STRONGLY SUPPORT

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<p>I am thankful for Gov. Youngkin and his support of parents' rights concerning their children's education.  The school board should be concentrating on providing a sound education for our children in subjects such as math, science, language, etc. and not concentrating on the social engineering of children and discussions in the classroom of matters that are sexual in nature.   Parents have every right to know exactly what goes on in their child's classroom and most definitely have the right to know about all materials in the classroom (library, school) that their child is being exposed to.   </p>


Oppose

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<p>This is just cruel. </p>


Strongly support! Thank You!


Vehemently Oppose

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<p>Live and let live. It's simple. Mind your business. For the love of God. </p>


Strongly oppose

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I do not support this at all. Neither does anyone I know.


Adamantly oppose!

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We have a responsibility to support  a safe and inclusive environment for all children, and for especially those most vulnerable! Protect trans and non-binary kids!


OPPOSE

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<p>Trust science- countless studies show policies such as this proposal result in young people harming themselves and even committing suicide. </p>


Strongly opposed


Strongly support

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<p>I completely support our governor. </p>


Support of Governor Youngkin!!

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For all of those opposed have you read the document?  If not, please read it, and if you have, please read it again.  This is an attempt to protect all students not just those that are “transgender”.  Also, instead of student I am going to call them what they are “children”.

I want you to consider for a moment how everyone who is not “transgender” may feel when forced to share restrooms and locker rooms with someone not of their sex.  How uncomfortable they may feel. Maybe they have been previously traumatized and now this could be triggering to them.  Why is it only the feelings of one “select” group is more important than anyone else?

Transgendered children should not be discriminated against, bullied, harassed, or made to feel less than what they are, but a regular non-transgendered child shouldn’t either.   If a child regardless of race, color, creed, gender, or religion feels like they have a problem that is what the counselors are supposed to be for. That is what parents are supposed to be for. It is not a breakdown of the educational system if a child has feelings that they feel can’t be shared with their parents.  That is a breakdown of the home.  That fault lies with the parent(s).  Are they not making their child feel safe? Are they not asking questions and trying to be involved? Are they not looking at their child and seeing their feelings? If not, that is not the DOE’s fault. That is a home problem. This is why parents should be a part of their child’s schooling.  They should be told what is being taught. They should be included if there are any issues with the child at school regardless of what it may be.  It may not be an easy conversation but for the child’s benefit it is a necessary one.  It is not the responsibility of DOE to raise our children, it is the responsibility of the parents.  You cannot point your finger at someone else and say my child is like this because of you.  It all starts in the home.

Therefore, it is necessary for parents to not only be involved in their children’s school they should be involved with them at home as well.  The Department of Education only can only cover rules and regulations for the school. I applaud the Governor for trying to make all the children feel like they are in a safe environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying.


Teaching about sexuality in schools

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I strongly support Gov. Youngkin's decision regarding teaching anything about sexuality to children.  This is the right of parents and no one else.


Gender Identity

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<p>I oppose the Virginia governor’s attempt to take away the rights of others. It has nothing to do with anyone else what someone identifies as. It is their personal choice, you do not want people stepping in on your personal choices. </p>


Strongly opposed!


Oppose Harm to Children

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I strongly oppose the guidance that Governor Youngkin Haas places for LGBTQ children. Political games on the backs of children is unacceptable. It seems as if harming children is the goal of the governor. First cutting funding, now imposing guidance that doesn’t protect our children. Children deserve to be safe and loved. This guidance doesn’t protect our children. Oppose it!


Oppose: Students Without Supportive Parents

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This policy fails to allow for the possibility that some members of this vulnerable population do not all necessarily have loving, supportive parents. Every single kid has a unique situation, and educators should have the freedom to work with students directly to keep them safe. They should involve parents to the fullest extent that the situation warrants in the name of what is best for each kid, but they can't be bound by law to involve parents if it puts the student at risk.


Full Support of Revisions!!

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Thank you Governor Y for protecting children and parental rights! It matters to the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well being of our students, parents, teachers and schools! God bless!


Youngkin is suspiciously concerned with underage people using the bathroom.


OPPOSE!!!!

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<p>This policy will be detrimental to trans youth and honestly a huge slap in the face to people like Gavin Grimm who have fought tremendously hard to prove that trans rights are HUMAN rights!! </p>


OPPOSE

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<p>This policy is absurd and predatory. Did we ever require parental permission to call James, Jimmu? No, we didn’t. This will put kids in danger and seems like youngkin is pushing his personal agenda to the detriment of our youth. </p>


Strongly Support - Thank you!

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Thank you, Governor Youngkin, for making positive changes in public education policies against this attack on our children and traditional American values. Please finalize these updated 2022 model policies as written without removing any of the key protections to restore parental involvement in the process and protect children’s privacy and safety rights.


OPPOSE


Straight people should stop putting their noses in trans peoples business. Oppose.

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Whatever happened to “don’t tread on me”


Oppose!

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As a lifelong Virginian and proud product of Fairfax County Public Schools, I strongly OPPOSE this draft policy and demand that the VDOE it. This draft policy hurts our kids.

It is rooted in transphobia and seeks to further harm trans and nonbinary kids. Trans rights are human rights. As shared by Equality Virginia, 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. Having at least one accepting adult can reduce the risk of a suicide attempt among LGBTQ young people by 40 percent.


Well done VDOE! Strongly support 2022 Model Policies

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This is a very even-handed and clearly written document.  VDOE goes out of the way to treat all students fairly, with no judgment of individual transgender choices while ensuring those students have access to exactly the same resources as every other student.

The argument codified in the 2021 Model Policies and other local regulations, and many of the comments I read on this comment forum, create a preferential environment for students with gender dysphoria.  They do so at the expense of the wide majority of children that don't suffer this disorder by disregarding the majority's personal privacy and security (as seen in Loudoun County) without credible documentation or accountability as will be enforced by App I, C.2 of the 2022 Model Policies.

The previous policies completely discount and violate the importance of parental involvement in their kids' lives.  These are our kids, not the government's, not the school division's.  While we appreciate efforts by the government to supplement what they get at home to ensure they are properly fed, we bear (gladly) the vast majority of the burden to feed, clothe and shelter our kids.  We comfort and care for them when they're sick, we support them in their social activities, we praise them when they succeed and we lift them up when they fall.  I do not want, need or will accept the government through the school division teaching my kids the current perverse construct of 'morality' infecting our society.

Thank you, VDOE and Gov Youngkin, for getting this right.  God bless you!


Strongly support … Thank you Gov Youngkin

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<p>Fully support Gov Youngkin’s effort to standardize the approach in public schools for minors   who feel the desire to be something different than their birth sex.  Once age 18, be whatever you want, until then however, you are a minor under custody of your parent or guardian. </p>


Roll back of Transgender Policies in Public Schools

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Thank you for restoring sanity to public policy regarding this issue. We strongly support the common sense approach to rolling back such destructive policies!


Virginia is for lovers, not haters. Oppose this harmful crap.

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<p>Glenn Youngkin attempting to hurt CHILDREN in public schools is pretty telling of his character. Don’t re-elect this danger to children. Go take your religious right ideology elsewhere. Separation of church and state is there for a reason. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>I am strongly opposed to this offensive and illegal policy. How can kids be treated with dignity and respect if you cannot even respect their identity? I am a teacher and how my students identify has nothing to do with how much they will learn. Their identity does not negatively affect anyone else in the room and rejecting their identities will only turn them away from education and increase negative mental health outcomes. OPPOSE. </p>


Absolutely oppose

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This policy is shameful. It blatantly targets LGBTQ youth, and completely disregards their safety and well-being. If passed, it  will endanger children who are already vulnerable. Shame on anyone who supports the nonsense found in this policy.


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Transgender and non-binary youth need to be protected, not driven further into mental health crisis


Oppose Policy

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<p> As a former Teacher I understand that a school is a place for education. I also however feel that a school is a place where a child grows into who they will be for the rest of their lives. Whether or not we agree with how another person lives their life does not mean we have the right to decide how they should live their lives. Transgender Children should have the right to be themselves just as other children should have that same right. We as human beings should try to understand each others opinions and feelings instead of creating an enivorment of hatred because of personal choices on all things including sexuality and we should be passing this ideal of respect to our children. Lets strive to create a place where all people have the right to make personal choices at their discretion as long they do not prove harmful to others. While a parent has the responsibility to care and love their child they do not have the right to force their child to believe or act a certain way. If a child feels that they are transgender than they have the right to be that. Their personal choices are not causing harm to anyone else and should be respected. If we can create this atmosphere of respect amoung our children than we may be able to create a future where all people despite their race,  gender, sexuality or religion can have respect and understanding of each other even among disagreements. Please give these children a chance to be who they are.</p>


Strongly support

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As a liberal, I strongly support this measure keep trust between schools and families, and to protect kids as they grow. This is common sense and I truly appreciate it. Strong SUPPORT.


