Support Governor Youngkin's Policy

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I commend and support the Governor’s 2022 model policy. We need leadership against social engineering of our precious children, starting with strong support for parental rights in schools.  Sadly, the world will never be a perfect place for children though we should try to make it better. Tragically, some parents are not good parents and will not understand their children’s struggles. We cannot change that on so many levels, but most parents are their child’s best advocate and need and want to be informed about concerns they are dealing with at school. We can continue to make efforts to support all children, including those with gender dysphoria, without trampling on the rights of other children. Trans groups across the country are very organized and vocal in support of the trans agenda in Virginia’s schools. Most parents support Governor Youngkin’s policy and are busy working and raising their families, so do not interpret their absence of comments here as being disinterested in the well-being of their children.

I care about all children, especially those who are struggling with a mental/psychological illness, including gender dysphoria. These children need our compassion, support, and yes, professional help, and schools can help with that. Changing school policies that negatively affect most students to work around a few children is not the answer. Trans advocates threaten there will be grave danger to children who identify as trans if policies are not changed to accommodate them. There is no guarantee those superficial changes will be real remedies for children who identify as trans and there seems to be little concern about whether those changes are detrimental to other children and maybe even long term to students with gender dysphoria themselves.  Children are immature and impressionable and not the best judge of what is in their best interest and adults must be rational, careful, and deliberate with setting policy. Children who identify as trans do not have the right to require schools rework around their needs, ignoring the rights of all other students. Parents of children who identify as trans also have the right to home school their children if they feel schools are not tailored to meet their individual child’s specific educational needs. Some parents take this route for their different reasons. Many trans advocates seem to advocate the rights of trans youth even when it tramples on the rights and sensibilities of others.

There have always been children with different personal tendencies toward being what is considered as more masculine or more feminine traits. We should promote respect for that full range of expression, but we do not have to confuse most children and encourage them to question if they are transgendered because they are dealing with normal child development issues and the stresses of adolescence. Trans issues should not even be a topic in school with young children. For the few children who have expressed gender dysphoria, schools can provide individual support; however, we currently do not understand enough about gender dysphoria to justify most of the school accommodations advocated. We must also highly question the current explosion of trans children and of parents of trans children and who/what is behind this trend!

Advocated trans policies are destroying opportunities for many girls in sports and subjecting them to physical harm by making them compete against biological males while totally ignoring the reality of their physical advantages over biological females.  It is wrong to require students to share personal spaces with students of the opposite sex against their will and to ostracize them for speaking up about their discomfort. It is dishonest to require students and teachers to use pronouns for students which do not correspond with their biological sex. We can seek reasonable accommodations where possible for children who are conflicted about their gender identity, such as having some gender-neutral bathroom and locker room spaces and we can call them by their preferred name; however, it is wrong to push many of the other advocated changes!

At some point American society will realize the harm to children the trans agenda is promoting. Some countries in other parts of the world are now recognizing how misguided and dangerous a lot of the "trans affirming care” has been and a few brave sources are speaking out. Here, it has been a huge distraction in schools, is unnecessarily confusing to children, and a difficult issue for parents and teachers to deal with. School resources are already stretched thin in their core mission of teaching academic studies and our children are behind after COVID lockdowns!

We need to show compassion and support to all children and to strengthen anti bullying programs in schools for all children, including those struggling students who identify as trans.  The truth is there are no guarantees that changing school policies for everyone else to accommodate children who identify as trans will make life easier for them or save them from harm/normal growing pains or remedy their psychological issues. Forcing many of these accommodations on others will not promote trans acceptance and will only serve to foster anti trans sentiment. One day when we understand more about gender dysphoria and some of the "gender affirming care”, actions, and treatments being currently advocated by some medical and counseling “professionals “, we will realize the harm we have perpetrated on so many children. Unbelievably, so many people have lost their way and rationality on this subject! We have allowed trans activists to distort our thinking!

I grew up in a modest household, as many children still do. I would have been mortified and scared to have a biological male in the female bathroom or locker room.  It would have been an injustice to take away my opportunities in sports to accommodate boys who said they identified as girls. Biological boys do have undeniable physical advantages over biological girls in most sports. It would have been dishonest to require me to call a boy a girl/she or a girl a boy/he. We need to maintain sanity and honesty on this subject. My family, my husband’s family, and many others I know suffered great harm as guinea pigs in the failed, forced busing experiment in Richmond started in 1970 and it did not improve Richmond’s schools. Do not use children again for an issue which we still have little understanding about!

In closing, I am obviously very passionate about this subject and about nurturing and protecting ALL children! I am not a “hateful, transphobic, right wing, religious, nut job.” I am signing my name “anonymous” because I do not wish to subject myself or my family to the violence and vitriol that may be projected my way by some who disagree with my opinion. Sadly, there used to be a time when we could all express our different thoughts openly and learn from each other. Unfortunately, society is not in that place now--a shameful loss!


Parents offer best guidance for children - totally support

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As a retired VA teacher I fully support the parents guidance for their children, and knowledge about everything their children are involved in at school. The effort of teachers or schools, or any governing body of the state or nation to try to supersede the parental authority, provision for , protection of , and well-being of their children is an effort to take away the rights of those parents.  As a grandparent also, I see this as a family concern where love fir these children comes from family / NOT from the government or school setting which interacts with these children far less and therefore cannot make decisions which will have Far greater consequences for these children for a much longer period of time than the school has a part in this child’s life!

I fully support the recommendations in this proposal.


I oppose the anti-trans bill

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I oppose the anti-trans bill that has been proposed—we need to keep kids safe in schools and this horrible bill will prevent that. It would be a travesty if it went through.


The New Model Rules Endanger Trans, Gender Expansive and Non-Binary Children

Sherrice Kerns, Education Advocate, Arlington VA

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The title “2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools” is a misnomer. The proposed 2022 model policies strip students of privacy, dignity, and respect and endangers them.

The proposed 2022 model policies rely heavily on parental rights to make “the best” decision for their children.  There is no denying that parents have a fundamental right under the Constitution to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of their children. While this fundamental right is undeniable, the proposed 2022 model policies exceeds what is maintained in law.

Allowing minors to make certain autonomous medical decisions without the need for parental consent and involvement is supported by Virginia law. There are times when a minor is deemed an adult under state law for the purpose of consenting to medical or health services, for example, to determine the presence of or treatment for venereal, infectious, or contagious diseases for which there is mandatory reporting to the board of health or when needed for birth control, pregnancy, or family planning.  Allowing students to autonomously assert their gender identity/expression while at school without parental consent and involvement is the kind of sensitive information that aligns with the spirit of current Virginia law.

The state also acts to protect the medical information of minors from parental access when it is unsafe for the child.  Access to a minor’s health records may be denied if the minor’s treating physician or treating psychologist determines in their professional judgment that furnishing the records to a parent would be likely to cause substantial harm to the minor. The current 2021 model policies align with state law and supports this kind of professional judgment.

The proposed 2022 model policies exclusively center parental rights over the rights of the students to which the policy applies. This contradicts the protection of children that is inherent in Virginia’s laws.  By enacting these protective laws, Virginia legislatures have prioritized the rights of children when their safety is at risk, which supports a compelling interest in preserving and prioritizing students’ rights to privacy in their gender identity and/or expression, including privacy from unsupportive parents or guardians.

The proposed 2022 model policies are inconsistent with state and federal laws and endanger transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive students. The 2021 model policy that conforms with state and federal laws should stand.


Strongly oppose.

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<p>Strongly oppose. Trans rights are human rights. </p>


!00 % Support as satan Hates the Traditional Family...

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<p>...and so do those who oppose strengthening the traditional family.  It is long overdue for the Church to go on the offensive to support these proposed improvements in Virginia's regulations concerning the family. Bravo and wish more states and the USCCB would support as well.</p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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This policy mandates teachers to discriminate against transgender students. “Every effort should be made to ensure that a transgender student wishing to change his or her means of address is treated with respect, compassion, and dignity in the classroom and school environment” and there is no effort more basic than to call students by the names they want to be called and the pronouns they prefer.


100% agree with policy proposed.

