STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>Trans and gender queer kids deserve the same rights as anyone else. This is absolutely appalling. Protect our kids. Care for our kids. Why do you feel you have the power to discriminate against children. Remember these are children we are talking about. They do not deserve this treatment and oppression from those who are supposed to support them, teach them, care for them, love them, and advocate for them. Do not blame children for your own transphobia. Address your own biases not bullying children. </p>


2022 Model Policy

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I fully support REVERSING  “2021 Model Policies.”


Strongly supports PARENTAL RIGHTS

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Strongly support parents being fully involved in decisions regarding gender identity for their children. Parents need to provide consent to allow a school nurse to administer Tylenol, and therefore should be the one to provide consent for their minor children to be referred to by a name and/or gender other than their legal name and biological/chromosomal determined gender. Parents, who are ultimately responsible for the health and well-being of their children, not the schools, not the government. Parental rights matter! They are the ones who have invested the most time, money, energy, and love into their children. Prepare the ones who have lost sleep out of love and concern for their children. Parents are the ones who have sacrificed day and and day out for these kids. They have the say!

Also, school boards need to focus on literacy (as in students being able to read and comprehend material at an appropriate grade level), mathematics and the scientific method.

Parents also need to be engage in the lives of their children including school life  what social media presence,  what videos, movies, etc they are viewing and knowing who their friends are.


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Support By accepting Trans in Girls Sports you are taking #FemaleRights back Centuries!


Oppose 2022 Model Policies

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I strongly oppose the 2022 Model Policies because they are transphobic and urge that they be rescinded. The policies will inflict harm on already-vulnerable members of our population (trans and nonbinary kids) and put them further at risk. We should seek to support and affirm trans kids rather than add to their stress.


Transgender policy


Opposed because bigotry is stupid

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If your kid doesn’t feel safe coming out to you, that’s not their fault, the school’s fault, or the media’s fault. It’s your fault, and yours alone. Create a supportive environment at home, and you won’t need to have teachers spying on your kids.


Strongly oppose

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Suicide rates in the LBGTQ community are at their highest ever. Let these children be!


Strongly Oppose/Protect our Children

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This hateful policy is a solution in search of a problem.  Transgender youth need our support.  Leave them alone.  They are not hurting anyone.  This policy will cause them so much harm, when all they want is to be themselves.  Supposedly all children will have to get their parents written permission to be called a name other that their birth name.  So little William cannot be called Billy at school unless the school keeps track of his parent's written approval in advance.  Something for all administrators and teachers to keep track of, instead of teaching and protecting our kids.  More government mandates and bureaucracy that makes it harder to teach our children.


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SUPPORT! Girls will be SEVERELY Injured or possible fatality with males in Sports! #GirlsRights


RESCIND THESE POLICIES - Transgender rights are HUMAN rights.

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These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be EXTREMELY harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids. This will give many students trauma that could be prevented. School should be a safe space where students get to learn and grow, not a space to  fear. Embrace and encourage an inclusive and respectful student culture. Protect trans and nonbinary kids. RESCIND these model policies.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>This thing is transphobic. </p>


Support 2022 MODEL POLICIES

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I support the updated school policies in regards to the Virginia Department of Education's efforts to protect and encourage respect for all students and how they modeled the updated policy to ensure the fair treatment of all students to include transgender students.

Parents should be the adult in the parent/child relationship. The parent should ensure safe passage for their child from infancy to adulthood. Encouraging and or supporting their child's demands and or wishes to change their gender is a detriment to the child's wellbeing. Every child's concerns, questions and beliefs should be heard and considered, never ignored. However, life changing decisions such as changing one's gender should only be made once that individual becomes adult.

Schools are a place for formal education, extracurricular activity, learning social skills, and development. Schools are not a place to explore one's sexual preference.


Protect parents rights!

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Please protect parents rights. Stop this transgender nonsense!


Transgender policy.

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I support the changes 100%. Parents should not be left out of their kids lives.


Strongly in favor of

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Parents are ultimately responsible for their children.  We are responsible for feeding them, providing shelter, clothing, and guiding them.  There has been a gradual encroachment of a political agenda regarding our kids that has oozed its way in under the banner of "kindness" and "tolerance," but at what cost?  No parent is a perfect human being, but what is this giant entity of the "omniscient, all-wise state" which knows what is best for the children?  Children belong to their parents until such time as they are adults and able to be out on their own.  In the meantime, we as parents do our imperfect best to protect and provide for them.  The public schools need to stay in their lane to educate our children and to teach them how to think and question for themselves, but not to indoctrinate them into or affirm a particular ideology.  Isn't it common sense that kids today are surrounded with images, movie and tv characters, and social media content of various lifestyles and forms and expressions of sexuality.  They don't the school usurping the role of the parents and delineating what is to be affirmed and what is not.  Hands off my child and all the children in the care of the public education system.


Strongly support!! Finally some common sense!!

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These kids need counseling. They are desperately crying out for help. If they can receive the proper counseling while young, it could lead to a much happier and healthier future.  Parents need to be involved as well as professional counselors. If parents are encouraging a transgender lifestyle, then they need our help also. They are setting their kids up for failure??


STRONGLY OPPOSE - they are kids they can decide when they are 18!

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Guidance Document Change: Every day, throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, educators and school leaders work to ensure that all students have an opportunity to receive a high-quality education. As a part of that work, educators strive to meet the individual needs of all students entrusted to their care, and teachers work to create educational environments where all students thrive. The Virginia Department of Education (the “Department”) recognizes that each child is a unique individual with distinctive abilities and characteristics that should be valued and respected. All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying. The Department supports efforts to protect and encourage respect for all students. Thus, we have a collective responsibility to address topics such as the treatment of transgender students with necessary compassion and respect for all students. The Department also fully acknowledges the rights of parents to exercise their fundamental rights granted by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. The Code of Virginia reaffirms the rights of parents to determine how their children will be raised and educated. Empowering parents is not only a fundamental right, but it is essential to improving outcomes for all children in Virginia. The Department is mindful of constitutional protections that prohibit governmental entities from requiring individuals to adhere to or adopt a particular ideological belief. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom and prohibits the government from compelling speech that is contrary to an individual’s personal or religious beliefs. The Department embarked on a thorough review of the Model Policies Guidance adopted on March 4, 2021 (the “2021 Model Policies”). The 2021 Model Policies promoted a specific viewpoint aimed at achieving cultural and social transformation in schools. The 2021 Model Policies also disregarded the rights of parents and ignored other legal and constitutional principles that significantly impact how schools educate students, including transgender students. With the publication of these 2022 Model Policies (the “2022 Model Policies”), the Department hereby withdraws the 2021 Model Policies, which shall have no further force and effect. The Department issues the 2022 Model Policies to provide clear, accurate, and useful guidance to Virginia school boards that align with statutory provisions governing the Model Policies. See Code of Virginia, § 22.1-23.3 (the “Act”). Significantly, the 2022 Model Policies also consider over 9,000 comments submitted to the Department during the public comment period for the 2021 Model Policies.