Opposed


Youngkin is a groomer for Christian fascists. Impeach. Oppose.

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<p>Nuff said. If he wants to imply children should have their genitals checked to use the bathroom, he’s a pedo. </p>


Strongly support, thank you

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<p>Strong support. Thank you for bringing this forward, for protecting sanity and for not encouraging secrets between kids and their families. </p>


Vehemently oppose

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This policy has not nothing to do with “parental rights” and everything to do with discrimination.


Duh, repeat post much?


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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This policy is so obviously discriminatory. ALL Virginia students deserve to be respected and they all deserve to feel safe in their learning spaces. Virginia is better than this.


Strongly Support

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Thank you Glen Youngkin for standing up for parents and families in our state!  Stay strong in this battle against evil…there are millions of us behind you!


IMPEACH FASCIST YOUNGKIN - OPPOSE THIS OPPRESSION

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<p>Protect Trans Lives. Oppose this fascist ideology. </p>


Protect trans youth!!

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<p>Harming trans youth benefits no one, supporting them has immeasurable benefits. </p>


Oppose

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Stripping away rights? I thought we lived in a democracy. Oh, wait- you’re a retrumplican.


Oppose

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You are a moron. Please don’t run for president. It’s bad enough that you are destroying Virginia.


Oppose

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<p>Kids need to be free to express themselves. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that for students to learn, they need to feel safe and supported. We need to do what is best for our students by standing up for them. </p>


Oppose

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https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20174218/76767/Transgender-Adolescent-Suicide-Behavior

how do you sleep at night?


Oppose

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How about consulting with psychologists before unleashing your bigotry? Oh, that’s because the experts disagree, and you hate science.


Opposed

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I'm the mother of 3 students in Virginia public schools and I am opposed to schools not respecting the trans/non-binary students rights. It is not the schools' or government's place to dictate how they choose to live in the world.


Oppose

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Don’t use children as political pawns. Quit going with the vocal minority over the vast majority. Listen to all of your constituents. Listen to the children.


Oppose


Governor's New Public School Policy

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Thanks to Gov.Youngkin for his reasoned public school policy.


100% agree with Governor Youngkin‘s policies on this and others!

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Honest doctors know that gender dysphoria is still a mental condition that is very rare, so it is wrong to push it on people, especially anyone under age of 18! The majority of transgender people actually have more problems after treatments than they did before and very often regret having any transgender treatment done! It is totally unnatural to try to change the gender of anyone because it goes totally against many body functions! Hormone treatments must be done permanently, and surgery is just figuring and irreversible and actually mutilations! But tons of money is being made by doctors and hospitals and drug companies, and they are 100% going against the Hippocratic oath!


FULLY SUPPORT

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Parents should absolutely know what is going on in their children's lives, not have information hidden from them.

I fully support Gov. Youngkin's revised policy.


Oppose

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Homophobia and bullying are unbecoming.


Vehemently oppose

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You are the worst governor ever. You lied your way into office, masking your homophobia and bigotry.


Strongly Opposed

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I do not understand this need to demonize trans kids or trans adults. What discernable harm is this policy designed to prevent?

Whatever sex, race, gender orientation or sexual identity we are, we all deserve to be treated as human beings. What is this policy teaching our kids except cruelty? It certainly isn't teaching anything about religion or family values, at least not the values that really count (like love and acceptance). It is just signaling that "some" people should be attacked and de-humanized; that "some" people do not deserve to live life on their own terms. All that does is hurt children- both the trans kids who will be made to feel "less than" (and we know trans youth have a much higher suicide rate than other kids) and the children who see that de-humanization and think that it is OK to treat people that way. Hate has already caused so much pain and violence in our country- haven't we had enough?


Oppose

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Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to 9 months. After that, they don’t wanna know about you. They don’t wanna hear from you. No nothing! No neonatal care, no daycare, no Head Start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you’re pre-born, you’re fine, if you’re preschool, you’re f__ked.”

— George Carlin


Oppose

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<p>You are slowly but surely destroying Virginia, stripping away our rights. Quit turning the clock back. Let’s move forward. </p>


Oppose

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You lied your way into office and now you are trying to strip away our rights. Kharma is going to get you.


Strongly oppose

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<p>I strongly oppose the new policies presented regarding our transgender youth. These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids. </p>


Vehemently oppose

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How dare you use children as political pawns. I thought you were a good Christian.


Oppose

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<p>Oppose protect our students </p>


Has anyone even read the new Policy?! It is very balanced and sound!

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"The Virginia Department of Education (the “Department”) recognizes that each child is a unique individual with distinctive abilities and characteristics that should be valued and respected. All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying. The Department supports efforts to protect and encourage respect for all students. Thus, we have a collective responsibility to address topics such as the treatment of transgender students with necessary compassion and respect for all students. The Department also fully acknowledges the rights of parents to exercise their fundamental rights granted by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. The Code of Virginia reaffirms the rights of parents to determine how their children will be raised and educated. Empowering parents is not only a fundamental right, but it is essential to improving outcomes for all children in Virginia."


Opposed - protect trans kids

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<p>My child’s best friend goes to school in Virginia and they deserve to be protected in their right to learn about and explore their own identity. Protect trans rights. </p>


Defend the parents.

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<p>Please protect the rights of the parents. </p>


Strongly Oppose This Policy

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<p>I support the rights of transgender and nonbinary students in the state of Virginia and believe that this policy could be detrimental to the health and well being of an already very vulnerable population. I dislike that the governor is pandering to the small minded minority (likely in order to gain political capital). </p>


Oppose

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Worst governor ever! I thought you cared about children. Oh, never mind- just the ones who are not born yet!


Protect Students

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Dear Lawmakers,

I am struggling to understand how this proposed idea is a good idea for students. As a teacher I learned a long time ago that school often is a place for students to feel safe from family life. Not all parents/guardians are supportive whether children are LGBTQ+ or not. My job as a teacher is to let them know they are safe and loved in my class if no where else. If you want students to learn, this first step of loving them is absolutely necessary. Part of that loving is accepting them as they say they are. It is not for me to change who they are. Nor is it on me to inform their parents of who they are in my class unless they are misbehaving in someway or doing absolutely stellar work.

Let's say that you approve this idea of yours, how will I ever have students trust me again? How can I say to them that they are safe in my classroom? How can I teach them that all people are created equal but then say no, not you? I'm not allowed to respect them in the same way I do non-LGBTQ+ students.

Please reconsider this idea. It will damage teachers relationshops with students, it will damage their learning, and it will damage the student.


Oppose!

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<p>The proposed policies coerce educators into opening up trans youth to risks at home and at school. These policies will inevitably increase abuse, homelessness, and suicidality. </p>


Strongly oppose this discriminatory policy that, if enacted, will significantly harm trans kids

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<p>As a parent of a transgender child in Virginia, I am writing to state my strong opposition to this new model policy. My child suffered greatly before he was allowed to be himself and identify as the person he is. My child has known since he was three who he was. The stress he endured in a world that didn’t believe him and accept him for who he was traumatic and painful. When our family was finally educated on what transgender was and was able to support our child in affirming who he is by accepting what he had been telling us for well over a decade, it changed his life. He has become a much happier and productive person and student. When his school allowed him to use his preferred pronouns and provided a gender neutral bathroom and changing rooms, his love of school and acceptance by his peers flourished. To think that my child who is a fantastic athlete may no longer be able to participate on boys sports teams just because that doesn’t align with his assigned gender at birth is devasting to us and to him. People who support this don’t understand what it is like to have a child who is at so much greater risk of self-harm and suicide because of bigoted policies that aim to shame and denigrate trans people. If you only could witness the transformation of a transgender’s child’s confidence and happiness every time their gender identify is affirmed, you would never support this bill. If you question whether this will increase suicide rates in VA, it means you haven’t read up on the statistics of trans death by suicide. Please rescind these proposed policies and put back in place the former 2021 model policies that made VA a safe and welcoming state for all children. </p>


Support

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Stop sensitive kids from being lured by predators into thinking they're trans.


Vehemently oppose

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Worst governor ever. Just pandering to your bigoted base for political points.


I support Governor Younkin's policy that support's parents rights

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I support Governor Younkin's policy regarding gender identity and parental rights regarding minor children100% .  Minor children have no idea what they believe.  It takes many years family support to mold a child into a man or woman.  During those formative years, loving and responsible parents should help fragile children make the correct choices as these minor children don't have the life experience to make those decisions at this time in their lives.


PROTECT TRANS RIGHTS

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please take your transphobic policies somewhere else!

go change the rules at your kids PRIVATE schools!