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<p>I agree with the new policy. This is not an attack on transgender affirmation at all. It is ensuring that parents of minors who cannot make knowledgeable life altering decisions continue to have a say in their children's lives. The current push against parents rights for their children is a frightening attempt to usurp power by statists.  For those children who truly believe and decide with their families to identify in a way other than their official record, this policy allows for them to proceed.  There is no danger to transgendered individuals, and this policy will cement protections for families against those who would use their children as political pawns. </p>


100% agree with policy as written

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<p>Agree. Students are in school to learn and until the age of 18, parents are responsible for their children. </p>


Strongly Opposed - parent of 2 VA school kids

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<p>Strongly oppose. Children should be safe at school, physically and psychologically. </p>


THIS POLICY IS CRUEL AND LACKS HUMANITY

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<p>I’m a transgender man and I graduated HS two years ago. The fact my teachers and most peers at school made me feel welcomed and comfortable was a nice feeling, I wasn’t ready to tell my parents but I was miserable not being myself. It provided a safe space for myself and I made other transgender students realize they could do the same. I wish I could thank my educators and admin for being so supportive and accepting, that is all children ever want. They just you to listen. So listen to not just the children, but all of the these people. This will kill children and break up many families before they were even ready to begin the journey it takes some. Outing children causes depression,abuse,homelessness,and with all of that comes su*c*de. Don’t be cruel, try and understand. Do some research, I promise the science and logic is there to back it all up. </p>


I fully support this proposal

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I fully support this proposal.


Trans rights are human rights!!!!!!!!

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Trans rights are human rights. I strongly oppose the Youngkin administrations proposed policies. Protect trans and nonbinary students!


Adding to my comment id=198481:  EXPLICITLY AFFIRM role of health care professionals

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NOTE:  I am adding to my comment at

https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewcomments.cfm?commentid=198481

I do not mean to look like two people, but I don't see how to edit my comment to add a point or really a conclusion:

I want to add:

THEREFORE, the guidance should be edited to EXPLICITLY ADD the primacy of qualified and licensed health care professionals, including psychological professionals, above and in place of schools.

The Guidance which I generally support should be edited and changed to explicitly affirm a priority in a child's life including the exaggerated "individual needs" of:

1)  Parents (obviously including guardians or whomever is in the legal role of parent as the case may be)

2)   Qualified and licensed health care professionals including for both physical, emotional, and mental concerns.

3)   If any, any or whatever religious institutions the family may rely upon

4)  Schools in last place, although basically NEVER except in the case of an emergency.

The insanity in our schools and the text of the Guidance are deficient in ignoring the role of health care professionals who are QUALIFIED, TRAINED, and LICENSED to deal with these kinds of issues.

If teachers or school administrators try to wade into these areas, they should be arrested for practicing medicine or psychiatry without a license.


Disgusted and disappointed

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<p>The fact that we as trans people have to constantly fight for our rights just because you refuse to teach yourselves or even try to understand us. You processed to go and base every single law based off of an religious book that not everyone follows. You processed to based your whole personality, ideology, and basic understandings of someone based off of a book that has been alter so heavily to hate every single minority besides white, male, rich, able bodied, cisgender, heterosexual, christian person on this planet. The second you aren’t any one of these you receive hate, death threats, disturbing comments, uncomfortable comments, and get treated like you're some sort of disease that needs to be rid off. The fact that the government is treating us like this is despicable and disgusting. You aren’t protecting or helping your country. You are putting us at risk of death and insecurity.  </p>
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Govenor Youngkin's school policy protects parents rights

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I support Governor Youngkin's policy.  The school systems, particularly Fairfax and Loudoun Counties need to stand down.


Parents Rights to Information Concerning their children in School Environments

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<p>The new Parents Rights regulation pertaining to Schools being required to share necessary emotional information about their child with parents is a no-brainer. It is sad we even need to state the obvious in these situations when a child may be gender confused. The schools and teachers need to stop hiding behind "safety arguments" in order to implement a political agenda.  Virginia has robust reporting and child protection laws that protect all children if school personnel see indications of child abuse of any kind, they are sufficient. What isn't sufficient is the assurance that the parent paid for schools and teachers will openly work with and partner with parents for the best care of our kids. The schools/teachers we pay for will never be parents for our kids and they need to remember that fact. </p>


Suburban voter Opposed to rollbacks if trans students rights

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I am a suburban swing voter opposed to the proposals to roll back  trans students rights and protections is not what our country is about. It is not what VA public schools is about.

Think hard about what kind of prejudice these proposed measures would teach the OTHER students who are not trans or LGQBT+.  Ask yourself if you support teaching prejudice. If so,why?

In your  hatred / fear of the other and the different, you give permission to think and act in a small minded way and that does the opposite of develop and nurture caring responsible adults who will be the future policy makers and decision makers when those in power now are old and frail and will hope for kindness from intelligent leadership.

This is bad for all students,  bad for the educators and bad for our society.


Strongly Opposed. Trans children deserve safety and respect

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<p>The policies proposed by the governor are abhorrent. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Providing children with an environment that supports their individual identity is crucial to their well being and to a more peaceful and loving future. Trans people are just people. All of the myriad forms of gender identity and expression that we see today have always been a part of human life. Being trans is not a radical new fad, it is a natural part of human diversity. We are only now fighting against the powers, like these proposed policies, that have tried to hide and erase trans people. These policies could also have violent consequences. Multiple studies have shown that trans children who are consistently misgendered or forced to hide their true selves are more likely to be depressed and commit suicide. Enacting these policies would only cause harm and prove that the people enacting them want these children to die. These are not the people who should be in any position of power and influence in our society. Please, chose a future of love an acceptance. Do not put these proposed policies into action. </p>


Strongly Oppose

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Even though this is a delicate subject for many who have feuds, disagreements, and arguments over this, the answer is not to hurt children's thoughts and feelings over the subject.  God gave us male and female.  Man and genetics decided to enact gay, lesbian, homosexuality, transgenderism, and queerness.  I am not against those who want to practice these because they are human and God's children.  What I oppose is if a male becomes a female or a female becomes a male, there needs to be boundaries or respect, dignity, and kindness showed to that person.  Children are children and their brains have not fully developed to make choices to become a male or female yet.  The state or government should not become involved with this.  It is up to the parents to decide!  Also, it is important to go back to basic morals and values and teach and protect our children (within a reasonable age) that changing gender should be acclimated until they are adults.  I also think if a male or female human being is going into the opposite bathroom, this could be frightening to many children because they are not accustomed to this way of life.  Please do not let this happen because our children would be more confused, ashamed, and maybe don't want to go to the bathroom due to others' changed gender.  May God Bless the people involved with this and may they decide accordingly.


New education policies

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FULLY support proposed new educational policies by Youngkin administration.

Thank you for defending the rights of parents to be the primary educators of their children.


Trans rights are human rights

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<p>Say NO to transphobia.  I strongly oppose these new transgender policies.  Trans and non-binary kids MUST BE PROTECTED!  Trans and non-binary students belong! These policies will have devastating impacts on trans and nonbinary kids and must NOT be implemented. Experts say these proposed model policies are NOT evidence-based and WILL HARM thousands of young Virginians!  Implementing these policies risks the lives and well-being of over 6,000 kids. These children deserve to feel safe and themselves at school.  </p>


New School Policy

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I support Gov. Youngkin's new model policy!


Revoke the Proposed Model Policies for Transgender Children in Schools

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I am a moderate voter and lawyer living in Alexandria, VA, age 64. I went to Fairfax County public schools. I do not have a transgender child or family member but do know some transgender people who are amazing contributors to our society and body politic.

I am deeply concerned about and oppose the governor's proposed guidelines for transgender students. I believe that they are unlawful and violate both state and federal law, frankly are immoral, and will result in even more bullying, isolation, and possibly even contribute to the suicide of transgender students.  I am disturbed that the governor seems more inclined to score political points than to respect the dignity, privacy and self-respect of transgender students. The proposed policies will have profound negative impacts on transgender students and isolate them in their schools and potentially their homes by forcing parents to be notified of their orientation and denying them basic human dignity at school.

As you know, the Virginia Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and it is clear that transgender sexual identity is covered. As the Washington Post has emphasized, "recent federal court decisions have upheld protections for transgender people, including a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision, written by Trump appointee Neil M. Gorsuch, that determined that civil rights law barring sex discrimination covers transgender people. In 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that a transgender student could not be barred from using a boys’ bathroom. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of that ruling last year."

The governor should avoid a humiliating (and well-deserved) court reversal of his policies by withdrawing this mean-spirited political measure that will isolate, encourage bullying and harm the development of transgender students. Thank you.


