about their well-being - that they are just political fodder. Imagine if the government told you tomorrow that you now had to live as the other gender - not giving you the option, but telling you that you MUST use the other bathroom in public places and MUST use a name and pronouns THEY think are right for you. You would think this was a violation of your privacy, and that is exactly what this new policy is.

I am STRONGLY OPPOSED to the guidance document on Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.

Jennifer Wainright

Troy, VA


100!%Approval

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<p>Finally there is hope! </p>


Shame on the governor

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Children need protection from or elected officials  This is particularly true of marginalized groups that are threatened by discrimination and violence.  I am a therapist with experience working with gender diverse children, teens, and adults.  The Youngkin administration's proposed policy is selfish and cruel.  It would result in extreme harm to our youth.  This harm will almost certainly include an increase in suicide.  That is on the governor.  I know that we all agree that our children should be treated with love, respect, and support.  The evidence is overwhelming that we support the bio/pscho/social journeys of transgender youth.


Strongly Support

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<p>This will protect our children, support parental rights, and protect girls and women’s sports and provide women and girls privacy and safety in restrooms. </p>


Vehemently Oppose’

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<p>This isn’t the power move you think it is “Governor” Youngkin. </p>


Strongly Opposed

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<p>Trans kids deserve to be happy trans adults. </p>


Strongly oppose VDOE model policy

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I am the mother of three Henrico County students and an advocate for all children. This policy is harmful to our students - our public schools are tasked with protecting ALL students who attend, not just those who are not transgender or non-binary. To single this population out in this manner is cruel. These are CHILDREN who need an entire community's love and support. Please focus on issues that really matter, such as improving our student's reading and writing skills, or offering healthier cafeteria options, or increasing pay to retain teachers. This policy is a waste of everyone's time.


strongly oppose this "guidance" that is based on bigotry, not facts

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<p>It is embarrassing to me as a lifelong Virginian, and an educator, that this "guidance" was even put forward.  It is not based on any evidence supporting student health or well-being.  It will cause terrible damage to students and families and educators.   It is based in bigotry, ignorance, and fear-mongering.  It is an embarrassment to all Virginians that this "guidance" even saw the light of day.  Virginia already has highly ranked educational programs at all levels - stop politicizing schools with cheap political stunts and taking attention and resources away from our students and teachers, who deserve informed leadership.  This administration should be ashamed. </p>


Not Protecting Our Transgender Kids!

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<p>Vehemently opposed to this insane policy! Leave these kids ALONE! Protect them like they were your own!!!! </p>


This policy has no place here

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This policy has nothing to do with school and is just a way to place more rules upon teachers for no reason. While Trans rights may be hard to understand for some people, instructing all schools to ignore the wishes of children is hurtful.

Some people may say that we can't just let kids choose their gender because we don't let kids do things that aren't safe for them, but forcing children to pretend to be what they do not wish to be is more hurtful than helpful.

I strongly oppose this policy on the grounds that it is hurtful, harmful, and completely unnecessary.


Trans Kids Are Entitled To Their Own Safety

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Trans Virginians deserve to be able to feel safe in school. Safety from bullying, safety from physical and sexual assault, and safety from a malicious faculty member opening them up to abuse from their parents. Glenn Youngkin is cynically taking away the only supportive environment a lot of trans kids can count on, and for what? 8th place in the Iowa caucuses. Disgusting.


Strongly SUPPORT!

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STRONGLY support this change!!

I am a father who recently pulled my kids out of public school due to the radical policies put into place by the last governor. They put the safety of my children at risk, not to mention completely ignoring my rights as a parent to raise my kids how I see fit. THANK YOU, Governor Youngkin, for proposing these changes and giving the power back to the parents. Our kids do NOT belong to the school system.


this policy and others like it will kill kids

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transgender students make up less than 1% of students. the irreparable harm this proposal outlines is abusive and WILL cause suicidal thoughts and actions. I beg you all to think about that for a moment. think of your children or the children you see in your community. you do NOT know if they are trans. you do NOT know what they are struggling with. Think of the kids who are trans, even if you hate them, do you really want a dead kid on your hands? your job is to ensure the safety and comfort of these students. a policy targeted at so few is an attack. please choose kindness


Absolutely strongly oppose this!

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<p>We need to support LGBTQ youth, not directly cause them undue harm. School should be a safe place for ALL children. Not a place where their teachers are forced to mistreat them and betray their trust. </p>


Strongly Oppose This. Dangerous to our children.

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<p>I strongly oppose this. Policies such as this will endanger our kids. All medical studies into transgender children show that the best outcomes come from a supportive environment that listens to the child. And this does not do that. I’m arrears that children will does from policies such as this. </p>


Support

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Support the Governor of Virginia!


Oppose

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As a person working in the psychology field, I know the effects this will have on trans youth. Being  Transgender is a biological condition. We know from scientific research that the brain masculinzes or femininzes in utero and continues to do so after the birth of the child. The masculinization or feminization of genitals of fetuses happens in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. In the case of trans people, that masculinization or feminization of the brain was NOT complete. Oppression of their biological deviations is abuse. This psychological abuse can and will lead to higher rates of suicide among transgender youth. That will be their blood on your hands. Make the decision to care for your trans youth, or deal with the consequences of your inaction


Trans policy

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I would love to know what makes anyone on this committee a leading voice for the trans community? Assuming most, if not all of you, are cisgender, what authority do you have to tell a select group of individuals what they can and cannot do when compared to a separate group? Who are you to decide who goes into which group? What makes you think it is even possible to group humankind into a different bills and then try to exploit and dehumanize them? You know nothing about the topics you speak on and it is abundantly clear you only want to cause harm. You enjoy it, we can tell, but do you really not have anything better to vote on? Like starving children? Or homeless people? Or your police department running rampant? Leave trans kids alone.


Strongly oppose

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<p>I strongly oppose this proposed policy.  This proposal would create a hostile and potentially dangerous school environment for our youth, requiring teachers and staff to forcibly “out” students, prohibit staff from supporting trans and nonbinary students such as using a students affirming name and pronouns, and prohibit access or participation in activities consistent with their gender identity.  All our students deserve a supportive and affirming school environment, especially our vulnerable and marginalized populations like our transgender and nonbinary youth.  </p>


Parents In Contol!