Transgender students

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I believe parents have the right to make decisions for their children while living at home.


I support LGBTQ+ students

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<p>Our LGBTQ+ students deserve protection. This is the first time in history they have had any representation and protection and it would be an injustice if the policy is overturned. </p>


Trans rights are human rights!

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<p>TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! </p>


SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT #GirlsRights

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<p>100% SUPPORT protect FEMALES NOT Males! </p>


Strongly Oppose

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This policy is abhorrent.  Protect our children.


Strongly oppose

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Keep children’s innocence. No shared restrooms/locker rooms!


Rescind the proposed model policies and support our LGBTQ+ students, protect our Trans children

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<p>To the VDOE: I oppose the proposed transphobic model policies. These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids. Protect trans and nonbinary kids. RESCIND these model policies. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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I strongly oppose the proposed model policies for the treatment of transgender and nonbinary students in Virginia schools. In both my personal and professional experience, I have seen the positive impact that supportive social transition and gender-affirming care can have for transgender and nonbinary youth. The proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids. Protect trans and nonbinary kids. RESCIND these model policies.


Strongly oppose this horrible change

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If you want kids to get a high quality education, why would you put them in a situation that makes them less comfortable? Kids may be making these changes at school without their parents' knowledge because they are unsafe at home due to their identity, or even just as a way to explore their identity without their parents' influence. There is NO HARM AT ALL in making name and pronoun changes. Will you require nicknames to be reported to parents as well? This is a two edged sword as well. What if you report a students name/pronoun change to a parent, and the parent starts to push that kid further into transition? Transition is an extremely personal journey, and parents should ABSOLUTELY NOT be told without the kid's permission. Any permanent changes would require parents' knowledge anyway. There is no risk that a kid will begin hormones or any other medical transition without their parents' consent. A better way to improve education would be to improve spending on public education, pass stricter gun laws to protect kids, and a myriad of other ways. The thinly veiled bigotry here is disgusting, and anyone who supports this does not truly care about kids.


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Support Girls Rights to be Protected& Safe in Sports & Schools! SUPPORT 2022 Policy!


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<p>LGBTQ+ teenagers and adults should feel how ever they want. Its not your choice to dicide what we are an arent. Why should you decide what to be when your a white guy who more insecure then all of us. We are all human. Its our lives not yours </p>


Strongly oppose

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Please do not do this to our vulnerable students. We need to support all LGBTQ students and adults. Accept them as they are.


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Support Girls Rights to be Protected& Safe in Sports & Schools! SUPPORT 2022 Policy


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Support Girls Rights to be Protected& Safe in Sports & Schools! SUPPORT 2022 Policy.

Thank you Governor Youngkin!


STRONGLY OPPOSE.

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<p>Strongly oppose this policy. Protect trans kids rights to exist. </p>


Strongly opposed to proposed 2022 model policies

Nina Exner, a Virginia voter and taxpayer

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These model policies are poorly written and contradictory. I oppose the political agenda that they represent: the agenda that obviously is to prevent young people from transitioning ender to the gender they identify with. However, I doubly oppose the changes to the 2022 model policies because they are contradictory and poorly written, and frequently claim one thing in the interest of looking politically correct while blatantly forwarding an agenda that contradicts the politically-correct sections.

The 2022 model policies claim to respect parental rights, but even if the parents submit the allowed document to request the child be identified as a transgender student, the 2022 model policies still restrict pronouns and nicknames to those that the Policies declare to be appropriate. The policies do not allow parents to change childrens’ records, nickname, or pronouns of use even if the parents write a letter of support for gender transition. The supposed goal of giving power back to parents is badly missing in the proposed policies. The Dept of Education claims to support parents, but is clearly placing a social and political goal in front of true parental control. These policies do not meet their stated goal of empowering parents.

The policies claim that every effort should be made to treat transgender students with respect and compassion, but immediately turn around and pass judgement on what nicknames are acceptable and what pronouns can be used. That is not compassion and respect – it is the opposite. These model policies claim to be avoiding bullying, but we know that transgender students are bullied at much higher rates than cisgender ones, whether or not they are “out” to their peers.

I have a friend in another state whose daughter was bullied until she wanted to drop out of school, and teachers tried to force her to be more manly and tough it out because her birth sex was male. She wasn’t “out” to her teachers, but them telling her that the bullying was her fault because she wasn’t manly enough made her afraid to trust her teachers or counselors. She hated going to school, and got no support because it was at a school where birth-sex-first was the policy and so she was afraid to tell anyone about the bullying and her teachers’ lack of support. Claiming that these policies are anti-bullying is a contradiction that will lead to mistrust and fear of school. It empowers bullies and encourages more bullying.

Finally, even if these contradictions were fixed, these policies are terrible. Schools should be about teaching first, and second about the wellbeing of the children. These policies fail at both things. First, they put the political anti-trans agenda ahead of teaching and educational goals. Second, it puts your political anti-trans agenda ahead of the wellness of students by forcing “outing” of students and punishment of them and their parents if they try to discuss or ask for recognition of their gender questioning or transition. These policies create a dangerous situation where hate and fear gets approval and support. This just encourages the kind of harassment and cyberbullying we see by popular “normal” kids against those kids that are different. How can you as leaders be so offended by these trans children that you have to put your politics in front of their safety with rules like this that are designed to single out these children and prevent them and their parents from expressing their identities? Shame on you.

I oppose these proposed 2022 model policies. This is a blatant attempt by the DOE to advance a political agenda at the expense of child wellness.


Protect trans and non-binary youth!

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Trans and non-binary youth deserve safety! Rescind these model policies NOW!


Children will die because of these policies. RESCIND THEM.

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Please don’t put our children at risk to score political points with right wing reactionaries trying to suck up to Trump.

These proposed model policies are contrary to state law and will be extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary kids. Protect trans and nonbinary kids. RESCIND these model policies.