Support! Full support for Youngkin and his team!

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Full support for Youngkin and his team!


Policy is harmful to children

Concerned graduate of and substitute teacher for FCPS

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Virginia Lawmakers,

I am extremely opposed to the proposed policy changes regarding the rights of children to be referred to by the names and pronouns they identify with. As a non-binary individual who suffered through suicidal thoughts in my adolescence, I am painfully aware of the necessity for trans children to feel seen, heard, respected, and safe. Some children do not feel safe being who they are at home, and need their school to offer them refuge and validation. I also believe that this policy unethically panders to the outrage of some adults at the direct risk of child wellness. We have data that shows that trans students mental health correlates with being referred to by the pronouns and name they identify with. Those students whose choices are respected suffer with less suicidal thoughts than those whose choices are ignored. Do not allow polarization and politics to drive a decision that could harm so many vulnerable kids.

Thank you,

A concerned Virginian


Being Transgender Is Not a Contagious Social Phenomena

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A lot of the posts in support of Youngkin's policies come from a place of fear and anxiety. These parents are afraid of their children being transgender. They've been fed lies and misinformation about modern medical practices, the ages at which different kinds of treatments are offered to transgender youth, and often believe that being transgender is a spiritual offense or morale failure. When they claim that public schools are removing a parent's ability to decide how their child is educated, they are speaking from a place of fear where they are worried their child will somehow be made to be queer by the public education system.

Conversion therapy does not work. Either way. Anyone can look into the story of groups like Exodus International, let alone more tortuous instances of conversion therapy. It's recognized as a crime in many places in the world for a reason, and despite championed anecdotes to the contrary it is empirically not successful. If gay people cannot be made to be straight, and transgender people not made cisgender, why do some parents think their cis children will be made transgender?

The fact of the matter is that there will be transgender youth in the education system. There will be children who live in abject fear of their family discovering who they are, and who desperately seek community, love, and understanding that meet them where they are, as the person they are, and the risk of denying them the chance to get those things from their educational institution is only harmful.

I've spoken to a lot of transgender youth. Teenagers who are kicked out, run away, self harm, are in and out of mental care institutions. It's not because being transgender is a mental illness. It's because they have families and communities that don't want them, that wanted cisgender children instead. They don't get the support they need, and the result is that they are stressed, hurt, and have statistically worse outcomes across a variety of metrics compared to cisgender children. If your child is trans, you can't stop that by changing the public school system. But you can stop yourself from hurting your children by thinking about their needs instead of your own fears.

I'd like to ask anyone against this policy to put themselves into the shoes of a transgender child. My shoes, once upon a time. You don't understand why you are the way you are, but you know you can't tell anyone. They say it's really bad to be the person you are at church. Your parents point out people like you on the street and speak of them with pity and disgust. It's not a kind way to grow up, and it's not how a child should live. I didn't tell a soul until I moved out 20 years later and it's permanently impacted my ability to feel close to my family. If I had support at school, teachers that understood what I felt, and could talk to my parents about it with me when I lacked the perceived authority to advocate for my own needs, I think my family might be more whole than it is today. Please support trans youth.


STRONGLY OPPOSE - stop wasting Virginians' time and energy

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A rollback on protections for trans youth is nothing but political posturing and actually serves no constituent in the Commonwealth. Please spend your time and our tax dollars on programs that actually help Virginians live prosperous lives no matter their gender or sexual identity.


Transgender has no place in schools

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No child should ever have the option to change the gender God has given to them. It is completely absurd and sick to allow them rights and special treatment in our school systems above every other student for living a Godless lifestyle, subjecting other children to those behaviors and ideologies. I for one am completely against transgender being in schools and fully support this bill to not only get our school system right back on track but also to allow our students to be comfortable again with who they share a classroom/bathroom with.


Policy for transgender and non-binary students

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<p>Dear Governor Youngkin, I am opposed to the policy for the LGBTQIA+Students as outlined in the new Virginia Department of Education "Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia's Public Schools".  I am very concerned that this policy removes established rights for these students. These students are extremely vulnerable for being subjected to bullying and isolation from their family and peers. Statistics have shown that their insecure, unloved and isolating environments more often than not lead to self-harm and suicide. Ignoring their needs is disrespectful and hurtful in the broader mental health challenges that is currently present in communities throughout Virginia. These changes are not just bad policy, they are also inhuman.   Sincerely, Marie Ann Leyko </p>
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We need a more nuanced policy

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This policy is designed to cover students aged 5-18. There is a big difference in the needs and support required for students in 7th grade vs. students in 11th grade. This policy assumes that all students have a safe and supportive environment at home where they can discuss their feelings and be authentic. As this is not the case, many students depend on school to be their emotional and supportive environment. Please redesign the policy to account for these nuances and make policies that acknowledge the different needs between elementary school students and high school students.


!00% on Board with Policy

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Our children need to be protected from the preaching of gender Ideology. GI creates confusion and goes against our nations moral compass.  GI is creating another mental health issue.


STRONGLY SUPPORT

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I strongly support these PRO PARENT policies!!


I strongly disagree with this because as a person who is and has many trans friends we want safty


Strongly OPPOSE these damaging policies

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<p>I support transgender and non-binary youth.  These policies are disgusting and very dangerous to young students.  Additionally, they pit teachers and schools against vulnerable teens.  Protect and support ALL students.  These policies are a disgrace to being human and supporting our kids to be who they are.  Shame on YOU for making this a state-wide policy against young children under YOUR care.  I am so disgusted with this leadership.  Taking our state back to the dark ages... </p>
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Absolutely support

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<p>Parents have life long responsibility to their children. School personnel do not. Schools have no right to usurp parental authority nor any rights to unilaterally change the course of any minor’s life. </p>


Protect Emotionally Vulnerable Children and Parental Rights!

Dear Virginia Dept of Education,

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,
Robert Weiss
5146 Spring Branch Blvd
Montclair, VA 22025

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Dear Virginia Dept of Education,<br /><br />Schools should never secretly socially transition students and keep the child's new name, pronouns and gender identities from parents. I am pleased and relieved that the Virginia Department of Education's revised model policies support parental rights and ensure that school employees don't cut parents out of critical decisions for their children. <br /><br />The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued "model policies" in 2021 that encouraged every school district in Virginia to hide a child's new gender identity from parents who choose to affirm the child's biological sex. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, the VDOE's revised policies make it clear that all children should be valued and parents' rights and beliefs should be respected. The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools keep parents involved in major decisions in their children's lives.<br /><br />The 2021 VDOE "model policies" encouraged schools to create "a plan (that) may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians." <br /><br />I strongly support the revised policies that end this practice. Virginia schools should not drive a wedge between parents and their emotionally vulnerable children. Virginia school districts, including those who have already communicated their plans to ignore the 2022 revised model policies, should put an end to secret Gender Support Plans now.<br /><br />Sincerely,
<br />Robert Weiss
<br />5146 Spring Branch Blvd<br />Montclair, VA 22025<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657523/148806725" width="1" height="1" />


Gov. Youngkin, this is exactly why you were elected.  Strongly support!

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Please keep your campaign promises to support parental rights and to keep children safe.


Support against Transgender and School

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I support bill/ policy against Transgender in Schools.

Where are we as a "in God we trust" nation teaching our  children.  End times are upon us!!


Trans rights

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I oppose your new policies denying trans people their rights. I oppose the restrictions and policies that put restrictions on teachers and others using students preferred names and pronouns. Trans people already have a higher depression, anxiety, and suicide rate. You are making everything worse.


Support parents rights!

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I watched a teen boy who attends a Fairfax County Public School cry out for help with tears on his face because he was being forced to violate his conscience and speak untruth. If he spoke what he knew to be true he feared that he would be punished. Our children are being mentally abused by the schools that are coercing them to conform to an agenda that is contrary to natural law. Children are being coerced to agree to that which is merely a simulation of reality.  Parents have a natural right and duty to raise their children in a way that conforms to the good and the truth of the human person. This is not the natural right of the schools and teachers who are trying to usurp the role of parents with agenda  driven politics. Look at the fruits that the schools have given our children who now are facing a world where good and evil have been inverted. Please give parents and their children their rights back! We all have a right to engage freely in society, and raise our children in truth.  I support the Governor!