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<p>We appreciate your leadership and look forward to a time when our children can go to school without the the threat of radical leftist’s influencing morality or lack there of </p>


Trans students need our support!

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<p>This proposed legislation is cruel, heartbreaking really.  Trans students should be strongly supported, not singled out and punished.  The Governor of Virginia is badly misinformed if this proposal is codified into practice.  </p>


Strongly Support

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If someone is mentally ill enough that they’ll commit suicide if you don’t call them the right name, they need treatment, not coddling…


STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS DISCRIMINATORY AND HARMFUL POLICY

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Anyone who is aware of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) knows that it provides a direct conduit between business and legislators and is a "model"-bill factory. Virginia Delegate and Senate ALEC members include several current legislators.

Last year, ALEC leadership boasted to far right Christian extremist political group the Council for National Policy "their extensive efforts to advance state legislation to severely restrict access to abortion and limit the rights of trans students, as well as voter suppression bills."

Anti trans legislation and policies are being introduced and passed SOLELY as political theater to scaremonger and to obscure what's REALLY going on behind the curtain-voter suppression bills and policies. Trans children are a small, vulnerable population who are at higher risk for bullying, depression, mental health issues, and suicide.

Please do not succumb to the highly coordinated play by a few powerful and influential people that treats these children as expendable. Continue to uphold the legislation that protects these children and allows them to attend school in safety and with respect.


Strongly oppose this.

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It is the responsibility of the Commonwealth that ALL students have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education in Virginia (see: Code of Virginia, § 22.1-23.3).

To quote, "The Virginia Department of Education (the “Department”) recognizes that each child is a unique individual with distinctive abilities and characteristics that should be valued and respected. All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying. The Department supports efforts to protect and encourage respect for all students. Thus, we have a collective responsibility to address topics such as the treatment of transgender students with necessary compassion and respect for all students. The Department also fully acknowledges the rights of parents to exercise their fundamental rights granted by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. The Code of Virginia reaffirms the rights of parents to determine how their children will be raised and educated. Empowering parents is not only a fundamental right, but it is essential to improving outcomes for all children in Virginia. The Department is mindful of constitutional protections that prohibit governmental entities from requiring individuals to adhere to or adopt a particular ideological belief. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom and prohibits the government from compelling speech that is contrary to an individual’s personal or religious beliefs."

This guidance document completely contravenes the current legal protection offered to all children by the Virginia Department of Education. Governor Youngkin's deliberate attempt to politicize and weaponize children in service of his own political popularity is disgusting. You have a responsibility to ALL children and ALL parents in this state.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>Protect Trans kids and oppose this monstrous policy </p>


Inclusion for All

As someone who grew up in the Virginia public school system, I am appalled at this proposed legislation.  Stop using your bigoted view of the world in an attempt to create inequality and exclusion for transgender or other LGBTQ+ students.  While there is plenty of data to show that trans and other LGBTQ+ youth already suffer from enough ostracism and rhetoric that implies their needs as not real and their identity as made up, it should suffice enough to simply say that legislative decisions such as this one are inhumane. I cannot imagine a world in which any person, child or adult, telling me they identify as LGBTQ+ would cause me to then treat them as LESS of a human. Our schools should be the safest place for our students. No teacher or staff member should be forced by bigoted political legislation to put these children in danger either by “outing” them to someone who does not support who they are or by making them feel they must hide who they truly are in order to not be “outed”.  I cannot believe that we have come so far as a society, only to be actually discussing taking such a major step back.We have to do better.  We have to provide these students with safe placed to learn.  We have to provide them support and encouragement to be who they are.  And above all, we MUST treat them with respect and dignity.

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As someone who grew up in the Virginia public school system, I am appalled at this proposed legislation.  Stop using your bigoted view of the world in an attempt to create inequality and exclusion for transgender or other LGBTQ+ students.

While there is plenty of data to show that trans and other LGBTQ+ youth already suffer from enough ostracism and rhetoric that implies their needs as not real and their identity as made up, it should suffice enough to simply say that legislative decisions such as this one are inhumane. I cannot imagine a world in which any person, child or adult, telling me they identify as LGBTQ+ would cause me to then treat them as LESS of a human. Our schools should be the safest place for our students. No teacher or staff member should be forced by bigoted political legislation to put these children in danger either by “outing” them to someone who does not support who they are or by making them feel they must hide who they truly are in order to not be “outed”.  I cannot believe that we have come so far as a society, only to be actually discussing taking such a major step back.

We have to do better.  We have to provide these students with safe placed to learn.  We have to provide them support and encouragement to be who they are.  And above all, we MUST treat them with respect and dignity.


Strongly Opposed

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This is absolutely disgusting to see, I am Transgender myself and this new policy will cause so many issues for Trans Youth and willKILL THEM if this happens, DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH THIS.


Strongly oppose

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<p>This is completely unnecessary and harmful. </p>


Trans rights are human rights.

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Trans men are men, trans women are women, and non binaries are non binary!!!


Strongly Oppose

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<p>Each morning when the school bell rings and the school door opens, every student entering should feel an equal sense of belonging. Research clearly shows the cost when kids feel disconnected and isolated. We need to be in a hurry to love and respect all students and to enact policies that will help prevent suicide and substance abuse. Changes to the 2021 policy should be rejected. </p>


SUPPORT THE POLICY - PROTECT GIRLS & WOMEN

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As a young woman at a public high school, I feel incredibly upset and threatened at the idea of sexually unstable men masquerading as women for their own private fetishes. Keep them out of my space. Let their parents know what they’re up to.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>This legislation has the potential to harm an extremely vulnerable student populations. That Virginia politicians would craft abusive legislation to further their own amibitions is sickening.  </p>


Agree with Partnering with Families

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I am a teacher in Charlottesville City schools and agree with the emphasis on referring to parents for how to support their students. However, I do think the term "parents" can be limiting to many student situations I know. I think "families" is a much better umbrella term that includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, other guardians who may be the authority in a child's life. Other than this vocabulary piece, I agree with the emphasis on using family guidance and decisions to inform the way we interact with students in the classrooms.