Oppose the harm of transgender children

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The Youngkin Administration's policies are going to seriously harm transgender children. I came out as transgender when I was in high school. Prior to coming out I was severely anorexic. This is a really common issue for female to male transgender people because, as we go through female puberty and our bodies start to develop, it causes an extreme amount of dysphoria. I was not consciously aware that I was trans when I first started developing anorexia, but it was one of the first signs. I felt such a strong discomfort and misalignment with my changing body. At its worst, I was 50 lbs underweight. This all changed when I realized I was transgender and started to socially and medically transition. I became so much more comfortable with my body and started to exercise, eat right, and gain muscle. Being able to transition safely saved my life, and feeling safe coming out at school was a huge part of that. Having the support of my teachers and administrators allowed me to figure out who I truly am and take the best possible care of myself. Without their support, I would not have been able to transition. If Youngkin's policies had gone into effect while I was in high school, I could have literally died. Youngkin's policies will kill children. Transgender children NEED to have a safe space at school where they can be themselves. These policies are incredibly detrimental to the health and safety of transgender youth.


Fully support

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<p>Sorry if I don’t want gender confused males using the women’s restroom with my daughter. And schools should definitely not enter into a conspiracy with children to hide anything from a parent.  </p>


Fully support


Strongly oppose

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Protect trans kids and their rights.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>I strongly oppose this policy. </p>


Opposition to Youngkin’s transgender student policy


Fully support parent’s rights!

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<p>It is not the school’s place to make any changes without the knowledge of parents and guardians. Our children are in school to get a good education, not to be taught that it is brave to hide things from their parents. This is not bravery, it is destructive and harmful to teach this to children. We should never hide things, parents should not be left in the dark, this does not protect children, it makes them more condemned and alienates them from those who care for them the most. This isn’t right and pits parents against the school, when it should be a team effort in educating our kids. </p>


Strongly Oppose - harms children and ignores facts

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As a Virginia parent and active voter I strongly oppose this change. The intent of this change is based on following legal precedent and preserving parental rights while jeopardizing children's well being and safety. Data show that children have more positive outcomes when they feel safe and supported in their education environment. Transgender children deserve and need the same level of safety and support from their schools as cisgender students receive.

This policy directly targets a specific group - transgender students. It recommends changes that promote fear, hate and isolation. It is parent-focused, not student focused. It is voter fodder.  This policy change will result in direct harm to transgender children. I cannot support any education policy that places parental ego over child safety.


Human rights

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<p>We teach our children to be truthful- they shouldn’t be afraid to do so in regards to their gender identity. </p>


Best practice

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As a professional educator, this is a very simple issue. We know protecting the rights and affirming trans kids reduces suicide. The goal of schools is to educate, yes, but to teach kids, they have to be ready to learn. We know that very simple things like trusting kids to use an appropriate bathroom is affirming. We know mental health matters.

Lets give kids credit and trust they can use a bathroom in which they feel comfortable. Let’s also affirm and support kids at a high risk for bullying and self harm because, quite simply, it’s the only humane way to treat people.

(for what it’s worth, I do not worry for my cis  girls in bathrooms with trans girls. I worry very, very deeply about trans girls getting bullied.)


Strongly oppose

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<p>I strongly object to this policy. It is hateful and harmful to transgender children, already vulnerable to harassment and trauma.  It’s a disgrace. Shame on Youngkin.  </p>


glenn, stop it. get some help

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right to be a bigot > trans kids right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness apparently. this will put at risk the lives and mental health of trans kids. please go to therapy to vent your ghoulish transphobia instead of being a terrible governor. i don't say this often but when i do i mean it, go away. forever. you're rich, you could live out the rest of your life comfortably and not cause anyone to be murdered or kill themselves. because that is what this legislation will do. you are a bad person. you are a bad person. get that in your head because it's true. i know you get to be popular with bigots and idiots but remember the price of that. go away evil man.

- a student who's loved ones will be hurt by this


Strongly Support Policy

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Strongly Support Policy


Thank you for the changes.  Very necessary.  I support.

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<p>Thank you Gov Youngkin for amending the model policies regarding transgender students.  This puts parents back in the role of parenting their children through this very serious matter.  It also prevents abuse of the concept by those who would do so.  The new policies are very reasonable and protect all students, their parents and their teachers.  </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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Children should be protected and respected from the negative opinions and actions of adults that would like to discriminate against them. Policies like this can and will hurt schoolchildren going through some of their most challenging and important years of development. Please do the right thing and protect these kids!


Strongly Oppose 2022 Model Policies

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These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids.  Schools should be a place where children are safe, not living in fear that their teachers will be forced to out them or be called the wrong name and be prevented from participating in school activities.


Strongly Oppose

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As a school counselor I strongly oppose the Virginia Department of Education’s 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools as they are currently proposed. Research shows that our transgender students are at higher risk for mental health challenges, and these policies would make it harder for them to access help and support at school.  School counselors have a professional and ethical responsibility to dismantle inequity in our public education system.  The proposed policies would hinder our efforts to create a safe, supportive environment for all students, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.  I truly worry that lives could be lost to suicide if these policies take effect.


Trans people

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I feel that trans people should be able to decide for themselves.


Oppose: Protect Transgender Students

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Transgender students are at an incredibly high rate of suicidality (86%), and feelings of belongingness can help to prevent those feelings. Students who walk into a building afraid to be themselves, concerned about seeing as a whole person, or having a key element of their identity ignored or flat out denied is dangerous to their well-being. School is a place where students learn to engage with others different from them, can learn about navigating a complex society, and how to develop empathy and care for others. By denying students the right to be their whole selves, this policy forces students to hide their light.

Sexual assault for those forced to use the bathroom that does not align with their gender identity is high. Especially for trans females, who have an 149% increased rate of sexual assault. We can't pretend we care about all kids, when we refuse to acknowledge the danger this policy places on trans students.

As an educator and a parent I hope to be a part of an environment where students can thrive and find their voice. The false flag of "parent choice" is really a transphobic attempt to control students' bodies. As an educator, I rarely find students to be the ones with the problems related to issues such as transgender rights. Typically the adults are the ones creating difficulties. This policy is dangerous to students and creates a false sense of control for some parents. That sense of control is absolutely not more important than the lives of transgender students. I vehemently oppose this policy. Protecting transgender students, one of our most vulnerable groups, is an ethical and moral essential.


STRONGLY OPPOSE this backwards policy

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I strongly  oppose  the proposed policies along with an overwhelming number of Virginians. The policies were very difficult to read and made me nauseous how outright transphobic they were. I can’t believe such a backwards policy is even being considered.

These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids - while the current state without the policies is doing no harm to cisgender children.


Support Gov. Youngkin's efforts

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I appreciate & support Gov. Youngkin in his efforts to protect all children in the public education system.  Parents should have the final word in the education of their children & the ability to protect them.

Where will it all end & what will be the next special interest group to demand attention & distract from educating our children in a good basic education?  Please get on with common sense & teach!


Oppose Gov Youngkins order about lgbtq students

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<p>As a parent of children who attended school in Virginia I strongly oppose the order from Gov  Youngkin  in reference to kids who are trans or kids who have preferred nicknames / identify themselves a particular way.  </p>


Trans Youth Deserve Respect

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One of the functions of government is to represent the underrepresented and vulnerable and ensure their rights are maintained and respected. Anti-trans voices represent another form of bullying and a power-grab for the self-righteous, who feel the need to get into others business—no matter that it doesn’t materially affect them—using a much victimized and vulnerable population. Sad.


I stand Against this hateful policy that will only hurt our children

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I strongly stand against governor Younkin's proposed policy changes. These changes will only harm our transgender and lgbtqia youth who already have so much of society wrongfully built against them. These policy changes will create an environment where safety, self expression, joy, and all of the growth transgender and lgbtqia DESERVE are inaccessible. And he and everyone else supporting this KNOWS this. I stand for a world where children can find safety in school, where so many other spaces are not.