Against the bill

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I am a student in high school right now, and I can speak with certainty that, despite the large amount of them that are still trying their best, there are parents out there who don’t support what’s best for their kids. And I’m not even referring to this bill when I say that, I’m referring to what this bill represents, and what it means for students, that parents have a level of control over what a student can get identified as in school. I’ve had friends who have to deal with unsupportive parents when it comes to their identities, which is why I know for a FACT that, if this bill were passed, then they wouldn’t be willing to give permission to their kids to identity the way in which they are comfortable, and SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE, identifying as.

i hope that you, whether a political representative or a parent, will do what’s best for us as kids, so work towards allowing us our own needed safety and security.


Just respect trans people, it's not that hard.

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Respect trans people, please.


I am strongly opposed.


Strongly Support

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<p>I strongly support the Governor's policy to include parents in all matters involving minor children attending Virginia public schools.  Parents rights must be protected.  </p>


Protect our children.

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Oftentimes we can't fully appreciate how deeply and profoundly important someone is while they're still with us. We try, we believe that we do, we give all of our love and thanks to the best of our abilities...but we never seem to fully appreciate that person, because we never actually believe there will come a time where they won't be with us any more.

And it's only after their passing, when they're no longer with us, that we realize the deep and profound magnitude of what has been lost.

And when those lost are our own children, all we can do is wish we had one more moment, just one more second...all we can do is beg and plead and bargain for just one more opportunity to have them back. To protect them, to care for them, to hug them, encourage them, cherish them and to celebrate them. Just one more time. To mend a scraped knee. To tuck them in, snug as a bug. To make them breakfast and get them ready for school. To pick out a dress or a tie for their first Homecoming. To drive them to school, listening to their obnoxious music. Any chance just to listen to them laugh or share their favorite part of the day one more time. Hell...even have an argument over a trivial, nonsensical thing that meant so much anger at the time, but now, now you can't even remember what it was all about.

We lose the people we love, our children, to accidents, to illness, to ignorance, to violence and to hate. Every day. We lose the people we love, because of bills like this.

Over the years I have heard and read how so many in our Government, like Youngkin, have expressed how important our children are. How our children mean EVERYTHING, not just to us, but to them, to tomorrow and to the future. How we are raising the next group of educators, scientists, legislators, artists, doctors, therapists, protectors (from law enforcement to firefighters and military services) and so, so much more. Our children are, quite literally, the future. And oh how bright our future is! That's what I've read at least...that's what I've heard from those in Government like Youngkin. What I have heard from those who support bills like this.

We teach our children that monsters don't exist. Toys hide under the bed, certainly not creatures. No monsters lurk behind the closet doors, just a pile of unfolded clothes. Ghosts are sheets. Nightlights cast shadows. The Boogeyman is make-believe and all those spooky bumps in the night are the product of an active imagination...nothing more.

But we lie.

Monsters are real. They exist. And sadly they're not supernatural. No...They are very human and very scary because they don't care about our children. They don't care about our childrens' voices, wants or needs. They don't care to entrust what's best for our children to their parents and or school-boards...no, no these monsters SAY that we should do ANYTHING to protect them and care for them, against ALL odds and at all costs -- EXCEPT, of course, when it doesn't line up with what their own personal beliefs or political gains are. Our childrens' monsters are hypocritical and fearful and full of hate.

Our children have faced a legitimate nightmare over and over, again and again. From school shootings to constant reminders of lock-down drills. From a pandemic and its lifetimes worth of horror to being constantly told that now, who they are, is not "right" and that they are less than, and have no say...all because grown ass adults are uncomfortable with allowing people to be who they know themselves to be.

Our children DESERVE better than the real world monsters that you are showing yourselves to be by supporting this horrid bill. And if you have the audacity to actually say that you are doing this for the children, to protect the children, then not only are you a monster, but you're a damn liar too. Because if you cared, truly cared about OUR children, you would LISTEN to them. And in turn, PROTECT THEM from monsters like yourselves.

I -- in no way, shape, or form -- support this. I strongly OPPOSE this bill. And I do so, because I believe that the parents, along with their school boards, should discuss what's best for our children. Why? Because this is about life, not about political party, political gain, religious beliefs, or how uncomfortable you feel because you don't agree with someone's beliefs or opinions.

I'll leave it with this: to Youngkin and those who support such a thing, your words appear to suggest that the entire community should only see things your way. That the entire community should only believe in your specific beliefs and values. Anything else receives swift criticism. Anything else receives hate. But I say to you, your beliefs and values are no more important or right than anothers. When thoughts, discussion, ideas, possibilities and who a person chooses to be are denied, disrespected, ridiculed, locked behind the assertion that there is only one valid set of beliefs & perception of the world, you are showing only one truth -- that you are ignorant and greatly out of your depth. YOU are the children who should have been better protected, so that you didn't turn out to become the monsters that you are.


SUPPORT because #GirlsRights should be Protected in Sports & Schools! Stop 2021 Policy!

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I 100% support the new 2022 policy of protecting Girls Rights in Sports and Schools. Thank you Governor Youngkin!!


Trans lives matter

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I love all the trans people in my life. Their lives MATTER. Don't allow your hate and bigotry to take away the right and JOY of people to express themselves. In the grand scheme of things, how does it affect you personally? How could it possibly hurt you personally? Trans people just want to be themselves.


Teach kids the truth - you can't change your gender

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Kids should be taught the truth - that gender denotes their reproductive traits, and it can't be changed. "Transgender" is only a personal preference for "living" as the other gender.


Policy support

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I support this policy. It’s our job as parents to teach our children our family core values, which includes respect for everyone. It’s the schools responsibility to teach our children  math, science, etc. without bias or hidden agendas. I have noticed how some of our educators are using the school system to further a train of thought that sometimes goes against what I perceive it’s inappropriate for every child, specially at a young age that they are impressionable. For good or bad (unless there is a safety issue) it is MY job as a parent to guide and protect my children from undo influences, until they are adults.


I oppose this hateful policy!

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<p>I OPPOSE the draft policy and want the VDOE to reject them! Protect trans kids! </p>


Strongly Oppose - Forces Political Agenda

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P1. Disagree with views regarding 2021 Model Policies. 2022 Model Policies are forcing a religious political agenda. Religion should NOT be in schools, they need to be focused on education.

On p2. you say parents determine with the student what names and pronouns to be used but on p5 you state it's okay to dismiss this choice based on someone's religious preferences and allow the bullying of students even though Virginia Code 2.2-3900 prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.

p16 You state a transgender student wishing to wishing to change his/her name will be treating with compassion but then you state then need to use the name in their official record even if the parents agree to the change. Also you keep allowing the provision for folks to bully based on their religious preferences.