Opposed - this will hurt kids

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I refuse to support a measure that'll suppress kids' identities and put them at risk for mental health crises.  We can do better


Finally respect for parental rights!


Strongly Opposed

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This proposed policy is cruel, misguided, and unnecessary.


Strongly Oppose

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I strongly oppose the guidelines proposed by the Board of Education. I believe they are dangerous, harmful and discriminatory. School should be a safe, accepting and supportive environment for all students, especially LGBTQ+ students. Students should not be deadnamed or forced into the wrong bathrooms. Many students are not able to safely come out to their families, let alone be accepted. They should be able to be out at school and live their truth without fear that they will be outed to their families. Outing students will inevitably lead to some students being abused at home, and some harming themselves. This harm is preventable and the blood will be on the hands of Governor Youngkin's Board of Education. These guidelines will worsen bullying and harassment of transgender and other LGBTQ+ students.

As stated by Dr. Moira Szilagyi, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, "The emotional and psychological trauma of rejection, whether by family, friends, society, or lawmakers, can leave scars that never heal.?When we fail to accept people for who they are, we pass painful judgements on them and create so much unnecessary emotional and psychological pain."

These guidelines must be rejected to protect Virginia's LGBTQ+ youth.


Boys use boys and girls use girls, simple. If you’re confused you need a psychologist.

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<p>Keep boys out the girls bathrooms. If you were born with a penis you use the boys bathroom, period. People need their heads examined and psychological help if you’re under 18 and do not know what you are. Parents and media quit shoving this mess down children’s throats when they’re still learning who they are. Two genders, boy and girl, common sense. </p>


Leave kids alone!

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Trans kids are the most vulnerable population that we have. Stop using them as political pawns, we all see this for the abhorrent political ploy that it is. Leave them alone!


Oppose, as an educator

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As an educator, this policy is absolutely disgusting. Children play and experiment all the time, and there’s no reason this is any different.

No one should be able to force their beliefs about gender on me or my students.

Stop the hate, and stop forcing teachers to enforce bigotry. Be a bigot on your own time.

P.S. Read the science. Research shows that denying someone’s identity can be deadly. This is not worth another child suicide. It. Is. Not.


I support trans youth

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Stop discrimination against trans youth!


Trans rights are human rights

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Trans people deserve to live dignified and happy lives


PROTECT TRANS and NON BINARY YOUTH

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I strongly oppose and think these are basic equal human rights you are trying to take away! They are children who have been  through enough and sure as heck do not need schools turning again at them too. Leave them alone and let them be children regardless of how they identify!!!!


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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This bill is 100% based in bias and cruelty.  In order to learn best students need to feel comfortable and supported, this is NOT how to support them.  As a teacher, I am appalled at the Governor's narrow views of what actually occurs in public schools.

ALL students deserve protection and comfort, we cannot deny that entire groups of students don't exist because the narrow minded fear them.


approve 100%

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I approve the policy 100%


Strongly oppose this measure - Support LGBTQ youth

Ryan Trott, Educator in Charlottesville, VA

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I strongly oppose these measures, clearly created to limit the rights of some of our most vulnerable students. Trans and non-binary children need to be supported in every way that we can, not othered further and discriminated against. These guidelines are cruel and support a bigoted power system. If they are enacted, they will create harm and discrimination, and fail to provide human rights to students who desperately need support. We should be expanding rights to our Trans and non-binary students through counseling, teacher support and inclusive school environment structures. Supporting the rights of these students does no harm to teachers or students around them.


Strongly Opposed

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<p>This is a bad policy that will do so much harm. Please stop attacking children as a dog whistle to hateful people. </p>


Being Transgender is real, not an illness. Oppose!

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<p>I oppose these changes to school policies that prevent Transgender students from using facilities that correspond with their gender identity.  Being Transgender is real, not an illness.  I know many transgender people and they are exactly like every cisgender person I’ve known.  Like Dwyane Wade said, it’s not the transgender kids that have a problem.  It’s the adults mentality that’s the problem. These Transgender students know who they are better than most.  Preventing them from using the bathroom and locker rooms at school will not erase them. Keeping them out of sports will not make them go away. Outing these kids to their parents who may be very hostile and harmful will not stop them from existing.  But the resulting teen suicides will destroy many families, of every political affiliation.  We all want what is best for our kids. But don’t be afraid of your children interacting with Transgender classmates or passing by them in the bathroom. You should get to know them. You will love them or dislike them just like you would any other kids.  These policy changes are harmful.  </p>


Strongly Oppose

Hello,
My name is Michael and I am an openly gay man currently residing of Hyattsville, Maryland, however for the last 4 years I had lived in Arlington and prior to that in Fairfax County. I am writing today to express my strong opposition to the Governors proposed changes that would directly impact the lives of trans students in the Commonwealth of Virginia.Transgender students deserve to feel safe and accepted just like every other person. and trans youth are already at a higher risk of depression, suicide, and violence. This decision is leading to make the lives harder of kids and teens already struggling with their gender identity and sexual orientation. Some statistics for you to consider - 40% of all homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ+ (Morton, M.H., Dworsky, A., Matjasko, J.L., Curry, S.R., Schlueter, D., Chávez, R. & Farrell, A.F. (in press). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health.), three-quarters of students who identify as transgender or non-binary have felt unsafe at school because of the way they expressed their gender (75.1%), and of those students who identified as “another gender” or “genderqueer,” two-thirds felt unsafe at school (‘another gender” 61.2% and “genderqueer” 61.6% ). Finally, trans people are over 4 times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime.
This guidance also runs the very real risk of forcing teachers to out students against their will, which could lead to the potential of violence and abuse against the child. I want to make this very clear, just because it is 2022 and the LGBTQ+ rights movement has made strides over the last decade or so does not mean we are completely safe. Even now kids are thrown out of their homes, beaten and abused just for being who they truly are. People who are LGBTQ+ deserve the right to come out to people when they are ready and only when they are ready, as I did at the age of 21.  Children deserve to feel safe at school and at home, and I hope the administration will change its stance and stop this dangerous guidance from going into effect.