These guidelines violate US law

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<p>These guidelines, particularly those related to teacher reporting, are in flagrant violation of multiple cases settled by the Supreme Court. It is already settled that, with rare exception, individuals cannot be compelled to speak, and medical concerns are specifically protected by virtually every country (including the United States) under threat of expulsion from the medical trade. While teachers are not doctors, they are meant to be trusted by students (much like priests, which are similarly protected), and as such requiring teachers to disclose non-educational concerns (which aren't generally covered by FERPA) is a violation of the basic trust between students and teachers. The continual encroachment upon the rights of the child, which have been upheld repeatedly not just in the United States, (i.e. Tinker v Des Moines, WV BoE v Barnette), but around the world, is a national disgrace. These guidelines are not only deeply out of step morally, but almost certainly violate the statues of this state, the United States, and many organizations around the world. I cannot more vehemently object to these guidelines, and implore the superintendent to heavily revise these to be more in accordance with the 2021 guidelines. </p>


Please Reinstate the 2021 Model Policies

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This is wrong because these model policies require transgender students with transphobic parents to do one of two things: hide their identity at school, or be forced to out themselves to their parents, in order for their identities to be honored and respected, and to have their correct pronouns used in schools that coincide with their own identities. I have been faced with this choice before in my life, the choice to either hide one’s identity from their parents and school or to out themselves and face life threatening consequences, as a transgender nonbinary student in Virginia who went to a Catholic high school with a transphobic agenda and as someone who was in a relationship with someone who had homophobic and transphobic parents during my time as a high schooler. We both had to hide our identities out of fear at our schools and from our parents and this was extremely detrimental to our mental health during the time, and my partner dealt with suicidal thoughts during this time. These policies can have deadly consequences in terms of mental health.
This affects me, a nonbinary and transgender college student in Virginia because I do not want other students to have to go through the mental trauma that I did as a queer, transgender nonbinary student forced to hide my identity. For these reasons, I ask you to repeal the 2022 Model Policies and reinstate the 2021 Model Policies, which have far less consequences in terms of the mental health of queer, transgender, and nonbinary students.


STRONGLY OPPOSE: trans kids deserve a right to decide who they are

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I could fill this space with data and research that shows that LGBTQ kids are bullied more than than cis peers (Reisner et al., 2015; Webb et al., 2021). I could talk about how that bullying leads to LGBTQ kids being four times more likely than their cis and straight peers to attempt suicide (Johns et al., 2019; Johns et al., 2020). I could say all of that. But I doubt that those who support this policy will believe this evidence-based logic or see the dangers - emotional, physical and otherwise - that LGBTQ and especially trans kids face.

At the most basic level, I believe people, including kids, have a right to define themselves. I get to define myself: woman, mother, professional, friend. I get to decide who I am. That is my right as an autonomous person. But I do not get to define others. That is their own right. When young people tell us who they are, whether that be a different name than they were initially given or a different gender, when they feel that deeply to their core, it is my responsibility to respect them. Denying this to people - young or old - doesn't "save them" from some imagined evil, it dehumanizes them. It bullies them into fitting into a mold they don't believe they fit. If I want to call myself a good mother, a good friend, a good human, I will honor who people tell me they know themselves to be.


Protect our kids!

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<p>Parents should absolutely have a right to know whatever is happening with their child(ren) in public school. NO child should be able to have these types of conversations without their parent(s) knowledge. The same people advocating against this are the same people who advocate against religion in schools. If you don’t want your kids to learn about God that’s your right, but don’t then demand that my kids be exposed to your “transgender” or “non-binary” kids. It’s a mental illness. Please, get your kid and yourself some help. Stop trying to take away parental rights. </p>


Good policy, school staff needs to stop deceiving parents and start working together

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This policy is a good start for a better co-operation between schools and parents. School staff has no right to deceive parents by using different names and pronouns without parents' knowledge. Now schools just increase students' mental trauma by creating a double life style. Who is liable in the end if the student can't take it any more? The school staff?

This policy encourages schools to work openly together with the parents for what is best for the student.


As a Virginia resident, I strongly oppose this policy

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<p>As a long time Virginia resident (42 years) and former educator, I am opposed to Governor’s Youngkin’s policy on transgender students as written in the guidance documents. It is a complete swing in the opposite direction from Northam’s policy which gave protections to transgender students. I respect that parents have rights and should be consulted when possible on decisions a school might make regarding students. However, they should not have absolute rights. Some students are mature enough to make decisions whether they are transgender, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, etc.  Others are not.  Thus, I believe decisions on whether a student should use a different bathroom than his/her sex at birth, use of pronouns, names, etc. should be done on a case by case basis at the school level.  I also understand if some teachers might not want to use certain pronouns and should not be forced to do so.  Hopefully, this will resolve any problems.  To do otherwise and force students and teachers to conform to the governor’s rule will only exasperate the problem in some cases and may cause great harm to students. Surely, the governor did not intend to harm students but if he refuses to protect students, I can only conclude that that is his intention.  </p>
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STRONGLY OPPOSE

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All that policies like this do is increase the chance that trans, non-binary, and other lgbtq students will commit suicide because they are being forced to conform to a gender they don’t identify with. This is not in any way in the interest of children. This is solely being considered to appease close minded parents.


STRONGLY OPPOSED

Jennifer Stearns   public school educator and mother of trans child

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"The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom and prohibits the government from compelling speech that is contrary to an individual’s personal or religious beliefs."   (copy and pasted from your document)     As a public school teacher I will not "dead name", "misgender," or "out" any of my students.  I believe this is contrary to my personal belief that there is a biological basis for being gender queer and the government is prohibited from compelling me to use speech that is contrary to my beliefs.   I will not comply with this policy.

Many parents are loving and accepting of their children, but I can tell you that after 31 years of being an educator there are many who are not.  This policy will harm trans kids physically and emotionally and will negatively impact their ability to learn.  Children do not learn when they do not feel safe.  You are hiding behind "Christian faith" as an excuse to discriminate against a marginalized group of people.  Unacceptable.  My trans child is a Christian and very active in his church.  He is loving, kind, generous, and forgiving.  He would never harm anyone.  He would also never choose to be transgender; it is a painful existence.

I oppose this policy specifically because:

(1) It defines a transgender student as someone whose parents have stated it in writing.  What about all the trans kids who don't or can't get that in writing?  They are still trans and are being discriminated against.

(2) It mentions preventing bulling numerous times.  Misgendering, dead naming and outing students to their parents IS BULLYING.

(3) It includes the word "actual" in the discrimination section when listing which characteristics are worthy of protection.  This is your ideological belief, not mine.  This is an example of harassment and bullying because it implies that transgender people aren't "actually" who they say they are.  You might as well state that you only protect "actual" people, not the weirdos who "think" they're transgender.

(4) It states that "every effort should be made to ensure that transgender students are treated with respect, compassion, and dignity".  Try inserting any other marginalized group of people in that sentence for the word in bold and think about how outrageous that statement is.  It should read "It is the expectation that all people, including those who are transgender WILL be treated with respect, compassion and dignity".

(5) It states that students can only be referred to by their legal name or nickname.  Does this apply to the entire student body or just  transgender students?  If a kid whose name is Earnest wants to be called Bud or Junior, will he need written permission from his parents?  If not, this policy targets and discriminate against transgender kids.

(6) Define "material information".  Educators cannot possibly relay every piece of information about a student to their parents.  By targeting gender identity, this policy is sending the message that being gender queer is bad and parents must be informed.  What about gay kids?  What about kids who put on make up after arriving at school because their parents don't want them to wear make-up?  What about any number of things that kids do or say while at school that do not violate the school behavioral code but might not align with their parents specific belief system?  Again, this targets trans kids.

(7) This is a political move and protects no one.  You are hurting trans kids for your own gain.  I voted for you because of your fiscal policies and your support for police.  All these parents who think that this policy "protects" their cisgender children are misguided.  Their kids have access to everything that the world has to offer, good and bad, via the internet and social media, friends, etc.  This policy protects no one, but it harms trans kids.  BIG TIME OPPOSED.


STRONGLY OPPOSE


Protect Children from dangerous predators / child mutilation

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I strongly support Governor Younkins policy to protect children and support parents rights.
Protect our girls. No boys in girls sports or locker rooms


FOR YOUNGKINS POLICY

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I am for the policy that Gov. Youngkin has put in place. The overall position of Virginia families is that we are tired of the liberal minority trying to destroy traditional family values. If someone feels so compelled to totally alter their lives, then do so, but don't alter our lives to accommodate yours. Just because we do not share the opinion or values as you,does not mean that we hate or are bullying anyone. It simply means that we reserve the right to not want to you to force your decisions on us.


Good proposal! I support it. Support female athletes.

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<p>The proposed policy balances the need to protect transgender students from bullying and harassment while also providing a fair competitive environment for young female athletes. </p>


Listen to the majority in Hanover

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We have discussed the subject of transgender in Hanover schools many times and the majority of families have spoken,please listen to them. There are private bathrooms for anyone to use, unless the schools can afford to change all bathrooms to floor to ceiling partitions for privacy. Also no opposite sex should be in the locker room period for many safety reasons. Lastly this pronoun subject has gone way too far-protect our teachers so they may feel like their job is safe in the case they do not use the pronoun the few select children.Lastly protect the families in letting the parents or guardians make decisions for themselves and not teachers pushing this leftist agenda. We voted in this wonderful governor for many reasons-the last four years has been full of many bad decisions!


Strongly support

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Thank you Gov. Youngkin!


Extremely Strongly Oppose

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First of all, Glenn Youngkin is NOT qualified to make any decisions involving our school system or children, he has never worked with children or in education. Secondly, he is doing this to gain political points with the transphobic rhetoric that 'children are being grooms', which has been proven false. These children who identify as trans or genderqueer usually have gender dysphoria, which we have a TREATMENT for, which means it EXISTS. It is a disability. It can lead to the child taking their life. It can lead to the child being harmed by parents who do not understand it is a disability. His policy will end up HARMING CHILDREN, not helping them.