How can you say you care about transgender students when you clearly are setting the stage for discrimination and bullying. This does not represent my Virginia. You should be ashamed of your actions and any deaths that result from these restrictive policies will be on you.


In support of parental rights

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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.

• I support the updated language that acknowledges students and teachers can’t be forced into compelled speech that violates their constitutional rights, including First Amendment and religious freedom protections.

• I support the updated language that empowers schools to make their own decisions on how to best protect kids—especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable students in a state of undress in locker rooms or overnight sleeping quarters for school field trips.

• Middle and High School years can be very challenging, so I’m glad we already have comprehensive bullying policies to ensure a safe environment, while still respecting the rights of all students. That’s why it’s important schools have the freedom—as this updated policy allows— to address bathroom/privacy issues on a case by case basis with parents—and not through a one-size-fits-all pressure tool that treats all districts/communities the same.

• 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.


We must support Gov. Youngkin's new 2022 Model Policies.

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I write to urge all parents and citizens of Virginia to support Gov. Youngkin's 2022 Model Policies. What is at stake in this document is "parental rights." Indeed, these guidelines do not go even far enough. Gender dysphoria is a psychological condition that must be addressed with compassion and charity by psychologists and parents. It has no basis in public education as a verifiable condition for which special accommodations should be made in public schools and for which the rights of parents, which are grounded in both the U.S. Constitution and in the Code of Virginia, should be bypassed. Virginia educators must return to standards and policies that are academically rigorous as we are already far behind where we should be in Math and Reading. I write as a former educator who saw, first hand, a serious decline in the reading, writing, and comprehension skills of entering college level freshmen over the last 25 years. We must not allow the teachers, staff, and administrators in our Virginia education system to continue to bypass parents rights by hiding, and/or encouraging  "gender dysphoria" from parents. Most parents have been unaware of the extant policies put in place by the former administration. Voters have clearly signaled their intent to return to policies that support parents and rigorous academic disciplines based on "equality" policies that favor the family.


Support Governor’s plan

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Why the majority of us that support the conservative tradition have to accept the changes that are not in accordance with our believes and the upbringing of our kids.


Protect trans rights

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I am heavily against this bill. It will directly affect my family. These kids are dealing with enough, they don’t deserve to be treated this way!


Strongly oppose!

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<p>Strongly oppose! Protect LGBTQIA+ kids! </p>


Student Health and Safety First

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I am writing as a former student of the Virginia School System. I am sending this comment in to oppose the 2022 Model Policies on transgender students.

Why comprehensive protections for transgender youth should be rescinded with no plans for improvement focused on the students behalf is an outrage. It goes against the advice of the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, both of whom have put out peer reviewed studies warning that transgender youths are at a larger risk to mental health issues and suicide than their peers. The policies allowing a teacher or school with a differing opinion on gender identity to out students to parents is an invasion of privacy and endangers their self expression, both of which are constitutional rights. At worse, the policy in the name of informing parents will lead to reckless endangerment. Trans and nonbinary youth are far more likely to experience homelessness, and outing them to trans-phobic parents would greatly increase that risk.

If you think "This policy wont effect me, my child isn't trans", I will leave you with this; When I went to school, I knew a few friends and classmates that questioned and presented as trans or non-binary, but the number of old classmates I see on social media coming out years afterward is staggering. My best friend, someone I've known since I was two years old, only came out this year. I am 25 years old. As a parent, teacher, a friend or classmate, we will never truly know who is transgender, until they tell us for themselves. If we take away what few provisions we have now to protect our youth, we risk forcing them to hide their true selves. We risk losing them to suicide. If we do not reinstate and expand the 2021 model polices, we will never know the true cost that was forced upon our youth.


Policy REgarding the Concerns of Transgender Student

I am writing as a Social Work professional, clergyperson and firm supporter of allowing students to be recognized in their schools with the use of pronouns, clothing and access to accurate and safe information regarding their ability to be recognizes in the gender that they know themselves to be.
  There is sufficient clinical information to help educate parents to better understand and become effective advoated for their children. There is no need for the Govenor to create a sense of crisis for his own political agenda.

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<p>I am writing as a Social Work professional, clergyperson and firm supporter of allowing students to be recognized in their schools with the use of pronouns, clothing and access to accurate and safe information regarding their ability to be recognizes in the gender that they know themselves to be. </p>
<p>  There is sufficient clinical information to help educate parents to better understand and become effective advoated for their children. There is no need for the Govenor to create a sense of crisis for his own political agenda. </p>


Strongly oppose

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<p>I am strongly opposed to Governor Youngkin’s proposal, which will discriminate against trans and non-binary youth in Virginia’s public schools. His proposal will roll back all the progress that has been made over the past two years. Please do not move forward with this proposal. </p>


Strongly opposed - trans rights are human rights

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<p>Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected by the law. If you’ve ever studied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you’ll know that a student cannot learn productively if they are afraid for their safety, or whether they will still have a home. Every student should feel safe at school and be able to learn without worrying over their rights. </p>


Children's Rights

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I OPPOSE changes to the 2021 guidelines. Schools and their staff are mandated to put children first, not parents. The proposed changes can endanger a child's mental health and possibly their physical health.


Strongly Oppose. Protect the lives of children.

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<p>Many, many people in this country value autonomy. To you, this may mean the right to not be an organ donor. It could mean the right to not get an abortion for religious reasons, or perhaps the right to get an abortion for different religious reasons. There is a great value for human life in this country, or at least I hope there is. The children are this country’s future. But this guidance document threatens the lives of children. Already, without this policy, suicide and homelessness rates among transgender children are higher than average. Being transgender poses no threat to the child or others unless they are exposed to a dangerous environment in which they reside, which this policy would strive to do. There are far better ways to actually promote familial unity and the well-being of children without violating their autonomy, personal liberty, and privacy. Please do not enact this. </p>


Televangelist wananbe Governors (GY) do not have permission to legislate CIVIL rights on others!

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I'm SO furious that Glenn Youngkin has run amok with his PERSONAL views on legislating human right and civil rights in HIS bigoted and homophobic direction!  Yes, parents SHOULD be involved in their children's upbringing.  BUT what if the parent does not support their child in a positive way who might be trans, gay, or something other than his "sick" idea of "normal:.  We are ALL normal no matter our orientation, and should be allowed to live our lives freely and supportively!  You CANNOT govern a body of constituents if you are hell bent on legislating your personal views as a government employee!   This is going back to when whites and blacks had to use separate facilities!  We are going BACKWARDS.   You have to govern for ALL and respect ALL orientations!  You should not be allowed to scar a human being for life with your backward, negative and discriminatory views on making a trans person have to go against their true identity!  We as American citizens need to get these religioius based politicians completely out of office!  They are dangerous to life and health.  Disenfranchised citizens are prone to abuse, bullying and even suicide.  This cannot be allowed to be happening!  I will support all efforts to defeat this travesty and I will put money toward the court system to have this discrimination completely wiped out.  And will vote ALL discriminatory politicians OUT of office, top to bottom.