Strongly Oppose

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<p>This is a violation of privacy. Having teachers outing children and / or not being  allowed to use the pronouns they prefer is unnecessary and cruel. Let both the teachers and children focus on what matters at school - learning in a safe environment. </p>


Strongly Opposed

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I am strongly opposed to these guidelines. We should be protecting the children from parents/guardians who for whatever reason are incapable of understanding. Stop making this a political issue and make it about actually protecting children from abuse at home, school, and other places. I am disappointed this has been turned into the political issue it has.


Strongly oppose! Keep the 2021 policies!

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I support transgender rights. Children need our support and protection, which was the focus of the 2021 policy. The new 2022 policy proposed by Youngkin is misguided and achieves his goal of creating fear in simple-minded Virginians, who, sadly aren’t educated enough to see through his deceptive rhetoric. It’s interesting, in the 2022 blurb you proclaim to support the first amendment that protects a person’s right to religious freedom. Funny how your whole ridiculous policy is crafted through the lens of (your distorted and hateful interpretation of) CHRISTIANITY! You’re imposing your fundamentalist Christian beliefs on the rest of us. What happened to separation of church and state? True freedom means that all are free to be who they want to be. We don’t need your laughable “moral compass” to dictate how we should live and who we should be!

VOTE out these hateful republicans this November!


Trans rights are Human rights

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This Fairfax County resident believes that this guidance is a travesty. Presented as if it were a benign adjustment to the existing policy, this guidance serves to remove the rights of trans children and make it impossible for trans children and the families of trans children to make decisions for their families that support children. Anyone that says otherwise is grossly misinformed and ignorant.


Children are not State Property

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<p>Children are not property. Parents have the responsibility and the authority to care for their children free of state interference. Government has a responsibility to support parents in this sacred mission. </p>


transgender right are human rights

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strongly oppose. protect transgender lives by listening to those who live them.


STRONGLY SUPPORT PARENTS' RIGHTS

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Why is it that parents can be informed anytime their child needs a band-aid or Tylenol, yet they can't expect to be informed if their child has just made a life-changing decision?


Strongly Oppose

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Kids should be addressed by their birth gender and use the facilities of their birth gender.


Dear Virginia Dept of Education,

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,
Marynell DeVaughn
901 N Monroe St
Arlington, VA 22201

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Dear Virginia Dept of Education,<br /><br />Schools should never secretly socially transition students and keep the child's new name, pronouns and gender identities from parents. I am pleased and relieved that the Virginia Department of Education's revised model policies support parental rights and ensure that school employees don't cut parents out of critical decisions for their children. <br /><br />The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued "model policies" in 2021 that encouraged every school district in Virginia to hide a child's new gender identity from parents who choose to affirm the child's biological sex. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, the VDOE's revised policies make it clear that all children should be valued and parents' rights and beliefs should be respected. The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools keep parents involved in major decisions in their children's lives.<br /><br />The 2021 VDOE "model policies" encouraged schools to create "a plan (that) may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians." <br /><br />I strongly support the revised policies that end this practice. Virginia schools should not drive a wedge between parents and their emotionally vulnerable children. Virginia school districts, including those who have already communicated their plans to ignore the 2022 revised model policies, should put an end to secret Gender Support Plans now.<br /><br />Sincerely,
<br />Marynell DeVaughn
<br />901 N Monroe St<br />Arlington, VA 22201<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657523/148806582" width="1" height="1" />


New Transgender Policies - Parental Rights & Responsibilities

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I support Gov. Younglings policy on transgender issues. Children and adolescents are similar to leaves blowing in the wind. What they want today can be the exact opposite tomorrow. Parents are the ones responsible for their child's development and what is and is not appropriate for them. Schools are a supplement or resource parents have at their disposal to aid in teaching the academics, the truthful, accurate, proven facts about the "academic" information being dissiminated. If a parent does not approve of the policies and information being conveyed, they can try to satisfactually work out their differences or they can remove their child/children from the source and find a more suitable and appropriate learning situation. Gov. Youngin is to be highly praised for restoring parental rights.

I am a retired Virginia public school teacher (22 year career), a mother of 2, and grandmother of 4: Generation 1 educated entirely in Virginia public schools; generation 2, educated in some Virginia public schools and some private schools; generation 3 educated in home schooling or in private schools.

Furthermore, it's obvious most people, on both sides of the issue, know very little about the real truths behind these issues. Both sides are believing too much false information. They are uninformed about ALL of the facts or they are believing lies.

Parents, demand your right to be in control of your child. Parents, make sure you are working from a base of complete and totally accurate information. Your child/children are depending on you, not the school, but YOU for what they are taught! Don't let them down.


Strongly oppose

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<p>Thanks for making it easier to radicalize my friends against the government </p>


Strongly oppose this policy

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I strongly oppose this policy as it will greatly reduce the well-being of trans and non-binary students.  We shouldn't be teaching students to hide who they are and it would benefit all students to learn about the trans and non-binary community so we can all be better humans.


this policy will cause deaths

Any child who believes they are trans is already in crisis. They are already struggling with their own identity - and if they haven't talked to their parents, there is probably some tension at home as well.It's absurd, under these circumstances, to create such stringent restrictions on how teachers should act. When children are in crisis, their situations need to be considered individually. By Forcing schools to involve the parents, regardless of danger to the child, will result in children getting hurt.  If you restrict the ways that teachers may support students, mental health problems will go untreated, students will be without support that they desperately need.These circumstances will lead to suicides. LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers. 40% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide. These are staggering statistics. Surely "preventing children from committing suicide" ought to be more important than "making sure nobody uses a pronoun without their parent's permission."

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Any child who believes they are trans is already in crisis. They are already struggling with their own identity - and if they haven't talked to their parents, there is probably some tension at home as well.

It's absurd, under these circumstances, to create such stringent restrictions on how teachers should act. When children are in crisis, their situations need to be considered individually. By Forcing schools to involve the parents, regardless of danger to the child, will result in children getting hurt.  If you restrict the ways that teachers may support students, mental health problems will go untreated, students will be without support that they desperately need.

These circumstances will lead to suicides. LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers. 40% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide. These are staggering statistics. Surely "preventing children from committing suicide" ought to be more important than "making sure nobody uses a pronoun without their parent's permission."


Strongly oppose

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This is not your decision to make. Part of the problem with adults right now is they weren’t allowed to be who they wanted to be when they were kids. All of this is going to perpetuate hate and division. A child choosing to be a different gender does not cause violence. Telling a kid they have to be something they aren’t, does. Take a look at all the school shootings. Every single one has a different  persona online that they weren’t allowed to be in real life.

also. Who the  cares. It doesn’t affect you or your family.


Strongly opposed.

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<p>Strongly opposed. </p>


Transgender Policy

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Thank you Gov. Youngkin for bringing Virginia back to wholesome values and morality. I definitely support this policy.


Support the policy

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I support the policy as recently modified by Governor Youngkin.  It protects students from the awkwardness, even danger, of encountering students of opposite biological/genetic sex in private/intimate settings, such as restrooms and locker rooms.  Remember Loudoun County.

Parents are in charge and aware of matters pertaining to their children, and this is affirmed in the policy.


OPPOSED - Listen to Experts, Not Fear Mongering

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<p>Policies, especially those that affect the health and well-being of children, should reflect the current standards and guidelines laid out by experts in their respective fields. When every major health care association is saying that the enacting of these laws greatly hurts or inhibits the wellbeing of some children, it’s unbelievable that some people still continue to listen to the baseless faux-scientific nonsense being spouted by those who have clear puritanical and religious ties and motivations. We live in a society that has largely accepted and celebrated children who are questioning and exploring their gender identities. If you don’t want to be a part of that, that is your right and the option to pull your own kids from the public school system and homeschool them is yours! For the rest of us, we will be fighting tooth and nail to ensure these already vulnerable children receive the love and care and attention they need. </p>


Oppose this homophonic policy

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I strongly oppose this trans and homophobic policy, it does nothing to help the education of our young students.  It is meant solely as a way to "out" students and restrict them by placing these unnecessery steps.  If a student wants to be referred to by a certain pronoun, let them.  Why does the BOE have to get involved with this policy, other than the Republican party does not like anything that does not follow their agenda and will.  This has everything to do about control and power.  SHAME


I Oppose The Proposed Guidance

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I am the parent of a transgender child who has grown into an amazing, thriving and loving adult. Our time in Virginia schools was a lesson on patience, fortitude and strength -- both mine and my student's. We were enrolled when there was no guidance to follow. We had to rely on the knowledge and generosity of teachers, counselors and staff to both protect and guide my child. I trusted them not only to educate, but to care what is in the best interest of the students' well-being. The experts agree:

Counselors, school psychologists and teachers in schools have spoken repeatedly - and loudly - about why these proposed policies are harmful, damaging and deadly.