Thirdly, and finally, his policy is a guise of control. If parents wanted to tell people what to teach them, the parents should be smart enough to homeschool their children. We have a SCHOOL BOARD and administration that are qualified, educated, and function as intended for teaching children.

This is a volatile and toxic political stunt, and the amount of people he's fooled with his rhetoric makes me quite sad. Glenn Youngkin does not stay in Virginia long enough to know what actually ails us. He is a liar, he is a fraud, and he is unqualified to lead our people.


Protect trans kids

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<p>This is a huge step backwards and will harm trans kids, their families, and their ability to thrive in their schools. </p>


Oppose

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This will hurt trans students by making their grades go down, worsening their mental health, and increasing their chances of both homelessness and suicide


In favor, thanks for protecting our kids.

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Thank you for updating these policies to restore protections for basic parental rights and ensuring that parents are no longer cut out of the process—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are handled with our kids at school.

• I support the new policies’ removal of language that encouraged school officials to follow procedures to essentially deceive parents when their children are making potentially life-altering decisions regarding their gender identity in a school setting.

• The original policy had language that created a wedge between parents and their child, at a time when they need to have more communication—and I support the new update that removes this barrier.


Support trans kids

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<p>I support trans kids. Schools should be able to support trans kids, too. Stop moving Virginia backward. </p>


Strongly Support

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<p>Strongly support Governor Youngkin and his efforts to protect education.  There should never be a political agenda towards our children. </p>


Thank you Governor Youngkin!  Run for President!

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<p>Thank you so much Governor Youngkin!  I voted for you and couldn’t be more pleased!  </p>


Strongly oppose

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This policy is cruel! Why does the teacher get to impose their belief system on a student, but student doesn’t have freedom, support, and autonomy to define their own identity? Who does it harm more, the student whose identity is negated or the teacher who might be mildly uncomfortable? We need to protect vulnerable students.

in the case of students with unsupportive parents, schools should provide a safe space where student can confide in a teacher or councilor without fear that parent will be notified (with exceptions for threats is self harm or violence)


I agree with Gov Youngkin's New Policy

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<p>This gender issue that has invaded our schools is just evil.   Telling kids they have to pick their gender is not what we send our kids to school for.   </p>


Opposed - Protect Trans Kids!

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Youngkin's policy will only do harm, and is just blatant discrimination against trans kids.


Virginia public middle school student STRONGLY opposed to these policies

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Hello. My name is N. I am a non-binary APS student. I don't have my own bathroom. For my entire year as a 5th grader I had to go in the girls bathroom, with no other options. The bathrooms were sexist, entirely painted pink for the girls, and all blue for the boys. That's how I discovered I was non-binary. And people who think that being a boy is not who they want to be, and and as a girl, they are not truly who they are, trans, non-binary, and anyone else has a right to use the bathroom that they feel more comfortable with. And it's more than just that, people should be able to be identified as the gender they want to be.


Strongly oppose the proposed model schools policy change

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As a Virginia mother of two children now in their 30s, one of whom conformed to gender expectations and the other of whom did not, I am deeply opposed to the Governor's draft model schools policies and I ask that the VDOE reject them. I have seen firsthand the suffering that a young person goes through when they realize they must choose between being true to what they know in their core is who they are, and what society demands they be. Even though as parents we considered ourselves supportive and educated about individual differences, we were unaware at the time of how gender identity works - how deep these issues of identity go and how exhausting and depressing it is to have to hide who you are. We did not take seriously the hints our child made about what they were feeling because we just did not understand. During those days before our child felt that they could tell us fully what was going on and our family got help from professionals, school was the place where they were first able to relax slightly and express a small piece of their identity, by using with teachers and their peers a chosen name.

Later we learned that trying to deny their identity had caused our child to experience suicidal thoughts. We are so grateful that they had that little bit of self-expression at school, critical to releasing some of the pressure and maintaining hope.

Even so, life was hard in school. This was before society had begun to reckon much with the reality of transgender and nonbinary identities, and the school did not have supportive policies. Even once we as parents were involved and we and our child were receiving professional help, and even though a particular teacher might be accepting and accommodating, there was no policy supporting using our child's chosen name or pronouns nor the use of bathrooms that matched their gender identity. Just as the Governor's policy proposes, the only concession to our child's need to use a bathroom where they felt safe was to be allowed to use a single-user bathroom. Because there were extremely few of these single-user bathrooms in the entire high school, our child often could not in fact both get to a bathroom and get to class on time. Teenagers are already highly self-conscious about their bodies and to be made to feel freakish and to not be able to take care of basic bodily needs was humiliating.

I have been so happy to see the greater understanding of these complex issues grow in our society and our schools in recent years. Please let's not go back in time. For some children it will be literally a matter of life or death.


Let’s stick to the facts, this will hurt children

“In the past year, one in three transgender youth reported attempting suicide, almost one-third reported being a victim of sexual violence, and more than half reported a two-week period of depression.” -Trevor Project
”75% of transgender students felt unsafe at school because of their gender expression.”
https://www.glsen.org/sites/default res/files/2019-11/Separation_and_Stigma_2017.pdf
“Every student deserves to learn in a safe and supportive setting, free from discrimination. As the Department of Education has reaffirmed, discrimination based on sex—including sexual orientation and gender identity—isn’t just wrong, it’s prohibited in America’s schools. Yet many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students experience bullying, harassment, and other discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.For transgender students in particular, this discrimination can threaten students’ well-being and ability to thrive or even participate in school—one national survey found that transgender students were three times more likely to miss school than other students. Additional research cited in a report from the Department’s Office for Civil Rights found transgender youth were more likely to report feeling unsafe at school and being bullied, and that the COVID-19 pandemic harmed their mental health.”
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ed-factsheet-transgender-202106.pdf
”Trans youth with supportive families experience 52% decrease in suicidal thoughts and 46% decrease in suicide attempts.” -Lgbtmap.org
Let’s not increase the number of children who die because they feel unsafe being themselves at home. It has been proven that feeling accepted at school reduces the likelihood of suicide among trans student. Why do we want to undo that acceptance at the risk of our children’s lives.

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“In the past year, one in three transgender youth reported attempting suicide, almost one-third reported being a victim of sexual violence, and more than half reported a two-week period of depression.” -Trevor Project

”75% of transgender students felt unsafe at school because of their gender expression.”

https://www.glsen.org/sites/default res/files/2019-11/Separation_and_Stigma_2017.pdf

“Every student deserves to learn in a safe and supportive setting, free from discrimination. As the Department of Education has reaffirmed, discrimination based on sex—including sexual orientation and gender identity—isn’t just wrong, it’s prohibited in America’s schools. Yet many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students experience bullying, harassment, and other discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
For transgender students in particular, this discrimination can threaten students’ well-being and ability to thrive or even participate in school—one national survey found that transgender students were three times more likely to miss school than other students. Additional research cited in a report from the Department’s Office for Civil Rights found transgender youth were more likely to report feeling unsafe at school and being bullied, and that the COVID-19 pandemic harmed their mental health.”

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ed-factsheet-transgender-202106.pdf

”Trans youth with supportive families experience 52% decrease in suicidal thoughts and 46% decrease in suicide attempts.” -Lgbtmap.org

Let’s not increase the number of children who die because they feel unsafe being themselves at home. It has been proven that feeling accepted at school reduces the likelihood of suicide among trans student. Why do we want to undo that acceptance at the risk of our children’s lives.


Oppose dangerous bigotry and support individual identity

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When my daughter was born 13 years ago, her birth certificate Application had a checkbox for male female or ambiguous. Gender is biologically not exclusively binary. Forms would not need the checkbox for ambiguous if gender was always cut and dry, black and white, male or female. We have no logical reason to deny this biological fact.
Children and adults who may have been assigned a category that proved not to be correct later should not have to live with that the rest of their lives. We should not be so lazy mentally that we refuse to make room for more than two checkboxes.
Beyond the question of transgender and non-binary, there is a broader need for gender neutral bathrooms. Caregivers often need to assist someone of another gender and it is shocking how hard it is to find places to do so. Whether caring for a spouse or a child, grown past the age that people find acceptable to being into another bathroom. It seems like we could solve both of these issues with an emphasis on gender neutral facilities.
Let’s start from a place of compassion and humanity please.


Fully support Governor Youngkin's policies

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Your proposed school policy changes are much needed. Thank you!