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Hello,

My name is Michael and I am an openly gay man currently residing of Hyattsville, Maryland, however for the last 4 years I had lived in Arlington and prior to that in Fairfax County. I am writing today to express my strong opposition to the Governors proposed changes that would directly impact the lives of trans students in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Transgender students deserve to feel safe and accepted just like every other person. and trans youth are already at a higher risk of depression, suicide, and violence. This decision is leading to make the lives harder of kids and teens already struggling with their gender identity and sexual orientation. Some statistics for you to consider - 40% of all homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ+ (Morton, M.H., Dworsky, A., Matjasko, J.L., Curry, S.R., Schlueter, D., Chávez, R. & Farrell, A.F. (in press). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health.), three-quarters of students who identify as transgender or non-binary have felt unsafe at school because of the way they expressed their gender (75.1%), and of those students who identified as “another gender” or “genderqueer,” two-thirds felt unsafe at school (‘another gender” 61.2% and “genderqueer” 61.6% ). Finally, trans people are over 4 times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime.

This guidance also runs the very real risk of forcing teachers to out students against their will, which could lead to the potential of violence and abuse against the child. I want to make this very clear, just because it is 2022 and the LGBTQ+ rights movement has made strides over the last decade or so does not mean we are completely safe. Even now kids are thrown out of their homes, beaten and abused just for being who they truly are. People who are LGBTQ+ deserve the right to come out to people when they are ready and only when they are ready, as I did at the age of 21.

Children deserve to feel safe at school and at home, and I hope the administration will change its stance and stop this dangerous guidance from going into effect.


STRONGLY support this change!!

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I am a mother of five that recently pulled my kids out of public school due to the radical policies put into place by the last governor. They put the safety of my children at risk, not to mention completely ignoring my rights as a parent to raise my kids how I see fit. THANK YOU, Governor Youngkin, for proposing these changes and giving the power back to the parents. Our kids do NOT belong to the school system.


Support or Youngkin’s Policies

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I strongly support Governor Youngkin’s focus on our children’s education (most of our state feels the same as that the primary reason we elected him).  Students who are not trans need to feel comfortable at school too. I have absolutely no issue with trans students and am fine calling them whatever they want, however the other children matter too and we should be understanding of their comfort. My child is EXTREMELY uncomfortable changing in the locker room and sharing the restroom with trans students. Some kids are scared to express this because they are afraid to be labeled and their grades affected. Let’s give our wonderful trans kids their own facilities so that ALL children may be comfortable. Get back to focusing on academics, the kids have lost so much during the covid lockdowns. Thank you.


Stay out of kids' lives

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This policy will harm thousands of Virginia's students. Stay out of education's lane -- and out of kids' lives!


Full Support for Youngkin

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not appropriate to let children change name/gender without parental knowledge and oversight… it’s not for schools to hide this information


Strongly support and urge additions

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Add: Parents have right to timely review of all lesson plans, curricula documents, etc.

Add: Establish review board for parents' complaints about indoctrination, CRT, gender ideology, etc. and website to receive and process them

Urge legislature to enact for parents a statutory cause of action for  indoctrination, abusive behavior of school personnel


Vehemently oppose

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<p>The bottom line of it all is that this proposed change in policy will not help anyone, and it will hurt many. I have lived in Virginia all of my adult life, for the last 30 years, I vote in every election, and I will vote against anyone who supports these inhumane overreaching policies. </p>


Support the model

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I support the model for basic, common sense rules in our schools.


Opposed

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I oppose these policies. They will be harmful to trans and non binary youth. Students learn best when safe and supported and every kid needs their education.


Strongly Oppose

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We really need to allow children to speak for themselves on how they identify. Our narrow ideas of gender norms are bursting open and we are not going back. Allowing parents to have full responsibility and allowance to determine how a child identifies is not great because parents don't always have their child's best interests in mind.

There is so much wrong with this but I don't have the time to unpack it. Strongly oppose.


100% opposed to Youngkin’s anti trans youth policies.

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<p>As the parent of a trans child, the policies set forth by the current administration. Put the health and well being of an already at risk population in greater and unnecessary peril. These policies will isolate trans youth from resources they desperately need. All to further the political aspirations of one man catering to religious zealots and not the people of the Commonwealth. </p>


New policy is cruel, unsupportive, and WRONG

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According to Pew research, 5% of young adults in the US identify as trans or non-binary.

Studies show that 40% of trans youth have attempted suicide, and 82% have contemplated it.

Trans and non-binary kids need all the support they can get, both at home and at school.  If they are not getting support at home, the LEAST they should have is support at school.  An environment where kids are rejected for who they are at home AND at school is where you get 40% suicide rates.  Is that really what we want for 5% of our youth??

For those who wouldn't support their child who came out as trans, consider that situation carefully.  It can be a life or death decision.  But I digress...

For those who don't have a trans kid, or don't know a trans kid, or don't know anyone who has a trans kid, you probably do.  You just don't know it yet.  Remember, 5%.  5%.  This 5% of our youth need ALL the love and support the community can give them, and this new Younkin policy rips that support away in the guise of "parent's rights" and "free speech for teachers".  That's laughable.  This is an anti-trans policy that is cruel, unsupportive, and just plain WRONG.

Get it together, Younkin.  You're on the wrong side of history here.  Kill this policy NOW.


Strongly oppose

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Overbroad guidelines will harm children as well as their relationships with their parents and teachers. People have many reasons for using names other than those on their birth certificates.


Treatment of Transgender

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<p>Fully support the new policy thank you </p>


Strongly Oppose

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This policy is despicable. Trans teens are at extremely high risk of suicide- they are much more likely to kill themselves vs harm anyone. There is no data that supports the scare tactics of bathroom assaults by Trans people. This is discrimination based on hate and fear.

It would be great if all parents were supportive but Trans kids routinely get cut off and thrown out of their homes by judgemental parents. They are likely to be homeless.

This policy will kill children. So much for being pro-life.


100% Approve this policy

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I support this new policy 100%, thank you for adding some common sense to this policy.