The Federation of Pediatric Organizations believes that every transgender and gender diverse youth deserve to lead safe, healthy lives in environments that allow them to be their authentic selves.

Virginia's Healthcare workers agree that "the aforementioned proposed school policy enacts dangerous barriers to the safety of transgender and gender-diverse children."

Finally, I firmly oppose the proposed updates to the policy due to my own experience navigating the reality of having a transgender student in Virginia schools. These new proposed guidelines were not created with experts like me, nor my community. They are harmful at best and deadly at worst.


Support Restrictions on School-based Ideologues

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<p>Failure to implement this policy will allow ideologically driven school administrators to insert themselves and the educational bureaucracy, even more deeply into the inherently private lives of families.  Allowing schools to keep secrets from parents is a symptom of an ideology that is focused on promulgating itself over the interests of children.   The assertion that this proposed policy will kill trans children is the exact opposite of the likely outcome.  This policy will more likely save children from the irreparable physical and psychological damage that is implicit with the gender transition process.    </p>


Children are not property of the State

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<p>Children are not property. Parents have the responsibility and the authority to care for their children free of government interference. Government should support parents to carry out this sacred mission. </p>


Opposition to Trans Youth Guidance Document

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<p>I vigorously oppose the proposed guidance document that restrict trans students' access to  school activities, restrooms of their choice. The implementation of this policy will make it much more difficult for trans and non-binary students to get the counseling and services they need. The governor's policy is institutionalizing bullying. </p>


I am strongly opposed.


Protect my children

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<p>I understand everyone has inherent rights, but I don’t believe this should be pushed onto my children. School is for learning, not for conforming to social norms. Schools should be free of any distractions and conducive to learning. My son shouldn’t have to worry about a girl identifying as a boy being in the same locker room as him. My daughter shouldn’t have to worry about the opposite. We were all born with a predetermined sex, and until these children are 18, leave it that way. </p>


Trans rights are human rights

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<p style="text-align: justify;">As a former public school teacher and as a mother, I am advocating for the right of transgender children to retain their privacy and agency at school. For many children, school is the only place that they feel safe, or experience care and/or a warm meal. To take away their sense of safety would be debilitating. Bullying continues to rise among youth, and if teachers and administrators cannot protect our most vulnerable, queer and trans children, by requiring use of correct pronouns and preferred name, these children are at a severely increased risk of self harm and suicide. Retain the previous policy in place and protect all of our children, because there is no such thing as other people’s children. </p>


OPPOSE

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I strongly oppose. Forcing a teacher to go against their own belief system is wrong.
Dismissing our children and their voice will be detrimental to the mental health of our students I matter what they or their families believe. We are in a mental health crisis . Let’s focus on education!


Gov. Youngkin's Anti-Transgender Policies are Abhorrent

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Governor Glenn Youngkin's attempts to pull Virginia back into an intolerant dark age are abhorrent and must no continue forward. His newest directive to the Department of Education to discriminate against transgender students in Virginia schools is in clear violation of not only federal precedent, but also of the Virginia Human Rights Act.

Gov. Youngkin must not be allowed to push this draconian set of guidelines forward.


I support the new parent policies being proposed by Gov Youngkin

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Parents are the primary educators/protectors of THEIR children!  Schools should NEVER be in a position of keeping anything from them as it relates to THEIR children!


Dear Virginia Dept of Education,

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,
Deborah Ball
509 N Westminster St
Waynesfield, OH 45896

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Dear Virginia Dept of Education,<br /><br />Schools should never secretly socially transition students and keep the child's new name, pronouns and gender identities from parents. I am pleased and relieved that the Virginia Department of Education's revised model policies support parental rights and ensure that school employees don't cut parents out of critical decisions for their children. <br /><br />The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued "model policies" in 2021 that encouraged every school district in Virginia to hide a child's new gender identity from parents who choose to affirm the child's biological sex. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, the VDOE's revised policies make it clear that all children should be valued and parents' rights and beliefs should be respected. The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools keep parents involved in major decisions in their children's lives.<br /><br />The 2021 VDOE "model policies" encouraged schools to create "a plan (that) may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians." <br /><br />I strongly support the revised policies that end this practice. Virginia schools should not drive a wedge between parents and their emotionally vulnerable children. Virginia school districts, including those who have already communicated their plans to ignore the 2022 revised model policies, should put an end to secret Gender Support Plans now.<br /><br />Sincerely,
<br />Deborah Ball
<br />509 N Westminster St<br />Waynesfield, OH 45896<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657523/148806333" width="1" height="1" />


Trans Students Policies

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<p>My religion, political party preference, or childhood learned beliefs have zero to do with treating all humans equally.  Yours should do the same Govenor.  It is impossible to "turn" someone trans...it is built into the brain that they were born with.  </p>


Please reject and reconsider the 2022 Model Policies.

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The 2022 Model Policies should not be adopted because they infringe on the rights of students themselves. "Schools should defer to parents to make the best decision with respect to their children" is a fine statement in theory, but ignores the realities of transgender student experiences. Many transgender students will face "harassment and discrimination" at home, by their parents, if these policies are passed.  Schools should defer to children to make the best decisions regarding their own well-being. Furthermore, the nature of these policies is contradictory. In the Sample Policy (Appendix 1), Section III. D. Identification of Students, the first two points are completely at odds with each other. The policies claim to "ensure students changing their means of address are treated with compassion", and immediately after forbids personnel from using the preferred means of address.

Defaulting decisions regarding the child's own gender to the child's parent will do nothing except politicize the child's existence. I myself am an LGBTQ graduate of VBCPS - I remember when the political topic du jour was same-sex marriage. It was harmful to me and my LGBTQ peers when homosexuality - our existence - was treated as a topic for debate in "Socratic seminars". Do not let the same thing happen to transgender students. We are human beings and not political pawns.

Finally, policies forcibly involving parents in a child's gender identity will not support your goal that "All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying." Instead, these policies will divide transgender youth into those with sympathetic and supportive parents, and those without. In reality, discrimination, harassment, and bullying do not only come from classmates. They can come from parents, too. Policies like these will destroy an environment that is, for some kids, their last safe haven left.


Strongly Oppose

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As a parent and former teacher, I strongly oppose these policies.


Support for Gov. Youngkin's Policy for Troubled students

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To whom it may concern,  All persons are by their God given natures are deserving of respect and dignity.  When dealing with youth, these issues of defining one's identity needs careful and sensitive assessments.  From what I can gather from many different sources, some very confused and troubled young people may be being influenced by that old standby, peer pressure and societal expectations which have their genesis in adult manipulations, perhaps.  Whatever can be done to support parent and their children to face the reality of a situation needs to be encouraged.  I support the policies that would bring some sanity and clarity to this situation.  Please consider that the parents are the first and best educators of their children and that schools stand in the "place of parents", which is where their authority comes from.  Help those who are struggling by supporting the families who are enduring these difficult situations and support troubled young people by giving them clear and honest assessments of reality.  Let's get our children healthy and whole.  Thank you,  Patricia McAdams, Esmont Va.


Strongly support

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<p>Parents need to be involved...period.  Adolescents are influenced heavily by media and the latest "trend."  Parents are essential to providing the love, guidance and support children need to thrive.  </p>


Support the transgender policy

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Parents are recognized by law as the guardians of children as minors.  Parents should not be excluded from the decisions regarding identity, whether it be pronouns or use of bathrooms of their children.  Parents have the sole right and responsibility to guide their own children through identity issues and mental health struggles.  Schools do not have the right to make decisions for children that can be life altering and create lifelong struggles.

Parents also have the right to protect their children from potential harm.  Gender is not debatable, a human is either male or female as determined by DNA.  The issue that should be addressed is how to properly support a child with gender identity struggles without infringing on the safety of all children.

The proposed transgender policy is a good way to protect all children and not exclude parents from decisions being made for their children. All children deserve to be supported with any challenges of growing up but parents must be involved.