Thank you, Governor Youngkin

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Keep up the good work governor we appreciate all that you’re doing for our children


Strongly oppose. Protect trans kids rights

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<p>Protect kids. Protect trans kids. Protect trans kids rights. </p>


Strongly Oppose, Please Respect the Privacy of Students

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I am a sophmore in college and I have watched many of my transgender friends be ridiculed, ostracized, and practically disowned by their parents solely for being transgender. This policy will put many students in grave danger, as parents who are more radically against transgendered people, could severely hurt, disown, and/or kick out their child. What will you do for all the children who become homeless after they get kicked out of their own home for something as trivial as gender?


This is cruelty not good policy.

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At a time when students and their teachers are trying to recover from two years of pandemic and the ongoing threat of gun violence, the new rules for transgender students are a cruel distraction from learning.


school policy change

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Thank you, Governor Youngkin. This proposed policy change is long overdue, and I applaud your efforts. You have my complete support on this issue.


Parents/Family

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I am in favor of policies that enhance the strength and unity of the nuclear family, where parents are directly involved in making decisions for their children. This is a good policy. Thank you for your hard work on behalf of Virginia's families


Glenn youngkin


FULLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN POLICIES!!!

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FULLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN INITIATIVE!!!!

Parents who oppose and allow their kids for transgender changes in sex must be prosecuted for child abuse!!

FULLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN INITIATIVE!!!!


Transgender students

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The Bible clearly say God created a man and a woman period.You have no right to change what God created....God Bless Governor Youngkin


Parental role

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Parents are the4 efforts and important educators for their children . Practice of keeping secrets form parents, about the most important issue in child’s life is not acceptable. School needs to ficus on education, not indoctrination and pushing ideology in the name of so called “ child’s wellness”. Parents are important, more important than any school/politcal activism.


New policy is clearly made by clowns.

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Go back to the circus and let people with brains handle this.


Thank you Governor Youngkin!

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Thank you Gov. Youngkin for trying to protect the children and parents against this Satanic cult who are killing the children on the altar of Baal and then calling it good. Girls and boys using the same restroom is another form of immorality based on the minds of lunatics, with no purpose in life bit to destroy what is good and replace it with evil. The parents are the guardians of the children, not Satan worshippers. Teaching transgender ideas is really confusing and misshaping the young minds of the majority of heterosexual children. We have upended the whole culture and the underpinnings of the family for a small minority of confused individuals with gender dysphoria. This is not "loving" or "kind" or good social justice nor is it good common sense.


America isn’t a theocracy, keep your religious policies out of schools

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There is no logical justification for this. This policy is going to protect no one and actively harm children. Anyone in support of this should go to therapy and work on their own issues surrounding gender instead of taking it out on literal children.


Please Respect Students' Rights and Well Being

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As a Fairfax County counselor educator and parent of four children, I am concerned about the limitations that this 'model policy' places on schools as we continually strive to ensure students feel safe and respected. Please do not adopt this policy as it encourages discrimination against transgender youth.


Opposed

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<p>I 100% oppose these policies. </p>


Vehemently opposed to these oppressive, discriminatory, unjust policies

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I am writing to oppose the horrendous policies Governor Youngkin is trying to implement that would effectively strip transgender youths of their identity, agency, and power in schools. The new policies deny the existence and validity of transgender youths. These kids know who they are and who they want to be the same way that heteronormative kids do and they deserve every attempt to claim their identity in their chosen name and pronouns. If not, trans kids will experience dysphoria, they will suffer higher rates of depression, and some will die. To deny their existence in this way is cruel, unjust, and a thinly veiled attempt by Governor Youngkin to appeal to other likeminded radicals in a thinly veiled attempt to pad his resume before inevitably running for President, where he’ll have the opportunity to oppress even more marginalized groups if we don’t stop him here. Our kids will not be bargaining chips in his pathetic attempt at a power grab. The comments I’ve read here of parents asserting that this policy protects their right to further ostracize and Mia gender their children goes to show that for some kids, school may be the only safe space they have. Do not take it away from them. To any trans kid reading this: we love you, we see you, and these policies do not reflect the majority opinion of our state.


Protect trans kids rights

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<p>No one should be a target for hate and excluded for being themselves. Not every child’s home is a home of love and acceptance, let schools be a safe haven for all. If anyone knows their parents better it’s the kids over the teachers and staff. If they can’t tell their parents they are trans, it’s a home issue because they feel they will be rejected and abandoned. If they are telling you it is because they feel safe with you. Recognize how important this is and how maybe for a moment of their day, they can finally be themselves. Allow space for the with love and acceptance. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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Protecting transgender children is a priority for our country, let alone the state. It’s time to grow with the times & stop fighting for the murder of children.


Strong Oppose

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<p>This is a horrible policy that we, as a community and a commonwealth needs to oppose. Out of the need to protect children and give them a safe place to learn and be their true selves, we need to oppose this policy change. </p>


Oppose. We must prioritize the safety and wellbeing of trans kids.

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<p>This policy will jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of children in Virginia. Virginia should be working towards validating and protecting the identity of trans kids in our state. </p>


Strongly Oppose

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This proposed policy is rooted in transphobia and seeks to further harm trans and nonbinary kids.  It further seeks to erase trans and nonbinary youth from the classroom, creating a hostile & potentially dangerous school environment. 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.  These policies will harm Virginia’s youth and I strongly oppose.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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STRONGLY OPPOSE BOOOOOOOO  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

U HATE TO SEE KIDS HAPPY AND HAVE GOOD TEST SCORES THATS CRAZY WHY DO U WANNA LOSE THE NEXT ELECTION SOOO BAD. THATS WHY  BALDING!!!!!!!


DOE Policy

To whom it may concern,    I fully support the policy that the children use the restroom that is the same as their birth sex.I am not in support of CRT, BLM, 1619, gender assignment, equity, & other topics that subvert the parental rights, consent, & guidance! The DOE needs to educate to prepare our youth for their future, not indoctrinate!Sincerely,Bernie Jamerson

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To whom it may concern,
    I fully support the policy that the children use the restroom that is the same as their birth sex.
I am not in support of CRT, BLM, 1619, gender assignment, equity, & other topics that subvert the parental rights, consent, & guidance! The DOE needs to educate to prepare our youth for their future, not indoctrinate!

Sincerely,
Bernie Jamerson


Agree with the governor

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Governor Youngkin is supporting all children and should be encouraged. Parents have rights, the teachers should not have control over children.


Parents need to be involved in their children’s lives

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The changes to the way that our schools should handle children and their identity appear perfectly reasonable to include the parents in this process.  Also, let’s look at the data that exists currently for those that have experienced identity issues as minors, and then how those issues may have changed as they got older.  It does not seem wise and prudent to promote therapies that are permanent, have major physical changes, and that may have long-term negative effects for the individual especially if their desired identity returns to the original one.  Please look at the reasoning from an article titled “Sex Reassignment Doesn’t Work.  Here is the Evidence” , Ryan T. Anderson, The Daily Signal:  “Modern science shows that our sexual organization begins with our DNA and development in the womb, and that sex differences manifest themselves in many bodily systems and organs, all the way down to the molecular level. In other words, our physical organization for one of two functions in reproduction shapes us organically, from the beginning of life, at every level of our being.”   As a society, our first responsibility to our children should be protection.  Let’s do that by allowing parents to know that their children are having identity issues.  And let’s first do no harm to them physically and mentally in the way in which we handle these situations.


I strongly support!


Protect Trans kids

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<p>I could not be more proud of these students who bravely walked out of their classrooms and took a stand against the Youngkin administration’s cruel proposed policies. These restrictions are hateful and have no place in Virginia schools or any schools in the USA. Protect Trans kids! </p>


Kids need their parents support

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<p>I support the LGBTQ community and their plight for equal rights in many areas. Nothing around this issue is easy or cut and dry. As a parent, however,  I have a right to know what is going on with my kids when they are at school and in my care until 18. That is what I signed up for when I decided to have children. The school is quick to contact parents if your child is acting out, bullying, failing, sick and needs to be picked up, etc. What has always made me crazy about this issue is that our school system would actually hide the fact my child was struggling with gender that is a fundamental Health issue. I understand in our area of nova there are several religions that may not support this issue. That however, should not effect my ability to know what is going on with my child. Those families can be dealt with on a case by case basis with counselors and the family. If they still don’t support that child then that is their rite until the child is 18. A small percentage of parents should not keep other kids from having their child’s support when they would most definitely support helping their child navigate this issue. So for that I support this new policy change. Now our school system has already made it public that they won’t follow this so new policy change that is disheartening and not sure what this all means for the future. </p>


Strongly support Governor Youngkin's efforts

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I strongly support everything that Governor Youngkin, and leaders like him, are doing to protect America's children and to protect the parents' right to protect their own children. Parents know their children best, or at least they did until school officials started turning them against their parents. No babysitter, teacher, principal, doctor, or school nurse should be counseling children without the parents' knowledge, no matter what the topic is. This outrageous epidemic of transgender identity is not science, it's not real, and it's perpetuated by peers and teachers. It has to stop. For centuries gender dysphoria has been rare, very rare. Children and teenagers can't decide what profession they want to be when they grow up. They certainly don't know the ramifications of choosing a different gender and having it sanctioned by an adult. We did that with princess vs policeman, or fireman vs doctor. That is a far cry from whether they are boys, girls, or binary or any of those from one day to the next. And since when do entire policies get changed because of what used to be less than one percent of the population until it became a fad or an emotional choice.