PROTECT TRANS & NON-BINARY YOUTH!!!

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I implore the Board of Education to reject these policies as they are fueled by hatred and transphobia, and are both disgusting and disgraceful.! We must protect transgender and non-binary youth! Trans and non-binary children deserve the same safety and autonomy afforded to their cis peers. Trans youth face extremely high rates of suicide attempts because they already feel excluded, different, and unsafe in their own bodies, in their own homes. This policy will have a direct effect to make that WORSE for trans children in Virginia schools, make no doubt that if enacted this will be responsible for a higher rate of suicide among queer kids. The suicide rate for transgender youth is already extremely high. 52% of trans youth seriously considered suicide, while 21% attempted suicide in the past year. This problem is preventable, but the new model policies would exacerbate the issue by denying students life-saving social transitions at school. The Trevor Project explains that “transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by all or most people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected.” This statistic shows that honoring students’ chosen names and pronouns is a crucial form of suicide prevention. Moreover, as much as we would like to imagine that all parents are supportive of their children no matter their gender identity, educators see that this is unfortunately not the case: Transgender youth are at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness, in part because they are often kicked out of their homes or abandoned by caregivers due to their trans identity. The Trevor Project states that “38% of transgender girls/women, 39% of transgender boys/men, and 35% of nonbinary youth reported housing instability and homelessness.” By requiring educators such as teachers and guidance counselors to automatically inform parents of their child’s transgender identity if the student comes out at school, the state puts young people in a position where they must either suppress their identities entirely or risk the roof over their heads. Mandating staff to out students to their parents puts youth at risk for abuse from unaffirming family members. The harm from this action can be anything from the guardians pulling the student from school counseling, to kicking them out of the home entirely, to physical abuse, suicide, or even murder of the child.


I support this and Gov. Youngkin.

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<p>I support this and Gov. Youngkin. Schools should focus on teaching history, spelling, math and other basic subjects and stop forcing sex awareness. America has been dumbed down for to long and the majority is hopefully starting to WAKE up. </p>


Strongly oppose. Protect trans and non binary youth!

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<p>This bill is an assault on human rights and needs to be stopped. </p>


SUPPORT THIS POLICY!

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Support young girls and oppose the rights of men to invade our sports and bathrooms.


Vehemently Oppose

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<p>This proposal to overturn protections for trans and non-binary students is cruel and will cause damage to the mental health of students.   It infuriates me that Youngkin cares so little for the well being of Virginia's youth.  Educators and medical professionals agree that we need to support the current protections for Virginia's students. If Youngkin cared a whit, he'd do a little research.  But he doesn't care. </p>


Leave trans children alone


Strongly Oppose 2022 proposed model policy

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<p>I vehemently oppose Governor Youngkin's 2022 proposed model policy. This will harm trans and all LGBTQIA students. </p>


Opposed to Restricting Students' Rights

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I am opposed to the proposal by Governor Youngkin that would restrict the rights of all students in Virginia, particularly transgender and nonbinary students, from peaceful access to a public education. Not only is forcing students to identify with a gender that is not their  own inhumane, but it goes against legal precedent set by the Supreme Court.  Additionally,  I believe this policy would  be harmful to transgender and nonbinary students, who already experience higher rates of bullying, harassment, depression, and suicide.  I urge the Commonwealth of Virginia to oppose this proposal and protect students' freedoms and rights at their schools and in their communities.


Strongly Oppose Policy

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My concerns as an educator starts with my students. I am not a teacher for parents, I am a teacher for students. I want my students to be comfortable and feel safe in the classroom. I have already established trust with my trans students, and they know that their information is safe with me. If required to ask parents prior to using a name or set of pronouns, my students would not be able to be themselves in the class, and many would be afraid of repercussions should their parents find out. It would be irresponsible and put the lives of children at risk should this policy be implemented.

As an aside, this policy also affects cis children as well as trans children. As the policy reads, any child with a nickname "that is not commonly associated with their name" (which leaves a lot of wiggle room with interpretation. How can I know what is and isn't an associated nickname?) who wants to use said nickname in the class, I would be required to call their parents and ask if that is okay. Not only is that impractical, but it's just nonsense. Requiring parental permission for nickname usage has never occurred for cis children, so why is it being proposed for trans children?


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>I support trans youth. Transness and queerness is something that can be discovered immediately in a young persons life, and stifling that incredibly important expression often leads to intense depression, trauma and often even suicide. </p>


oppose

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This is bigoted trash and will harm students. I strongly REJECT this proposal.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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I strongly oppose the new Model Policies that Governor Youngkin is proposing.  Although he is proposing these policies under the guise of parental rights, they are written to adversely affect the transgender and non-binary population.

If these policies are really about parental rights, why aren't all student required to show legal documentation to be called a nickname or preferred name? (ie William to Bill, or Margaret to Maggie)

If these policies are really about Freedom of Speech, affirming teachers would not be forced to call a student by their deadname (name not preferred) and only go by what is written on their birth certificate.

If these policies were about Freedom of Religion - what about Freedom FROM Religion? What about compassion for your fellow citizen?

Data indicate that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among transgender youth. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345113/) These policies will only increase the rates at which LGBTQ+ Youth suffer from depression, anxiety and possibly suicidal ideations.

Thank you for the opportunity to have my voice heard,

Sherry L. Howard

Salem, VA


Opposed to this harmful piece of partisan pandering

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<p>I’d love to see either side of this issue make something that would protect the lives of the affected children and preserve the rights of parents. However, I have seen firsthand what can happen to a child when super conservative parents suspect their child of being either gay or transgender. If this is implemented I can very well see child abuse or worse happening due to outing gay and transgender students. What is currently in place is not perfect but it is a whole lot better than what is proposed. Please stop this partisan crap and start working for the people that put you in there on the real issues. </p>


Reject This ENTIRE Harmful proposal

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The 2020 legislation to protect the rights of marginalized and endangered LGBTQ+ students was intended to be adjusted based on scientific and evidence based grounds. The 2022 proposal is the opposite of that. It actively violates the human rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming students, because it:

X Allows people to maliciously deadname and misgender students.