Strongly support Gov  policy

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<p>I am a life long bleeding liberal Democrat and will never change to the Republican party Despite my party affiliation , I strongly support Gov Youngkin’s common sense policy that  children YES children will be addressed by their legal name and gender at birth while in the school system.  I have so much more to say on this issue but I won’t . Gov  Youngkin please continue to let parents keep their responsibility in guiding their children . Family values still matter and  Parental Power vs Peet pressure power is still needed . God Bless our children </p>


New 2022 policy

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Strongly support new policy. Respect student's and parent's rights.


I SUPPORT YOUNKINS POLICY!!!


Model policies are not appropriate for all circumstances

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We disagree with one policy fits all.

Many parents are not supportive of their children's needs. They need a support system and PROTECTION

from inflexible parenting.


Transgender policy

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<p>I strongly OPPOSE the new proposed policy.  </p>


Strongly object-Protect trans kids

Fcps trans student and trans student athlete

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<p>This policy works against trans kids and can severely damage the mental health of transgender students such as myself. Living as a trans student in the school system is already challenging enough, but with these new policies, we’d feel even more segregated and targeted than we already are. Banning us from using our gender desired restroom and locker rooms would make us an even more targeted as it teaches cisgender kids that we are different from them and that they’re right to pick on us because we are different. Not letting students go by their preferred name and pronouns at school unless they have parental permission can be damaging. Why can’t a student choose to go by what they want to be called? Basic respect comes from how you refer to people and if you disrespect that aspect, you’ve just over stepped a basic right. It also has nothing to do with religion. A teacher cannot enforce their religious views on a student. This includes misgendering and misnaming a student due to religious views. If you ban me from playing on the sports team I gender identify with, you are taking away a right that all cisgender students immediately have. Personally, the sport I play helps me feel included and that sport saved my life and brought me back up at my lowest. This is why I oppose this model policy as it discriminatory and it segregated transgender kids from their cisgender peers which will lead to the damage of trans students mental health and create an opportunity and teaches cisgender kids to further pick on their transgender peers. </p>


Strongly oppose

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<p>Children should not be able to choose their gender until they are adults and able to make a proper decision.  Not to mention, if my daughter comes home and tells me a boy that identifies as a girl is in the bathroom with her, we will have some serious issues.  I will sue the school and the city. </p>


I support Gov Youngkin's transgender policy mandates

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Parents are the first educators of their children, and this policy will return this role to the parents. The schools need to focus on teaching math, reading, and the other subjects needed to succeed in life. The moral issues are the responsibility of the parents not the schools.

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

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


Thank you Governor Youngkin

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<p>Thank you Governor Youngkin for this common sense policy!  </p>


Strongly Oppose

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<p>As a student, I strongly oppose these policies which I believe will be extremely detrimental to the mental well being of my peers. Every student should have the right to feel safe and confident within school, allowing them to focus on their studies and coursework. The implementation of these policies will place significant mental stress upon trans students, forcing many of them to conceal or repress their identities. The time they spend dwelling upon such anxiety will prevent them from being able to effectively learn, and furthermore will contribute to a tense and uncomfortable classroom environment which will negatively effect all students. </p>


Proposed Policies on Trans Kids

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The proposed policy is inhumane.  We must support our trans kids!


Strongly opposed

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There is scientific evidence showing that it damages the mental health of trans individuals who live as the gender they were assigned at birth. When I ask my students what their pronouns are at the beginning of the semester, they often request that I use their birth assigned pronouns with their parents. I have had many students tell me that they were kicked out of their home because they came out as non-cis gendered or non-heterosexual. There is more at stake than the comfort and pride of the parents. We should not sacrifice our children's health and well being because parents want to pretend their children are cis gendered.


Strongly opposed

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How in the world are you going to enforce "sex-based dress codes"? Why in the world would you want to do this?

For me, one of the scarier threats in this document is Section V, Part B:  "Each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive, than the model policies developed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) pursuant to subsection A.” I shudder to think what "more comprehensive" looks like!!!!


Strongly Oppose

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I OPPOSE Youngkin's policy proposal because every child has a right to feel safe, accepted and valued in Virginia public schools.  Fear and ignorance is what drives Youngkin's proposed policy.  Parents who feel strongly about keeping their children from certain ideas and people should send their kids to private school.  Public schools are to serve ALL students.   School is a learning center; and so, needs to be a safe and brave space.  NOT a reactionary space.  Not a space for intimidation, humiliation, or domination.  What are we telling our lesbian, gay, trans, and non-binary kids when we deny how they see themselves or how they relate to their bodies or to the world?

There is not just one acceptable narrative and multiple perspectives and lived experiences are valuable in a learning environment.  We should be thinking of how we can serve and support our students best so that they can learn! It is not a space to try to wedge children into narrow boxes.  Let them grow into themselves!

Each student's identity and lived experiences should be honored.  A student who feels comfortable showing up fully can bring that energy to the task of learning and to the community and THAT should be our goal.  And we must ask ourselves this: whose discomfort are we prioritizing? Parental involvement in education is desirable and wonderful, even essential, but only when helpful and constructive.  What Youngkin's policy fails to do is nurture and protect our youth.

I am an educator, myself, and it's our job to love and support our students as they are, as they show up to us each day and not to tell them who to be or what to think, but rather to provide context and to help them think critically so that they can decide for themselves.


Oppose Oppose Oppose

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There is no question that this proposed policy will cause both emotional and physical harm to children.


Strongly Oppose the 2022 Model Policies!!!

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I am not transgender. However, I am autistic, and transgenderness and autism are alike in a lot of ways.

Both are caused by the way the brain is structured, and as a result cannot be gotten rid of.

Both are completely natural conditions that are not caused by anything. An autistic person is autistic from birth and will be that way until they die. The same goes for trans people. Just as it is impossible to make a child autistic, it is impossible to groom a child into being trans.

Both have a lot of people using pseudoscientific, harmful methods to "cure" them.