I support the new policy that prioritizes Parental Rights

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I support the new policy. It is of greatest importance to give ultimate decision-making to the parents of minor children in school.


Fully Support

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Common sense for all parents!


Trans Policy

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I am appalled that the governor is considering a policy that discriminates against trans youth. You’re going to do this to children? How cruel. I teach at a community college. We do not support any policy that identifies an entire group that does not deserve protection. Shame on you, Governor!


Transgenderism is a lie

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I fully support any elected official that upholds my rights, given by God.

Kids are not toys. They are not part of a collective. Quit it with this Marxist nonsense.

I


New policies for schools.

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I spent 30 years in a classroom! I agree with the governor!


I support Parents rights.

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<p>Most of these comments just say oppose with no real reason or facts behind it.  I am for parents rights because it is a our right as parents to raise our kids for a better future.   To ensure they get the proper education and not being sexulized or bullied by adults that are not their family.  The government schools also do not have the right to push drugs on our children or tell our children that you will keep secrets that is none of your business. The school or government entities do not have rights per the United States constitution. </p>


Oppose Youngkin's 2022 Model Policy

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This is ironically a very "big government" policy stance Youngkin has here, but I suppose that's a common theme with Republicans.  This policy does nothing but alienate, harm, and disenfranchise thousands of trans Virginians trying to obtain an education.  There is no need for this change in the first place, why is Youngkin trying to specifically target those who are oppressed?  Shouldn't we be focused on far more pressing issues, such as climate change, which threatens Virginia's coast, the US coastline, and the rest of the world?  This policy says it wants to respect "all" students, but "all" in this case does not include thousands of people who will be impacted negatively by this policy.  Youngkin seems to not realize that there are people in the education system who are still beholden to abusive parents, and if schools are forced to out students to parents, that unleashes a whole host of negative reactions.  Additionally, you should be respecting student's rights to decide how they wish to be referred to, as it is them you are referring to, not their parents.  The point is, this policy change is awful, it should not have been crafted, it is grossly harmful, and is the exact opposite direction we as a state and as a nation need to be going.


Transgender policy is despicable

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The new policy regarding transgender students in school is embarrassing for VA and outrageously discriminatory. Glenn Youngkin is a horrible leader


Strongly oppose transgender policy

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I strongly oppose VAs proposed transgender policy. It imposes on individuality & freedoms and must not be passed.


Oppose Changes to Functional Exisiting Policy

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As a parent of students in FCPS I oppose the changes to our existing policy.  Current policy specifically prevents harm to students, which cannot be said for the proposed changes as evidenced by psychologists and pediatric physicians who work with trans youth.


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<p>I fully support Governor Youngkin and his policies </p>


Strongly Support

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<p>Parents have a right to know what their children are doing at school. Schools have a duty to tell parents what is going on at school.  </p>


Strongly Oppose policy by smarmy millionaire intent on grabbing headlines and stoking culture wars.

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The teens will completely ignore it anyway so why try to force them to comply. It will only hurt students who need their own space to grow and decide who they want to be.


Oppose


STRONGLY SUPPORT PARENTS' RIGHTS!!!!!

https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GDocForum.cfm?GDocForumID=1953 By shielding parents from their children's purported name change and pronouns, schools are interfering with the agency and authority of parents.
We parents are the primary educators of and caregivers for our children. And even though we may choose to entrust our children to a public school, we are ultimately responsible for overseeing their children’s health, safety and education. Schools best serve students when they inform, involve, and respect parents.

One of the most important things we can do as parents is provide a structured, secure and stable place for our children in order to maintain our parental authority. Children need to know who is in charge in the family structure, as that will enable them to learn how to parent.Allowing them to withhold vital information from their parents not only interferes with parental authority, but it threatens to destroy the structure, security and stability of the family unit.

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https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GDocForum.cfm?GDocForumID=1953 By shielding parents from their children's purported name change and pronouns, schools are interfering with the agency and authority of parents.

We parents are the primary educators of and caregivers for our children. And even though we may choose to entrust our children to a public school, we are ultimately responsible for overseeing their children’s health, safety and education. Schools best serve students when they inform, involve, and respect parents.

One of the most important things we can do as parents is provide a structured, secure and stable place for our children in order to maintain our parental authority. Children need to know who is in charge in the family structure, as that will enable them to learn how to parent.
Allowing them to withhold vital information from their parents not only interferes with parental authority, but it threatens to destroy the structure, security and stability of the family unit.


STRONGLY SUPPORT PARENTS' RIGHTS!!!!!


Opposed


Oppose

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<p>The statistics show that kids are safer at school being who they are than pretending to be what their parents want them to be. No one is forcing kids to be anything in schools but themselves. Keep it that way. </p>


Government Youngkin Policies


Absolutely Support

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Thank you Governor Youngkin for keeping your word to return Virginia from the destruction of the Democratic regime. This craziness with sex identity perpetuated by the left is only to confuse our youth and cause division between parents and their children--a major Communist tenant.

And males competing against females in sports?!!! Who in their right mind thinks that is fair? Oh yes, we know who.


OPPOSE YOUNGKIN'S POLICY ON TRANS STUDENTS

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Youngkin's policies hurt trans students and risks many students health and safety. As a resident of Virginia, I vehemently oppose Youngkin's transgender policies.


OPPOSE

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<p>Youngkin's policy is cruel and ignorant. Listen to the doctors and parents who know more about caring for transgender children. </p>


Oppose!

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Interestingly, parents have a right to input in their child’s education as stated in here, yet there a few who are forcing the majority to adhere to policies that will hurt many children. If parents are opposed to what a school teaches, particularly in policies allowing children to openly be themselves and be educated on and be able to discuss something like their gender or preferred pronoun, then those parents have a right to put their child in a school

of their choosing (maybe a private school aligned to their restrictive ideology) or homeschool them. Making children less safe and isolating children who are transgender for the Governor’s extremely partisan policy is ridiculous.


Transgender policy

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I strongly oppose this policy which will put some children at immense risk.  Trans students need support and understanding, not discrimination and abuse which this policy encourages.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>STRONGLY OPPOSE </p>


Stop Discrimination

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The proposed model that “touts” parental rights is discriminatory and harmful to students who need protection from parents.

The proposed policies seek to erase transgender and non-binary youth from the classrooms, creating a hostile and potentially dangerous school environment.

it has the potential to cause abuse as parents harm children they view as a sin — which is contrary to the school’s role as a mandated reporter of abuse.


Support Gov Youngkin+

I support Governor Youngkin+protect parents and their kids+

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I support Governor Youngkin+
protect parents and their kids+


In Theory vs. Reality - in practice, this will harm kids

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Governor Youngkin and all of the ultra-conservative parents (who would absolutely fail to protect their kids should they be personally affected by these policies) have tied the hands of the Virginia Dept. of Education in forcing these policy revisions. I cannot place blame on the Dept. for these changes, as I understand this forced (and likely unwelcome) compliance.

While I agree that, ideally, parents are paramount to a child’s development and education when they are supportive-of, involved-with and educated about their child’s well-being, parents/families can also be detrimental to a child’s health when they are ignorant, misinformed, abusive, critical and/or neglectful. Unfortunately, children are victims of their parents’ wishes and demands, given no autonomy, afforded no rights, and this policy ensures that they will be controlled by the will of their guardians (regardless of their guardian’s 'healthy development') until they are adults. Many seem to believe this is ‘the way things should be.’

Unfortunately, I can find no ‘technical’ fault with the way the new policy is written. Technically, in ideal circumstances, everyone will be supported and on the same page, and no student will ever experience discrimination or harassment. It’ll be sunshine and rainbows!! (Oh, did I just say gay? Did I just break the law?...) In REALITY, many kids will be left to ruminate on very big issues entirely alone, without any adult support. If their parents are not supportive, or even if kids are simply fearful that their parents may not support them, they will now have literally nowhere to turn for help. And teachers thought their jobs were already hard enough. There is no question this will lead to increased stress, mental health issues, depression (all equaling trouble in school), and could contribute to an increase in substance abuse issues, troubling behaviors, and suicides.

In theory, there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with the way the policy is worded. But, in theory, all parents are decent, good, supportive parents. In reality … well, reality is an entirely different, much darker, sadder story.

This policy will undoubtedly harm our most vulnerable kids, and for that reason, as a social worker and human services professional working with our neediest children and families for over 23 years in VA, I wholeheartedly oppose it.