X Prevents students from using their correct name, unless they get parental consent and get it legally changed.

X Lets parents opt a student out of counseling, regardless of the student’s will.

X Require schools to out any transgender and gender non-conforming student, and may allow schools to out all LGBTQ+ students

X Requires parents to control a student’s name, pronoun, and gender expression, regardless of what the student thinks.

X Prohibits schools from recognizing non-binary pronouns.

X Bans transgender athletes

X Bans transgender and gender non-conforming students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identities.

LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk of suicide and self-harm than their peers. This proposal further harms their mental well-being and increases institutional discrimination against them. I implore you to reject these proposals and protect these at-risk youth who are just a few years away from becoming adults and active voters.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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Nearly half of transgender kids attempt suicide in their lives. Policies like these are meant to eradicate trans people. There is no "religious freedom" to discriminate against any people. If conservatives truly care about "the right to life", they will stand against the inhumane and immoral policies the Youngkin administration is attempting to do.


Opposed

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The 2021 policies have been celebrated by trans students, and have made space for families to learn more about their children, rather than to direct their lives in an autocratic way. Parents should not control every aspect of their child's education or well-being. We know it takes a village.


Strongly oppose

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<p>Not all children are able to trust their parents, but nevertheless deserve respect at school as human beings to be who they wish to be and be treated as they wish to be treated. There is no harm to them or to other students in so doing, and every student has the right to feel safe, supported, and respected. </p>


Strongly Oppose

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This is a dangerous and harmful policy. It is not for the government to decide the gender identities of any person or child. They should not be involved in any person or child’s  coming out story or journey. It’s truly not the business of anyone but that child. Creating policy that encourages discrimination of any form is inherently wrong and goes against everything that public school stands for. Public education is FOR EVERYONE no matter what. As an educator, we aim to accept, acknowledge and celebrate that which makes us different and to embrace the children in our care as they grow no matter what that journey looks like. Virginia is for lovers? Or is it for hateful politics of control?


Strongly oppose

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Hey teacher, leave those kids alone.

Why don't we work on childhood poverty and mental health and gun violence, instead of policing bathrooms.


Strongly Oppose

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All people deserve human dignity. You do not have to believe someone looks like a Karen to call them Karen. It is just common decency to treat every one with respect.  Support all children not just the ones who look like you!


Strongly oppose - protect trans communities


Strongly oppose

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<p>These proposed policies are discriminatory and cruel and will be the cause of so much harm if passed. Kids go to school to learn, not to be disrespected and told who they are is wrong and shameful. What pronouns or names kids use has nothing to with learning and education and is absolutely not your place to regulate. Banning children from sports  and telling them what bathrooms they are allowed to use is ridiculous. Is banning children from school activities and telling them they can’t participate because of who they are, is that what you want your legacy to be?? And anyones bathroom use is absolutely none of your business. As for forcing schools and teachers to out Lgbtq students and tell their parents- absolutely ignorant and an act of violence. You will be putting so many children in danger and their blood will be on your hands. There are countless parents and family that are unsafe and unsupportive and you are putting children at the risk of homelessness, abuse, conversion therapy, and death. 50% of all teens get a negative reaction when coming out to their parents and 1 in 4 teens are forced to leave their homes after coming out. And Roughly 34% of LGBT youth report suffering physical violence from their parents as a result of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. You will be actively putting kids in harms way. And that’s not even taking into account the effects on their mental health. Being told they can’t do this or that and their identity is shameful and has to be reported to possible unsupportive parents- this will add even more to the mental health crisis in lgbtq youths. More than half of transgender and nonbinary youth have seriously considered suicide and Lgbtq youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Discriminating against them and regulating every part of them and putting them In harms way will only make it worse. Is that the legacy you want? To be the ones who increased youths suicide rates and homelessness?? We should be encouraging children and helping their lights to grow and be confident in themselves, not completely stifling that light. Maybe worry more about school shootings and bullying and the youth in poverty that can’t afford food or school supplies, instead of what’s in their pants and what name they prefer. Do something to make things better for kids, not worse. </p>


This is terrible - Stop bullying our kids!

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<p>This is a direct effort to single out and discriminate against kids that don't fit into the "cookie cutter" right wing agenda. To directly discriminate against trans children is not only immoral, it is unsafe! These kids need INCLUSION and understanding. They need love and SUPPORT. This is doing the exact opposite of that. It's heartbreaking. It's not for the welfare of our children. If that were so, you would not be making such a grand stand against a specific demographic of people who need protection, inclusion, support and understanding. We should be making PROGRESS, and instead, we are taking LARGE strides in the wrong direction. </p>


Transphobia

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<p>NoVa schools have some of the most diverse LGBTQ, specifically trans, population. This makes it unfair for you to target all of the students who have went through the steps of coming to terms with their  identity,  talking things out with their parents, and being brave enough to express themselves in public. You are threatening to take away a safe space they deserve to have and its just not right. </p>


Transphobia


Strongly Oppose - Protect Trans kids

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Studies have proven that those whose identities are questioned face higher rates of suicide.

Cumulative minority stress and suicide risk among LGBTQ youth

It costs nothing but human decency to support youth's identities. This policy will cost lives. Children deserve to be who they are without fear of retaliation or judgement. I vehemently oppose this bill and all it stands for. No parents rights are being stripped away by simply letting someone's child exist in peace. What about the rights of parents of trans youths? Shouldn't they have the right to a safe place for their children?


Stongly Against

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<p>This bill is dangerous and will have a snowball affect against privacy rights. It goes against human rights, goes against separation of church and state & will promote bullying within four schools. We should be advocating for the youth for safer environments. </p>


I Opposed this harmful new policy

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I'm a little bit different than the average transgender person. I happen to have an unknown muscle condition. The muscle condition gets worse with stress and other factors. treating my gender dysphoria medically with hormones has been the only thing to help lower my cpks, that's the muscle tissue enzymes breaking down. nothing else ever worked to lower my cpks to normal.