Strongly oppose

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<p>Transgender and queer students expressing themselves in public schools may cause a few other students to feel uncomfortable, but restricting that expression causes the queer students tangible physical and mental harm. </p>


Concerned citizen

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I am 100% opposed to these new policies. They are contrary to state law and their adoption will result in rampant violations of the rights of students, parents, and school personnel, and will inflict serious harm on transgender and nonbinary students.

All students should be safe, welcomed, and included in Virginia’s public schools. I oppose the 2022 Model Policies in their entirety and demand that the VDOE rescind them, leaving the existing 2021 Model Policies in place.


Virginia Parent of Transgender Kids STRONGLY OPPOSED

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<p>I am the VERY PROUD parent of 2 transgender children and I strongly oppose this legislation. My parental rights are already protected by existing laws. The only support I want or need from the Department of Education should come by way of providing accurate, timely and UNBIASED information to my kids so they can be well-prepared participants in our community. </p>


Support Trans Kids, Support Teachers!

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As a longtime resident and former teacher in Richmond, I strongly oppose this policy because it belittles and diminishes the rights of trans kids, and puts more strain on our teachers. While Virginia faces a teacher shortage, this administration continues to put more stress and responsibility on school staff by requiring them to “out” children to their parents, and does not allow them to use a student’s preferred name or pronoun. I thrive to create an inclusive environment in my classroom, and spent 6 years earning a degree as an educational professional. It’s insulting and belittling that this administration wants to tell me how to run my classroom, and it destroys the trust I’ve built with my students AND parents. I strongly oppose this policy and know that it will only worsen the teacher crisis.

Also, should we trust the educational policies of a man whose initial education policy was opposed by every single superintendent in the state?!


Ridiculous Grandstanding

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<p>I fail to see how this changes anything. Parents are/were/will be the main caretakers and influence of their children and adolescents; not the government. As it should be. </p>


Strongly support Younkin's  new model

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100% support these changes.  no biological male should be allowed to compete on girls teams.

no teacher should be allowed to discuss a child's problems without the parent being involved


Protect trans kids


I oppose this cruelty

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This savage new anti-trans policy is a pointless cruelty to children who are already in a difficult time of life. This will solve no problems, only create new ones.


a parent who opposes the new model policy

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I oppose the 2022 draft model policies in how they treat transgender and non binary children.

Of all population groups at a school, transgender and non binary students are some of if not the most vulnerable, to discrimination, bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts and actions. This group is misunderstood, and a school’s policies and treatment are critical during a time in life when all kids are going through a lot of emotional and social turmoil. There is no need to add additional stress to their lives by forcing them to go by names they do not recognize, to out themselves to their families if they are not ready, or to ask them to use facilities that they do not identify with. If we wouldn’t do those harms to adults, why would we do them to youth?

The 2021 model policies are a big improvement for the quality of life of these kids. Please just do no harm here.


I strongly oppose this policy

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I oppose this policy in the strongest possible terms. It is dangerous, bigoted, and unconstitutional. Governor Youngkin is endangering children in order to gain political points on the national stage. This is a shameful policy and Governor Youngkin is a stain on our Commonwealth. I stand with trans kids.


Support the Governor's Policy

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I support the Governor's model policy on transgender students. Parents have the right to direct the upbringing of their children.


Protect Trans Kids

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<p>As a former VA resident but someone who has family and friends in VA, including loved trans children, I strongle oppose the guidance. This guidance will negatively impact the ability for trans children to receive public education and will impact their mental health. </p>


Strongly Support Thank you Gov Younkin

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Strongly support this...you people are sick & twisted. I strongly pray for you all who are against this!

There is ONLY 2 Genders!!! Male and Female and you cant just change what you are!!!. It's sad that the children are being put through this for the ignorance of these so call parents who don't raise, even know how to raise or discipline there own kids! Kids are to be kids THAT SIMPLE!!! They are going to school to learn which isn't really happening either...school is now another place to pass the agenda of what they want us to be formed into, not for you to be a strong person can think and do on your own.  Weak minded people & world!!


Schools have no role in children's sexuality.  Teachers must be arrested and prosecuted as perverts

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The problem with this entire discussion is that the role of schools is to teach academic subjects.  The guidance document does not go far enough but should be strongly supported and implemented.

Any teacher who is spending time on anything other than academics should be fired and docked back pay for spent NOT doing his or her job.

The Summary of the Guidance starts out: "As a part of that work, educators strive to meet the individual needs of all students entrusted to their care"

WRONG.  Students are NOT "entrusted" to the teachers care.

Teachers and administrators have NO role in the raising of children.  None.  They are to do a JOB to teach academics.  They have NOT been "entrusted" with the "care" of children.  That is the parent's job.

The Summary of the Guidance goes on to state: "Thus, we have a collective responsibility to address topics such as the treatment of transgender students with necessary compassion and respect for all students. "

This has nothing to do with a school's job, powers, or jurisdiction.  Any teacher or administrator commenting on or acting on any child's sexuality must be ARRESTED and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for contributing to the corruption and delinquency of minors. sharing obscenity with minors, pedophilia, and perversion.

HERE IS A SIMPLE TEST:  If I went up to the same child in a shopping mall (remember the lies about Roy Moore?)  and said the same things to the child in a shopping mall, would I be arrested?  YES.

Teachers and administrators should be treated exactly the same.  They should also be arrested for exactly the same reasons for exactly the same misbehavior.

This entire tragedy begins from the outrageous falsehood that schools have any role whatsoever in a child's life other than to teach them academics.

The actual Guidance says:  "Schools shall keep parents informed about their children’s well-being: To ensure parents are able to make the best decisions with respect to their child, school personnel shall keep parents fully informed about all matters that may be reasonably expected to be important to a parent, including, and without limitation, matters related to their child’s health, and social and psychological development. "

While it is a sad tragedy that this basic minimal requirement must be clarified, it does not go far enough.

Again, schools are not hospitals or psychological institutions.  It is NOT a school's role to be involved in a "child’s health, and social and psychological development. "

Schools have no role to play in those areas of a child's life.

If there is an emergency or recurring problem, the problem should be referred to the school nurse who should forward the information to the parents and any emergency responders who might be appropriate.  Other than such emergencies, arrogant teachers and administrators puffed up with hubris and a profound lack of wisdom need to butt out and focus on academics.

The actual guidance goes on to state:  "divisions should develop policies that encourage schools to account for these individual needs, "

No, they should not.  The needs individual and otherwise are 100% exclusively the responsibility of parents, or if necessary health care professionals.  Schools have no expertise and no right to intrude into the professional expertise of qualified health care professionals and parents.

Schools are completely unqualified to play any role in these issues, and can only muck things up.

The actual guidance goes on to state:  "Schools should attempt to accommodate students with distinctive needs, including any student with a persistent and sincere belief that his or her gender differs from his or her sex."

No, they should not.  If the topic of a students' gender or sexuality comes up in a school, the school personnel should be immediately fired for (1) NOT focusing on their job of teaching academics and (2) acting as perverts engaging minor children in discussion about sexuality.

Schools must play NO ROLE whatsoever in anyone's gender identity or sexuality.

The actual guidance states:  "taking into account the ....  needs of other students and of school staff. "

This is a core outrage in all of this.

If an adult or a minor wants to make a decision about their gender identity or sexuality, OTHER STUDENTS HAVE NOT MADE THAT DECISION.

One child has no right to impose THEIR drama on the rest of the school.

It is a fundamental abuse to expect any OTHER student, school staff member, administrator, or parent to be shanghai'ed against their will to participate in 1 person's drama.

No child or their parents can impose their disruptive gender drama on others.

THIS IS ONE REASON WHY THE SCHOOL'S SHOULD PLAY NO ROLE WHATSOEVER.

The best way to prohibit 1 child from forcing other children to participate in their disruptive behavior is for the schools to simply ABSTAIN from getting involved in any way.

The actual guidance states:  "School division policies shall therefore implement the requirements of the Act in a manner that ensures no student is discriminated against or harassed on the basis of his or her sex "

And the best way to do that is for a school to NOT GET INVOLVED in any way, and stay completely OUT of anyone's sexuality, and do their job by teaching academics.

If the schools STAY OUT of sex, there won't be a problem.