Support

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<p>Same people support this </p>


Christians must protect trans kids (and therefore oppose this bill)

Carla Pratt Keyes, Pastor, Ginter Park Presbyterian Church

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<p>I am the pastor of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church - a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation. One of the things I've had to come to terms with during my ministry is how much harm the Christian Church has done to the queer community. The tragic reality is that many of the parents of today's non-binary and trans kids grew up in churches that taught them homosexuality is a sin, and gender is fixed by God. Obviously I disagree! And it's OK for Christians to disagree about a lot of things ... but these particular beliefs continue to do great harm - inspiring the judgment, shame, and even physical harm of LGBTQIA+ kids. When a trans or nonbinary kid does not feel safe talking to their parents about their pronouns or preferred bathroom or sense of self generally, then for the government and school system to force that conversation endangers the child. Kids must be able to explore their identity, express themselves, and ask for what they need at school, without worrying about what may happen at home as a result. (And if there's nothing to worry about at home, then the parents will already know what's going on, because their child will have talked with them!) As a pastor I will do my best to educate folks about God's unswerving, unconditional love for all kinds of people, including queer people. Until we all grasp the expansive, inclusive love of God, let us please do our best to keep our children safe. </p>


Student safety at risk. This will not protect all our students. Strongly opposed.

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<p>Student safety is at risk. This law would not protect all students. I strongly oppose this legislation. </p>


support this policy and Gov Younkin - parents/kids vs the board/agenda

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<p> Parents must be involved in these life changing decisions. </p>


This isn't acceptable.


Voted for Youngkin & his policies

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Voted for Youngkin to protect PARENT Rights. He’s protecting ALL students not JUST 1% of them.


Harmful policy masquerading as "parents' rights"

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The Governor's spokesperson stated: “It is not under a school’s or the government’s purview to impose a set of particular ideological beliefs on all students.” Yet that is PRECISELY what the proposed model policy does. The proposed model has nothing to do with students or their needs, and while it purports to "respect all students," it utterly disregards them in favor of a particular religious ideology.

Students have the right to be called by the name they prefer. This is basic. Must teachers refuse to call students by any preferred nickname in favor of their legal given name, in faux deference to parents? Of course not, and yet the principle is exactly the same. This policy clearly and specifically targets transgender students, denies their identities, and forces them into situations that are at best damaging and at worst dangerous to their very well-being. No school or teacher should EVER put students in that position. School should be a safe place for every student, even when - ESPECIALLY when - home may not be safe.

What do students in Virginia actually need? More funding for buildings and staff. Better salaries for teachers so highly qualified individuals are attracted to the profession in the first place. Better equipment for learning, including robust libraries and decent computers in every school. Free meals for every student, including in the summers. Subsidized or free internet access for all students. This policy benefits NO students, transgender or otherwise. It is very obviously political pandering and point-scoring.

This is NOT the will of the people of Virginia.


Totally support

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Absolutely support Governor Youngkin's decision.  Thank you for taking a stand!


Strongly oppose this dangerous and harmful policy

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<p>The proposed policies are dangerous, harmful and not informed by a scientific approach or educational best practices. I strongly oppose this policy. </p>


Strongly opposed

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


Support for the revised draft of transgender students

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Gov. Youngkin proposal to reverse the wrong approach of the existing transgender policies is a good thing. It takes courage to stand for sanity and common sense.


Why do schools want to take parents rights away? Why?

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why do schools want to take parents rights away? schools won’t be 100% there when something happens to the kid. schools will send the kid through the system absolving schools of responsibility. schools are short term, parents are long term.  so many kids that have gone through the system are broken.schools who conceal and are not transparent to parents just want to feed the system. without kids there are no schools, without kids there are ni jobs for teachers, counselors, therapists, social workers, etc. without our kids there is no pipeline for their $$$$. parents provide the safe environment without any vested interest except the interest of the child to grow into someone who is an individual productive in society not dependent upon government hand outs.support this policy.


Bravo! Thanks Gov Youngkin for listening to Parents...this is why you won election!

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The new model policy ensures parental involvement. That's all the majority who put Gov Youngkin into office asked for. Thank you for not listening to the very vocal minority.


2022 Model Policies on privacy, dignity, & respect for all students & parents in Virginia Schools

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I am in complete AGREEMENT with the new proposed 2022 Model Policies on the privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in Virginia's Public Schools.  I feel it is important that school programs use facilities based on biological sex for safety.  It is also important that sports be based on biological sex for fairness and safety for students  This policy provides protection from the criminal offenses of rape and cover up that recently occurred in Loudon County Public Schools.  It is extremely  important that parents be fully informed and give approval to anything that affects their child.


Support Gov. Youngkin education initiatives

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I fully support Gov. Youngkin’s policies against teaching transgender curriculum in public schools.  This is between students and their parents to be worked out, and with parental input and knowledge of student feelings and identity issues.  This is not the business of teachers or school administrators. Those teachers who think this is any of their business should not be allowed within school property or classrooms.


Strongly support this policy

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I support this policy but do not believe it goes far enough. Transgenderism is pseudoscience at best, but more akin to child abuse. These children are confused, likely at the hands of “progressive” parents and in need of compassion and guidance, not indulgence and enabling. This is a condition created out of whole cloth by the left with no scientific basis: stip the insanity.


A parent who does not support the revised language

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This isn’t about “parent’s rights”. calling a student by their identified pronouns is modeling respect and inclusivity. Requiring parent permission just puts the teachers in the middle of a culture war. Teachers need to be focused on teaching, and we need our schools to be inclusive and recognize students as they present themselves.

if the new language moves forward the governor is passively approving further attacks on these children identifying as trans. This is a group that has experienced higher rates of violence. Creating more barriers and saying it’s “for parents” is nonsense.


New Transgender Policy

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<p>I strongly support this common sense policy.  </p>


New school policy on LGBT

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Teachers are there to teach our students, not be the morality police. Sexual preference is a private matter between the child and their parents. My dad and his 2 siblings and myself and my brother have attended Fairfax County School's throught our whole education, even graduating from the same elementary school's and High School.

Crystal S. Collis

Falls Church High School

Class of 1991


I STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>Transgender lives matter too. </p>


As a parent I STRONGLY OPPOSE this policy

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I think this policy is shortsighted and does not protect transgender students rights. I am concerned that the students privacy will be violated if their parent does not agree with anyone being transgender due to religious beliefs. I think that trans gender and gender expensive individuals are not a matter of subjective choice but a matter of scientific fact and Some thing that can be diagnosed and accepted by the medical community. Normalizing or legalizing discrimination against transgender students in the form of forcing them Into unsupportive spaces or with unsupportive teachers students or parents is a problem for everyone. A sincerely held religious belief is not a good reason to deny someone else basic respect and dignity. I strongly oppose this policy and suggest that great changes be made before adopting any part of it.


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Policy says parents should be consulted (obviously!), no forced use of the hundreds of invented pronouns, and girls should compete against girls in sports. Support!


Strongly oppose

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If we are given the first amendment right of freedom of religion, then why are a few fundamentalist parents given the right to control the ideological beliefs of everyone else who see the ability for students to choose who they want to be when they grow up as unhindered by so many religions and even a known majority of self-described Christians. While I do agree that these choices should not be part of the standard curriculum that is actively taught, if those parents feel so strongly, then let them control their own kids and not the children of non-bigoted parents throughout the commonwealth. The irony of the hypocrisy is not lost on us either - when faced with a debilitating and deadly virus, it was alright to scream out that masks and vaccines are the chose of the individual even if it meant risking the lives of everyone around those folks, where choosing gender identity is no longer an individual choice and only deadly when prejudiced against (see Matthew Shepherd), certainly not when students are allowed to be who they wish to be and the choice is supported by our government. Imagine if students were barred from expressing their religious affiliations and beliefs because some parents where offended for their children. There really is no difference. Fear of the LGBTQ community is SOLELY related to strict interpretations of holy text - which makes the attitude 100% biased to the religious beliefs of a few. This is not criteria that should ever be used to create school policy EVER.


Absolutely opposed

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Rolling back protections for trans kids is an absolute crime that will lead to many, many cases of harm.  Trans kids, both masculine and feminine, have enough to deal with already from family, officials, and peers.  Our current protections and options for care for children who are trans are already not enough, this proposal would make the situation even worse.  Do not do this!


No more Loudoun 2! Support this policy

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Let’s not have another Loudoun happen. They concealed the rape from the parents and the community. This should never have happened if the school was not keeping secrets! So sorry Loudoun happened, no student or parent should have gone through that. I hope the student and parent get justice! Support this policy!


OPPOSE

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This legislation is so harmful and regressive. There is no justification for these policies.

This not what the people want. These policies are not representative of Virginia’s beliefs. This will not keep anyone safe.