When you refer to somebody that is transgender and suffering gender dysphoria like myself a pronoun that's not appropriate, one that goes against my identity.  it adds stress which causes my muscles to tense and that causes my muscle tissue to break down more.  that causes toxins to build up into me it's where my organs can fail. It's a shame that you think your beliefs are more important than my life and health.  I transitioned to save my life, Republicans with your hate and your ignorance you're negating all my efforts to save my life. All I know is ignorance and hate does not belong in schools. and that's what this new policy is it's nothing but ignorance and hate. I have a neighbor that listens to Youngkin and other people that spread rhetoric and lies about transgender people. My neighbor, he says that people like LGBT need to be took out and murdered. The fact this policy wants teachers to out LGBTQ students to people like my neighbor is wrong and dangerous. Not all parents are supportive and some are just like my neighbor. I didn't come out to my own parents my mom never knew. my dad finally knew late in life. I was scared about losing them, I can't imagine the stress that students will feel knowing that you're going to try to out them.  that stress would have prevented me from having a good education at all. the fact that I had to hide my identity prevented me from having a good education. I never learned nothing about myself in school, not in health class or any other class for that matter. I felt alone isolated and scared the whole time. That's what you're doing again, repeating history and you're doing wrong by people you're causing more harm than any good with this rotten policy.


strongly oppose

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The Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) opposes the Virginia Department of Education’s 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools as they are currently proposed. The 2022 model policies create barriers to privacy, dignity, and respect for Virginia’s students and seek to undermine previous legislation (i.e., § 22.1-23.3. Treatment of transgender students; policies) that works to create safe and supportive environments for our most vulnerable youth.

VSCA recognizes that:

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

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

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

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

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

Virginia school counselors work to remove barriers and support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students. VSCA Ends Policies state that “Virginia School Counselors are committed to working with and advocating for marginalized groups, promote the mental health and wellness of all students, adhere to the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors, and actively work to dismantle destructive systemic inequities.”

Additionally, Virginia school counselors follow the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Position Statement on The School Counselor and Transgender and Nonbinary Youth (Adopted 2016, revised 2022) that states:

School counselors work to safeguard the well-being of transgender and nonbinary youth. School counselors recognize all students have the right to be treated equally and fairly, with dignity and respect as unique individuals, free from discrimination, harassment and bullying based on their gender identity and gender expression.

Finally, Virginia school counselors seek to create environments that are not only inclusive and equitable for all students, including our transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and gender-fluid students, but that celebrate the full scope of their identities, allowing them to thrive and reach their fullest potential. Furthermore, Virginia school counselors commit to dismantling any and all forms of inequity in Virginia’s public education system and fully support LGBTQ+ students. Every Virginia student, regardless of their gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, has a right to learn free from discrimination and harassment.

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


Stop the Right-Wing Religious Efforts to Oppress Virginia Schools

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"Parental Rights" has become a rallying cry for Republicans to oppress all public schools parents and children due to the "we want to have our cake and eat it too" ignorance of right-wing parents.

Do parents have the right to Home School their own children?  YES

Do parents have the right to send their children to private schools, including right-wing religious centers of indoctrination?  YES (Although they should NOT be given public funds to do so.)

Do individual parents have the right, the education, the expertise, the experience, the public authority to determine what policies, content, books, subjects are included in PUBLIC education?  NO THEY DO NOT.  That's what School Boards are for, and they are in turn publicly elected.

I OPPOSE THIS POLICY, AND ALL RIGHT-WING ATTEMPTS TO INDOCRINATE AND OPPRESS PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN TO SATISFY THE IGNORANCE OF THE FEW.


Oppose This

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Governor Youngkin,

This is a horribly atrocious policy that is not needed whatsoever. I encourage everyone to oppose this for the sake of the thousands of trans students across VA.


Opposed to this hateful discrimination

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<p>Virginia is a place that recognizes and celebrates the things that make all of us unique and special. Take your draconian hate elsewhere. </p>


This policy will kill children.

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This policy will kill children. Revoking gender-affirming resources is a well-known cause of suicide for trans children. And a lot of other children are going to be really sad when their friends are dead because you revoked gender-affirming resources for their friends.

Don't do it.


I support trans youth

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I very much support Trans youth!

Why?

ALL kids need to be support for who they truly are even if it is in a way you can't comprehend.

It is THEIR life and not yours. The rigors to even sstart this treatment are strong and have multiple layers.

Kids need to be accepted and not denigrated.

Oh, I know. To you, only certain kids should be protected and not ALL kids!


Parent of an RPS Kid

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<p>Wow! Just wow, I cannot express how horrible this transphobic and bigoted law of oppression is going to be! As a queer parent we are in 2022, we are past all of this hatred and oppression for our children! I oppose Youngkin and his transphobia. If you cannot see how difficult this will make every child's life you are not paying attention. To ask teachers to violate their student's trust is unconscionable! This bill is putting children's safety at risk, not just in school but at home! Please do not allow this to pass! It shouldn't even be discussed in the first place! We should be protecting our kids and allowing them to be and figure out who they are! Do not force children, teachers, and parents into this! This will only add to trans and queer youth depression, suicide, and other harmful activities by creating more oppression instead of understanding and support! </p>
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SUPPORT THIS POLICY

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I strongly support this new policy that allows parents to parent.  It seems ridiculous that we need to remind the VA school boards about parental rights and the constitution.  Let's get back to focusing on the academic success of our children and leave politics out of school.


I oppose this.

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I oppose this because it's wrong on all points. But I got to say this too, all children need to be protected, because all children matter. Today's times are hard as it is, coming from learning at home to attending school again. School at times is a refuge for children, and that needs to stay that way. All schools are important and impacted, but it's more about public schools, due to attacks on funding public schools and the false notion of "indoctrination". The only indoctrination that's going on, is trying to force people to hate others, and that's not right. People have the right to be who they are and live in peace. This is a nationwide problem that truly needs to stop, because not only can someone not force someone to do something and or be someone they don't want to be, but overall, common sense says it's just not a good idea to hate on people period.


100% support new policy

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I support the Governor's new policy which strikes the proper balance and takes us away from the unbalanced policies of the past.


STRONGLY OPPPOSE

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This proposal accomplishes nothing but harm vulnerable groups and I strongly oppose it completely.