Because neither autistic people nor trans people are physically capable of changing their brains to conform with society, both of these people will only ever be truly happy if they receive accommodations. Autistic people may require private areas to calm down from meltdowns, options to avoid overstimulating events, or fidgets to stim with. Trans people require their preferred names and pronouns, and to be treated as the gender they are.

Because of society's refusal to accept what they cannot change about themselves, autistic people and trans people are both constantly forced into boxes. They must constantly pretend to be the perfect, neurotypical, cisgender people that society prefers, because otherwise, many of their so-called "friends" and "family" will no longer love them.

Both trans people and autistic people are in danger (but ESPECIALLY trans people). Due to the stress from #5, they are more likely to be depressed or have anxiety problems. They are also more likely to attempt suicide. Autistic people are at least three times as likely as normal to attempt suicide, and trans people are even worse off - they are five times more likely to attempt suicide.

#6 is NOT directly caused by being autistic or being transgender. Instead, it is caused by the stress listed in #5. By accepting autistic people and transgender people for who they are and providing a support network of people they can trust, you can significantly lower their risk of suicide.

Both parents of trans kids and parents of autistic kids sometimes don't know what's best for their children. Parents who refuse to accept that their child is autistic will berate them for "choosing" not to be normal, or they will seek out quack "cures" that cause serious physical harm. At worst, they may even send them over to a literal torture center like the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center. Similarly, parents who refuse to accept that their child is trans might send their kid to pseudoscientific conversion therapy that will leave permanent mental scars, or they may kick them out of the house if they're particularly horrific. As discussed in #6, the stress of these children knowing that they will never be good enough to be truly loved and accepted by their parents can drive them to suicide. For many autistic and trans children, and children of other minorities, whether or not they can keep their true selves a secret from their parents is literally a matter of survival.

The 2022 model policies are a huge threat to trans children, an already at-risk population. Forcibly outing trans kids to their parents could open them up to serious mental and physical abuse and ultimately lead them to suicide. Allowing teachers to misgender, deadname, and refuse to acknowledge the gender identity of trans students is a blatant denial of the accommodations that these people need to have a level playing field. The removal of the 2021 model policies' prohibition against bullying based on gender identity exposes trans people to a serious risk to their lives and mental well-being. The change to the dress code to make it vaguer than before allows teachers to selectively enforce it on trans students, banning them from expressing their gender identity and thus denying them another accommodation that they need to survive. And to put a cherry on top, the fact that teachers are allowed to misgender trans students whenever they want but are not allowed to correctly gender them without parental approval shows that these policies are not about teachers' rights or parents' rights. Teachers can only freely express themselves if they oppose the transgender movement. Parents can only make teachers refer to their student as the gender the parents want if the parents oppose their child's gender identity. It is not about rights, and it has never been. From the start, it has always been about hurting transgender people.

It's true that transgender people are a small minority. But there are over a million K-12 students in Virginia, and with about 0.7% of teens being transgender, we can assume that there are over 8,000 transgender students in this state. As is, 1 in 3 trans children have attempted suicide. If these blatantly transphobic policies are put into place, they will make suicide far more likely and bring this number up. Potentially thousands more children will attempt suicide, and at least a few of these attempts will succeed. I am not exaggerating when I say that this policy will KILL trans kids. Glenn Youngkin, do you want the blood of Virginia's children on your hands?


I fully support Governor Youngkin's revised 2022 model policies

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I am in full support of Governor Youngkin's revised 2022 model policies on The Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools.


Oppose the model policies.

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This policy will hurt trans kids. Simple as. Parents have a right to be involved in their child's education, yes, but this policy has nothing to do with education. What this policy does is remove the right of trans kids to exist in school, often the only place they can feel comfortable to be themselves. The board of education is targeting some of the most vulnerable citizens in Virginia to score cheap political points and I'm disgusted by it. I was a trans kid in a regressive school that by and large followed these policies. My friends and I had to fight every day of our lives to receive the basic recognition we deserve as human beings because of rules like these. One of my friends even went so far as to attempt self-harm on multiple occasions, and all because they didn't have a place they could feel comfortable.

Schools are supposed to be that place. Schools are supposed to be the place for kids to learn, not just about history and math and English, but about themselves too. Being safe to explore their identities and being respected for it is critical to the development of children into healthy and functional adults. Like it or not, trans and non-binary people exist. They just do. This is a fact. And like it or not, most people who are trans will start to experience and express their gender identities sometime in middle or high school. Telling kids they're allowed to have questions and giving them the space to grow, learn, and discover themselves isn't indoctrination, it's basic human decency and the bare minimum we should expect from our schools. The Department of Education's proposed policies don't just take that away from kids, they'll force educational professionals and schools to push identities onto them. Sound familiar?

To a trans person, a legal name isn't just a name. A sports team isn't just a sports team. Pronouns aren't just pronouns. They're a daily struggle, something we deal with every waking moment of our lives. When people in power refuse to acknowledge that they refuse to acknowledge us. They tell us we're not allowed to exist, or worse, deny our existence entirely. The proposed policies at issue here don't mention curriculum once, don't make any mention of testing or grading, and say nothing of funding or transportation. Those are what the government has a role in when it comes to education, not the identities of students or how they can express themselves. When the structure of power acts in such a way as to deny the rights of vulnerable people, bad things happen. If these policies go into effect, they will kill children. I'm not making that up, I'm not exaggerating. Trans kids will harm themselves because they feel like nobody accepts them and they're broken, LGBT children outed to their bigoted parents will be disowned, kids who deserve the state's protection will instead be attacked by it. The Department is putting the lives of children on the line to score political points instead of focusing on the issues that actually matter in education. Shame on you.


2022 Model Guidelines are contrary to law and will harm trans and non-binary students

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I write to state my opposition to implementation and enforcement of the misguided Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) 2022 Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools.

I personally subscribe to the comments opposing these harmful proposals submitted by Equality Virginia and by the ACLU of Virginia. The 2022 Model Policies are not evidence-based as required by law, and it is clear that their implementation in Virginia schools will cause harm to transgender students who are already vulnerable to bullying and abuse. Moreover, the provisions in the guidelines that will require schools to “out” nonbinary and trans students to their parents will exacerbate the disproportionate representation of these children among homeless youth and among those caught up in the juvenile criminal legal system in significant part because of family abandonment.

There is no serious question among reasonable attorneys that these guidelines, if implemented by any school division, would place that school division in jeopardy of a successful lawsuit brought to enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which the 4th Circuit has recognized prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in federally funded school programs, and to protect trans and nonbinary students from discrimination in violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

In addition, there is a significant legal question whether the legislature and the Department of Education have the authority under the Virginia Constitution to dictate how local school divisions operate on a day-to-day basis, including how they treat students in their classrooms. The Virginia Constitution approved by the voters in November 1970 which became effective July 1, 1971, reflects a delicate balance unique to Virginia in terms of how our public education system is to be administered.