Jonathon Moseley, long time resident at 3823 Wagon Wheel Lane, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192, recently sold.  Mailing address 5765-F Burke Centre Parkway #337 Burke, Virginia 22015


Oppose

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I OPPOSE the guidance. I am a current graduate social work student and it is saddening to see this form of oppression in 2022. It does not harm anyone to be yourself and we should show more compassion towards one another.


Support Gov Youngkin’s New Transgender Policy Model

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<p>I strongly support Gov Youngkin’s model policies because it puts parents in control of their children. Children do not have the experience or wisdom to make life altering decisions to change their gender. If they still want to change genders when they are 18 years old, then that is their decision.  Changing genders is currently being pushed upon them by our educational system. It needs to stop now. </p>


I support Governor Youngkin's executive order

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Parents should be involved in their children's education


Strongly Oppose

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<p>I strongly disagree and I am a concerned parent. Children need to be what they were born to be and not what they are constructing in their mind to pervert innocents.  </p>


Oppose

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Leave trans kids alone. They’re one of our most vulnerable populations & deserve nothing but respect & protection. They are children. Leave them alone. Keep the protections in place.


Education, NOT Indoctrination

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Public educational institutions have one job, educate children. Matters of politics, sexual orientation, and gender dysphoria have NO PLACE in public education. These are social/moral issues that fall squarely in the arena of parental responsibility. Period.

The sudden push to elevate the needs of "transgender" youth via drag queen story hour, sexually explicit literature, teachers pushing political/social agendas, sharing of bathrooms, total rejection of BIOLOGICAL reality in favor of dysphoric theories, and pushing parents completely out of the conversation is outrageous. So thankful for a governor that fights for parents. I am like many here in Virginia that absolutely refuse to co-parent with the government. The oversexualization of our children and grandchildren is unacceptable. Public educators have one job, to EDUCATE, not indoctrinate.

This legislative move is what we the people voted for here in Vitaliy. I support it 110%!


I support the Governor's proposal.

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Parents should know and be involved in their children's major life decisions, as they are their primary guardians, and have their child's best interests in mind.


Oppose

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I OPPOSE the new guidance.


Dangerous for our Youth

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<p>This is dangerous to trans and non binary youth, who are already at much higher rates of suicide than their Cis gendered peers. There will be blood on your bigoted close minded hands. </p>


Stop Affirming Gender Confusion

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Given that DNA i.e. science determines one’s gender, what’s commonly known as “gender-affirming” is actually gender confusion-affirming. The Governor’s measures would help reduce affirmation of gender confusion, hopefully leading to less female and male genital mutilation which tragically often happens these days to kids going through tomboy phases, and who deeply regret it a few years later.


trans policies


Kids are not property of anyone.

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this policy is a horrible idea and let me tell you why.

it could risk outing and harming transgender children in an unsupportive or abusive household. School is a safe space for a lot of kids because their home life is not a good situation. Kids could be put in danger if their unsupportive parents find out about their identities.

2. it is invalidating to the children. it's not unreasonable to want to go by a different name at school, and it makes them feel like their parents own them.

3. if kids are "property of their families" then why do you care so much? why is it your decision of what these kids do?

4. this policy goes against many public school policies that have existed for years. The gender equality policy, the policies to affirm mental health issues (because gender dysphoria IS classified as a disability), lgbtq+ rights bills, etc.

i'm not so sure this will help because glenn's stick up his ass is far too high to let him pay attention to anyone else, but please take this into consideration. thank you for your time.


Strongly oppose

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<span data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":4,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"As a queer student I strongly oppose this policy. As someone who is trans and gay having the opportunity to be yourself is incredibly hard especially without support from your family. I’m only out to my mom and even then I feel more alone than ever. With the fear of my siblings and my other family saying, looking, and acting the same way as my mother I cannot be myself to them. School is the only place where I’ve been allowed to express and explore my identity without having to worry about that. Being able to use a name and pronouns I want has helped me so much as my mental health dipped because of dysphoria and a lack of acceptance. I have many queer friends who will also be impacted by this and we can all say that the basic protections we get helps us get through the day. Being able to use the boys locker room instead of the girls has made it so much easier for me to function during gym and without that I would be left feeling extremely horrible. I again strongly oppose this as it will leave kids without a place to feel safe and school should be one of those places."}'>As a queer student I strongly oppose this policy. As someone who is trans and gay having the opportunity to be yourself is incredibly hard especially without support from your family. I’m only out to my mom and even then I feel more alone than ever. With the fear of my siblings and my other family saying, looking, and acting the same way as my mother I cannot be myself to them. School is the only place where I’ve been allowed to express and explore my identity without having to worry about that. Being able to use a name and pronouns I want has helped me so much as my mental health dipped because of dysphoria and a lack of acceptance. I have many queer friends who will also be impacted by this and we can all say that the basic protections we get helps us get through the day. Being able to use the boys locker room instead of the girls has made it so much easier for me to function during gym and without that I would be left feeling extremely horrible. I again strongly oppose this as it will leave kids without a place to feel safe and school should be one of those places.


not far enough to protect kids/parents

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these are a start but do not go nearly far enough to combat this insidious form of social engineering based on feelings rather than real science -- teach children to read and then if they have an interest they can research the issue themselves--without liberal indoctrination being pushed by the teachers unions--- these lies have no place in our schools and no child would feel excluded or burdened by this issue if it were not for teachers and their union falsely telling them they should feel that way


Oppose

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Youngkin's complete disregard for trans and non-binary students and individuals is disgusting. Schools need to be a safe haven, not a place that stokes fear and shame.


Oppose

Pediatric nurse here…The proposed model policy ignores the parental rights of parents of transgender and gender expansive students. Schools should be required to use the preferred name and pronouns that students communicate and that their parents communicate. As written, even if a parent of a transgender child requests a name and pronouns, teachers will not be required to use them.

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Pediatric nurse here…

The proposed model policy ignores the parental rights of parents of transgender and gender expansive students. Schools should be required to use the preferred name and pronouns that students communicate and that their parents communicate. As written, even if a parent of a transgender child requests a name and pronouns, teachers will not be required to use them.


Strong Support for Youngkin's New Model Policy on Parents Matter

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Governor Youngkin has performed exactly as promised. He is attempting to bring common sense back to education and reinstate the values of the Nuclear Family.  Education has lost its way and the Pandemic didn't help. Remote learning is an abject failure. The prior administration caused remarkable damage with their lock down policies. The new guidance from this administration reverses the terrible policies that resulted in so much conflict before. We need common sense to prevail. The tyranny of the minority must end. It is time to reclaim the high road and get education back on the tracks of education not indoctrination.  Back to reading, writing and arithmetic and away from identity politics and gender studies. We need to make up for lost time and get this generation retooled for the future. These changes can't happen fast enough. Time to get government out of the family living room. Return to the Judeo-Christian values that made this country great. Teachers deserve to be free from the divisive policies of the past and concentrate on educating our kids.


Strongly support Glen Youngkin

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In support of Glen Youngkin’s policies


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This policy change will kill people—no, I’m not exaggerating.

A 2022 NIH study reported that “82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among transgender youth.”  The same study found that school belonging, family support, and peer support were significant protective factors against suicide attempts/suicidality. I am transgender, and based on the adversity I faced in high school, it is a miracle I am not only alive, but thriving.

School is supposed to be a place to learn inside and outside of the classroom, and part of that is discovering one’s sense of self—whether that be political alignment, athletic talent, true friendship, heartbreak, religious beliefs, or gender identity. The fact is that trans students would not be given an equal educational experience because of the distress caused by the new proposed policy; and, based on research like the study I cited above, the new proposed policy would likely drive more trans students toward self-harm, drug/alcohol abuse, and suicide. Here are a few key reasons why:

Forced disclosure to families can be extremely upsetting and dangerous when trans youth come from unsupportive homes. Under this new policy, rather than focusing on their education, trans students from unsupportive homes would either: 1) be forced to stay in the closet (causing immense psychological, social, and emotional distress) or 2) have to risk destabilizing their home environment or even being kicked out, among other things, after disclosing their trans identity.

If a family is unsupportive, trans students will be subjected to disrespectful, dehumanizing treatment on a daily basis because the proposed policy requires familial permission for a student to use their chosen name and pronouns. All people, including trans people, deserve to be spoken to with respect and dignity. A trans person using new pronouns is no different than using “Dr.” to convey respect, “Mom” to convey affection, and pronouncing a challenging name properly to show you care.