Transgender Rights

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<p>Children/Youth growing up in the public sphere should always be allowed to express themselves in a way that they’re comfortable with. This includes the use of their own personal pronouns and identifying outwardly with how they identify within themselves. Virginia and Governor Youngkin needs to let the youth make their way in this world they see fit - INCLUDING, sexual identity and orientation. </p>


I SUPPORT THIS BILL

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Please take all actions necessary to keep pedophile troons and their ideology away from children


Strongly OPPOSE these dangerous policies from a myopic administration

Katie M., Henrico parent of trans and cisgender children

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The model policies put forward by the Youngkin administration are dangerous to Virginia's youth, will create a hostile environment for our already vulnerable transgender students, and are frankly embarrassing for a state that used to be a leader in public education. As the mother of a transgender student and two supportive, cisgender LGBTQ+ allies, I know first-hand how dangerous it is to a child's physical and mental health not to have support and representation at school. Trans youth have a disproportionately high rate of mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. To not be able to be yourself at school - to be maligned by your state's administration for simply being who you are - is debilitating and causes lasting harm. These policies will exacerbate that while also making it harder for well-meaning teachers and administrators to support them. I welcome a conversation with anyone at DOE or in the Youngkin administration to help explain, from someone who actually has lived experience in this world, how these policies will impact our families.


Support

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<p>As a teacher in Prince William county, I fully support ensuring parents are the ones to educate their own children. This is common sense. No one is asking for students to be bullied for any reason, but no need to mandate that a teacher such as myself would be required to act in a manner which they don't believe!! Calling a student by whatever they want on any given day is asking for trouble. </p>


Governor Youngkin, for your consideration

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Glenn, with all due respect, you couldn't get a clue in a field of horny clues if you did the ritual clue mating dance and smeared yourself with clue musk. Leave our kids alone, you're not placing higher than 5th in Iowa.


You have the attention of Europe. You do not want this.

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How can a State in the United States be considering this in 2022. This is primitive and hateful and harmful. We already avoid the United States as a travel destination for backward dangerous thinking. Do you want to be judged as religious cult abusers on top of that. This is not fine. This is madness. Reject your plan and reject the leaders who proposed it to you.


Strongly oppose this guidance - support and protect trans youth

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<p>The current policy protects ALL students.  New policy puts an already at-risk population more at-risk.  </p>


The tiny minority cannot control the majority

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Thank you Governor Youngkin for you are tremendous leader ship, wisdom, and common sense. We cannot allow a tiny minority to control and manipulate the vast majority. Our schools are for learning reading, writing, and mathematics, nothing else.


Reject New Trans Youth Guidance

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Please REJECT the cruel new Youngkin guidance.  You are hurtng ALL Virginians. Trans youth need support, not shame and fear. You claim that "parents are in charge", but this policy is oppressive to parents of trans youth.  This policy feeds bigotry and violence against vulnerable trans youth. Please reject this harmful guidance.


Strongly oppose


Support

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<p>Support Gov Youngkin's common sense direction on education. </p>


Leave them alone!

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Strongly oppose the drafted changes. If parents want to be involved THEY ALREADY ARE.

Why do you care if someone wants to be called a different pronoun?

Why do you care if a child who looks like a girl goes into a girl's restroom to pee?

Why do we even separate the genders; to begin the oppression of women at an early age?

Leave the children alone and let them grown up to make good choices in life. Like how to show compassion, treat everyone with that compassion-regardless of their differences and belong to the communities at large and not just the LGBTQ+ ones. Equality, diversity and inclusion for all.


Support

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It is unfortunate that public schools have been at the forefront of the identity politics game, and it is way past time to protect the children from this tug 'o war. There is a pandemic of gender dysphoria and our most vulnerable population has borne the brunt. Celebration and affirmation of such a disorder may not be the best course of action, but even if it were, the schools are not in place to decide or pass judgement in either direction.

If I remember correctly, schools are a place of learning. While some bias is unavoidable because teachers and children are human beings, the focus of school should be fundamentally education, not social engineering. Teachers and counselors are not co-parenting, nor do they have the right to attempt to do so. On the other hand, for teachers and counselors who do not fall in line with the current progressive march, compelled speech like self-generated pronouns is inappropriate and violates the 1st Amendment.

Personally, I would like to see the government step out of education entirely, but if it needs to be a necessary evil (which I doubt), then its role should be narrowly defined to teach the fundamentals, such as reading and arithmetic, writing and history, science and trades, music and life skills (such as gardening, cooking, and budgeting).

I fully support this attempt to limit the role of our schools in the battle of gender politics.


I strongly oppose this cruel policy.

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<p>As the friend of several people who have taken the journey to another gender, I know that their decisions were not made lightly. I’m grateful to be comfortable in the body I was born with, but we’re not all that lucky. Denying the reality of folks who know they are different will lead to higher rates of suicide, self-harm and despair. You just have to be kind and compassionate. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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As a parent to a non-binary child I OPPOSE the guidance.


Strongly Oppose the New Guidance Documents

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<p>These new policies serve to bully the most vulnerable children in a transparent effort to score political points in a culture war. Children are not pawns. Schools should be a safe place for ALL children, yet these policies make schools far less safe for trans children. VDOE officials need to educate themselves on the struggles these children and their families face daily and implement ways to make schools safer, easier, happier places for these children by removing obstacles and systems of bigotry that put them at risk. Instead, the current policies do the opposite and innocent children will suffer because of them. As a Virginia resident and a parent of a school-age child, I strongly oppose these new policies and ask VDOE to reconsider and revise them to protect trans children, not bully them. </p>


Model Policy Properly Balances Student and Parental Rights

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The model policy properly balances the rights of students to be free from discrimination, bullying, and harassment with the rights of parents to guide the education of their children.

Further, the policy fulfills the requirement of the 2020 law requiring VDOE issue this policy and specifically addresses these issues within the confines of federal law and current interpretations of the United States Constitution.


the 2022 transgender model policies

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The 2022 model policies are going to hurt a lot more students than you're trying to protect.


Strongly Oppose

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I vehemently oppose the rollback on trans youth rights.