Having weathered massive resistance in which local school divisions shut down public schools to avoid integration, Virginians were determined not to allow any students to be deprived of the right to a free, public education again. The Constitution Virginia voters approved in 1970 stated unequivocally that all children have a right to a free public education of high quality.

The Constitution then went on to apportion the power and responsibility to deliver that education among state and local actors:  the state Board of Education (given authority to prescribe “standards of quality” and charged with “general supervision of the public school system” as a whole), the legislature (charged with funding the standards prescribed by the State Board), local governments (charged with funding their portion of the costs), and local school boards (charged with the day to day supervision of the schools in their jurisdiction). The Constitution also provides for the appointment of a state superintendent by the Governor but specifies no role for a “Department of Education” or the Governor.

The Virginia Code provides: “There shall be a system of free public elementary and secondary schools established and maintained as provided in this title and administered by the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, division superintendents and school boards.” Again, no mention of the Education Department or the Governor. Moreover, the Virginia Code only invests the Board of Education with the power to adopt regulations to fulfill its supervisory responsibilities.  While the Virginia General Assembly did pass a law requiring the Department of Education to develop model policies regarding the treatment of transgender students, such policies are not regulations and do not have the force of law. Moreover, one can legitimately ask whether the General Assembly had the authority under the carefully balanced constitutional scheme to dictate any requirements for the supervision of the day-to-day operations of local schools.

If, however, the legislature’s codified instruction to the Department does have the force of law, it remains clear that the 2022 Model Policies are in violation of that law in that they are not a reflection of “evidence-based, best practices,” but rather directly contradict them.

A final note. Virginia children must present a birth certificate to enroll in school. Virginia allows transgender people to amend their birth certificate to reflect their true gender identity. When a person's birth certificate changes, it states the person’s legal sex. Nonetheless, the 2022 Model Guidelines purport to require a school division to take certain actions based on a student’s “biological sex” rather than their established legal sex. What right does any school division have to look behind the birth certificate presented by the student? The question is how they will determine “biological sex” as required by the 2022 Model Policies if they are not going to rely on a birth certificate? Are they going to subject every child to a physical examination?

For all these reasons, I strongly oppose implementation and enforcement of the 2022 Model Guidelines and ask that the 2021 Model Guidelines that were evidence-based and reflected best practices be recommended for adoption by local school divisions instead.


Policies should be based on strongly oppose

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<p>Proposed policies are not evidence based and will lead to severe harm to students.  They should not be finalized.  </p>


strongly oppose

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strongly oppose!!! protect lgbtq+ rights


opposed!

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Government shouldn’t mess with how teenagers live their sexuality.


Absolutely oppose the harmful policy

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<p>As a citizen of Virginia, I am writing to let you know that I absolutely oppose Governor Youngkin's policy on transgender children in the Commonwealth's schools. It will hurt children. </p>


2022 Model Policies for the Department of Education

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Please withdraw the 2021 Model Policies and replace them with the 2022 Model Policies which are based on common sense, reason, and decency.  In a democracy it is a fundamental right of parents to direct the care and education of their children.  Children belong to their parents, not to the State.

The State should not compel people to use language that, not only violates their religious beliefs, but also contradicts nature and reality.  While bullying is in no way to be condoned or facilitated, and all students are to be respected, it should be remembered that respect works both ways.  The transgender community should respect the straight community by not imposing offensive policies on them.

The implementation of the 2022 Model Policies will be a welcome return to normalcy.


Trans rights are human rights.

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<p>I support trans kids and their rights. Do not take away the rights of trans kids in schools! </p>


Very opposed to proposed policy

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I am very against any policy changes that will not protect the rights of children and their gender expression. All people deserve to be treated as humans with permission to express themselves as they see fit. Gender expression does not harm others expressly benefit the life experience of the individual. Any policy that restricts a child's right to safely be who they want to be is going to be harmful and restrictive. Please do not pass this hateful abusive policy


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I 100% support Governor Youngkin's revised 2022 model policies on The Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools.


Oppose. Students are citizens with protected rights

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<p>Taking away the students ability to privately confide in a teacher about their personal gender identity issues will have a negative consequence on the health, safety, and well-being of students. </p>


Oppose - Strongly Oppose!

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I was born in Virginia.  Other than while on active duty and one additional year, I've lived in Virginia.  I went to VMI and retired as a Captain from the Navy Reserve.  I imagine my background is a bit different than most who oppose the Governor's planned treatment of trans children.  But I strongly oppose his edict.  I'll call it an edict because of the way and timing that it was released.  No one has been able to show me how this edict will help any kid and kids are the ones we adults need to watch over and take care of.  Children who may not fit some folk's definition of normal are the ones we need to watch over and take care of the most.  They are ones who get bullied, called names, etc.  This edict will just add to that.  It is time the Governor grew a pair and addicted like an adult and took care of these kids.


Support and protect trans youth!

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


Model Policy for the treatment of Transgender Students - Support for GOV Youngkin

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I absolutely support Governor Youngkin’s plan for our students.  I support parental rights and responsibilities for our minor children (under 18).  Families are the guardians of the family, not “schools” – not teachers, not school boards, not counselors!

Schools can’t seem to accomplish their mission of teaching basic information which is necessary to go onto critical thinking skills…yet students of all ages are encouraged by a “system” to be making life altering/irreversible decisions…they are doing this decision–making with little to no life experiences but a lot of input from adults with suspect agendas!

The “other group,” with all of the “letters” that keep changing, talks about “evidence based best practices” and “science.”  Whose “evidence” and whose “best practices?”  What does “science” say?

XX equals female, XY equals male.  XY cannot be changed to XX, nor the reverse!  And if someone’s “thinking” does not match their “body,” then maybe their brains need to be fixed, not mutilate their bodies inside and out to look like what they want… sort of!  And now that person is sterile.  I guess that is one way to reduce the population!  Is this an assault on reproduction?  Biology deniers!  Anatomy deniers!  Genetics deniers!  Physiology deniers!

This offensive propaganda… that is directed towards our vulnerable children… needs to stop in our schools!  We need to stop enabling the craziness.  We want good things for all children, and as such, we can’t allow the majority to be harmed by the mental issues manifested by a few.  We can’t allow a very small vocal minority’s delusions to dominate at the expense of the mental health of the majority.