While initially great on its face, the proposed dress code could lead to discrimination. The policy does not enshrine a student’s right to dress in a way that aligns with their gender identity and includes language that would allow teachers and administrators to discriminate against trans and gender non-conforming students if they deem going against gender norms a “distraction.” If you are a cis man, please imagine how you would feel if someone told you one day that you had to wear a dress to work. If you are a cis woman, please imagine how you would feel if someone told you that you had to wear a men’s suit and tie to work. If you feel uncomfortable, just think about how it would feel to be forced to actually do that every single day.

The bathroom and locker room policy violates federal law (See, e.g., Grimm v. Gloucester Cty. Sch. Bd., 972 F.3d 586 (4th Cir. 2020)) and would endanger the safety of trans students. A Harvard article cited a 2019 study showing that “36% of transgender or gender-nonbinary students with restricted bathroom or locker room access reported being sexually assaulted in the last 12 months.” Per the 2016 National Center for Transgender Equality survey, 60% of trans people reported avoided using public restrooms for fear of confrontation, saying they had been harassed or assaulted. As a trans person, I can confirm that all I ever want is exactly what everyone else wants—to go in, use the restroom, and leave as quickly as possible. This proposed policy is nothing more than fearmongering; a 2018 empirical study by the UCLA school of law found that the passage of non-discrimination laws was “not related to the number or frequency of criminal incidents” in public restrooms, locker rooms, etc. and that “reports of privacy and safety violations in public restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms are exceedingly rare.” Furthermore, many trans students may be unrecognizably transgender (i.e., nobody would assume they were transgender just by looking at them), and the proposed policy would put those individuals in a situation where they are forced to out themselves in order to comply.

These are just some of the numerous problems with the new proposed policy. Please, please understand that supporting transgender students is not about taking away parental rights—it’s about recognizing that students of all identities make choices for themselves as part of learning and growing into happy, well-functioning members of society. The new proposed policy would impose significant distress because it is based on misinformation and fear rather than fact and concern for the wellbeing of all students. I strongly oppose this policy.

If you want to, you can stop reading here. If you want to know more about my personal experience, keep reading below.

Growing up, I thought that being transgender = being miserable. I never met or saw movies about a thriving trans person. When I realized that I was transgender, I was absolutely petrified that this meant I would be unhappy forever. I’m here to say that I am transgender, and I am happy. I live as a normal adult with a prestigious dream government job, a thriving social life, financial stability, and excellent mental and emotional health, not in spite of transitioning, but because I transitioned. Transitioning saved my life.

While my life may be excellent now, high school was extremely difficult. Not only was I suffering from living in “the wrong body” and being misgendered every day, but I was forced to disclose my trans identity to my unsupportive family, who then forced me to stay in the closet all through high school. Even if I had been allowed to come out, I would have been the first openly trans student in my school’s history, and my school culture and policies were unaccommodating to say the least. Some days, it was hard to have hope that things would get better. Here are just a few school-specific challenges I faced:

I could not use the bathroom that aligned with my gender identity, and there was only one gender-neutral bathroom in the whole school. That meant that whenever I needed to use the bathroom, I would have to leave class for a disproportionately long amount of time as compared to my peers just so I could walk across the school to the bathroom.

We had a strict, gendered dress code that, in practice, meant I was extremely uncomfortable in all but one outfit and ended up re-wearing the same clothes essentially every day.

Most of my classmates were somewhere along the spectrum of not understanding anything about the LGBT community to being overtly prejudiced. Nothing makes a teenager feel smaller than constantly being in a room full of people who think you are weird, gross, etc. just for existing.

Although I’m normally an extremely happy, optimistic person, the combination of all of this weighed me down to the point where I was in perpetual distress (e.g. not showering enough, napping in the hallways, worse grades, etc.).

I was lucky because I had select friends and teachers who loved and supported me. They called me by my new name and pronouns, supported me in getting gender-affirming haircuts and clothing, and generally helped me navigate all these challenges. Had my social network (especially school) been even less supportive, I’m not sure how long I would have survived. Conversely, I would have been spared a lot of pain and suffering if I had been able to live my truth fully and happily at school, supported policies and resources such as those outlined in the current/2021 policy.


Oppose

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<span data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":4,"12":0}' data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"All children deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in school and that includes using their gender and pronouns. Virginia has been the first state in the south to do many progressive things. Please don't take a step backwards by removing some protectsions for children in schools! Schools should be safe places for marginalized students, especially if they live in homes that don't recognize their gender or pronouns."}">All children deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in school and that includes using their gender and pronouns. Virginia has been the first state in the south to do many progressive things. Please don't take a step backwards by removing some protectsions for children in schools! Schools should be safe places for marginalized students, especially if they live in homes that don't recognize their gender or pronouns.


Strongly oppose the 2022 model policies

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Trans and non-binary students need our support. They do not deserve to be fodder for political showboating.


Fully support new policy

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I support the new VDOE guidelines for schools. It’s time to get back to reading, writing, and arithmetic and stop the woke nonsense. Thanks you Governor Youngkin for bringing sanity back to our schools. I also expect my local school system to enact this new Virginia transgender student policy or they will hear from me!


Protect ALL kids! Oppose this guidance!

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<span data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":4,"12":0}' data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"I oppose this guidance wholeheartedly. All kids deserve to feel safe and protected at school. As a mother, active community member and educator this guidance is harmful and misguided. Our public schools are a place for everyone and often the only place that trans kids can be open and feel safe. Don't take that away, the outcome will put trans kids in immediate danger physically, mentally and emotionally."}">I oppose this guidance wholeheartedly. All kids deserve to feel safe and protected at school. As a mother, active community member and educator this guidance is harmful and misguided. Our public schools are a place for everyone and often the only place that trans kids can be open and feel safe. Don't take that away, the outcome will put trans kids in immediate danger physically, mentally and emotionally.


Parents rights to their children

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I agree with what Gov Youngkin wants to propose.  Parents have the rights to decide what their children learn.  The school can not take control of children.  Anything that effects the childrenmust be brought to the parents attention.  To go 'woke' with kids is just wrong.  For people to think they have the right to tell children they are a 'boy' when they are a 'girl' or the other way is wrong. How could people after millions of years being one way suddenly see it differently.  For millions of years it has been 'male' or 'female', and suddenly there are other kinds?  Makes no sense.

Parents are responsible for their children.  For teachers, doctors, etc, think they have the right to tell the child what/what they are with out notifiying the parents is just plain wrong.


Strongly oppose.

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<p>Trans rights are human rights </p>


Strongly oppose.  Acceptance of all!

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<p>Strongly oppose!  We need to accept everyone always. </p>


I support Gov Younkins Initiative

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<p>Thank you Gov. for bringing sanity to this discussion. Schools should not keep secrets from parents in regard to minor children's mental health.  Minor children must be under the legal custodial authority of parents until they reach legal adult age. (The school nurse can't even give the child an aspirin without parental consent.) Parents need to be kept in the loop. Thank you. </p>


Strongly Oppose - Research shows policies like these are harmful

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Polling shows that 85% of transgender and nonbinary youth, and two-thirds of all LGBTQ youth, say that recent debates around anti-trans bills have negatively impacted their mental health.

The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half (53%) of transgender and nonbinary youth. Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide. However, LGBTQ youth who had access to an LGBTQ-affirming school reported lower rates of attempting suicide than those who did not. Additionally, learning about LGBTQ people or issues was associated with significantly lower odds (23%) of a past-year suicide attempt in LGBTQ students.

According to a poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of The Trevor Project, 85% of transgender and nonbinary youth — and two-thirds of all LGBTQ youth (66%) — say recent debates about state laws restricting the rights of transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health. When asked about proposed legislation that would require schools to tell a student's parent or guardian if they request to use a different name/pronoun or if they identify as LGBTQ at school, 45% of LGBTQ youth said it made them feel angry, 34% felt nervous, and nearly 1 in 3 felt stressed.

Having at least one accepting adult can reduce the risk of a suicide attempt among LGBTQ young people by 40 percent.

A 2021 peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project’s researchers found that transgender and nonbinary youth who reported gender identity acceptance from teachers and peers had significantly lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year.

A 2020 peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project’s researchers, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found that transgender and nonbinary youth who experienced bathroom discrimination had more than 1.5 times the odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who did not experience bathroom discrimination.

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.