These model policies is harassment towards students and is putting thousands in dangerous situations

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This is a comment that opposes the model policies regarding trans students and "parental rights." There are so many things wrong with this policy that would not fit into one comment. In fact, I could write an entire thesis essay about it, using what I've learned in school. Writing an essay is what I should be learning to do in school. I should be focused on the math homework I have, or the painting I am doing for art class. Instead, I am focused on the fact that those who are supposed to teach me, advise me, let me learn and grow, are going to be instead harassing me and many others, as well as de-humanizing us. If this policy is implemented, the things that students would be learning at school wouldn't be things like math, history, responsibility, social skills, etc. It would be teaching us that we are not worthy of human rights, that our voices and experiences don't matter, and that our existence is not valued, respected, or even tolerated. This is unacceptable, especially coming from professional adults who are supposed to have "good judgement" when it comes to students and school. I know this is a political move by the governor. I know that this is not based in true care for students or families. I know that this is not based in fact or logic. It is utterly disgusting that the way our leaders decide to campaign for head of state, is by hurting children and by de-humanizing marginalized groups. This disproportionately effects disabled students as well. Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people are more likely to be trans. Which is proven by many scientific studies, just like the fact of trans people being real and valid. By implementing these policies you will be putting trans children's LIVES IN DANGER. Their LIVES. Trans youth are already more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide. This increases tremendously when in unaccepting environments. Please, in order to be decent humans, and in order to SAVE LIVES: do NOT pass these model policies.


I OPPOSE this guidance

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Codifying small-mindedness and bigotry is not the role of government and wrong for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I strongly oppose this guidance and urge the VDOE to reject the proposed changes.


Trans RIghts are Human Rights

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Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools

Schools should be safe environments for all students, especially students for whom home is not a safe place. Students should be called by the name and pronouns they choose, and teachers and admin should not be required to report this information to parents or guardians


Protect vulnerable students

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Schools are obligated to provide safe, welcoming places for students to be educated, regardless of their biological sex or gender identity.  Educators should support and accept students as they are. Transgender youth and those who may not conform to "typical" gender identities are at high risk of suicide and abuse, and school may be their safest place. The proposed guidance would put students at risk for harassment and may endanger students whose parents oppose how their child identifies. Ideally, single restrooms would be available  for any student, but lacking that, students should be able to use the restroom they prefer. Teacher, administrators and other personnel should monitor restrooms to ensure the safety of all students.


Gov. Youngkin’s proposal about transgender students.

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In my opinion this is only about Republican prejudices. His proposal is NOT in the interest of the students and is discriminatory to the students. This policy should be trashed in its entirety.


trans Students Deserve Respect and Dignity

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Words Matter. Names Matter. Pronouns Matter, to all of us, but especially to a transgender child. They are EVERYTHING. To ignore and dismiss how a child NEEDS to be addressed, (preferred name, pronouns and gender identity) can make the difference in that child’s desire to LIVE or not. According to Forbes, “52% of transgender youths in the US have seriously contemplated killing themselves in 2020. More than half thought they would be better dead rather than trying to live with rejection, isolation, loneliness, bullying, and being targeted by politicians and anti-trans legistration.” Our youth are our future and deserve to be seen, heard, acknowledged and respected. Please don’t discard the LGBTQ community in our public schools. Please don’t send this very strong message to them that they don’t matter. Trust me when I say that if a transgender student is made to use a locker room of the gender that’s listed on his/her birth certificate IT WILL LITERALLY DEVASTATE AND SEVERELY TRAUMATIZE THAT CHILD. Not just for that day, or semester or year…BUT FOR LIFE. I BEG you to not pass this policy change. This is such a small thing for us (parents, teachers, staff and parents) to do to support our LGBTQ students and can ultimately allow them to successfully thrive, succeed and live their authentic life.


Transgender Students

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<p style="text-align: justify;">A parent is legally responsible for their minor children; therefore, parents need to know about their child's school activities. </p>


Strongly oppose

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<p>This will negatively impact students in so many ways- this is cruel. Strongly oppose. Protect trans kids! </p>


Youngkin is a transphobic piece of

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This policy is absolutely disgusting.  Youngkin is doing everything he can to kill trans kids.  Completely unacceptable.


VA HEALTHCARE WORKERS OPPOSE THIS PROPOSED POLICY

Dear Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Education:

We are the healthcare professionals who take care of Virginia’s children and families, dedicating our lives to serving you and your children in your greatest moments of need. Rooted in our tenets of healing, beneficence, and self-determination, we are called to advocate for the transgender and gender-diverse youth for whom we care, who will be irreparably harmed if the proposed 2022 Model Policies on Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools (1) comes into fruition.

Affirming a child’s gender identity, whether at home, at the doctor’s, or in school, is crucial to the child’s health and wellbeing. We know the statistics, that in 2021, over half of all transgender and gender-diverse youth considered killing themselves, and one in five attempted suicide (2). But for us, these statistics are more than numbers; they are the names and faces and memories of children we’ve met and cared for. In their moments of hopelessness, we find hope together knowing that when a child’s identity and pronouns are honored, their suicidality lessens (2).

Unfortunately, the aforementioned proposed school policy enacts dangerous barriers to the safety of transgender and gender-diverse children. First, in mandating schools to inform unsupportive parents of their child’s identity, this policy obliterates the one affirming space a child may have and increases the risk of suicide and abuse by unnecessarily provoking parental hostility and rejection. Additionally, it bans any measure to affirm a child’s identity without written parental instruction by requiring school employees to use the student’s legal sex and name instead of affirming their pronouns and name. This extraordinarily harmful mandate has no legal basis. The referenced US Supreme Court cases of Troxel v Granville, Wisconsin v Yoder, and Pierce v Society of Sisters refer to matters of familial visitation and the right to withdraw from public school - not a parent’s right to deny their child’s identity and access to critical health services, such as gender counseling.

Furthermore, the proposed policy mandates students to participate in extracurricular activities and use bathrooms according to their assigned sex, despite legal precedent considering this unlawful discrimination (3). In fact, this proposed policy eliminates every effort in its predecessor to create a nurturing and supportive environment, apathetic to the psychological and physical consequences to our transgender and gender-diverse youth. This policy claims that, “All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying,” yet persecutes children by denying them their identity. Any policy that directs teachers and staff to mistreat their students in this way is discriminatory at best and deadly at worst.

As Virginia’s healthcare workers, we are the ones who see children in emergency departments when they decide their lives aren’t worth living anymore, when the trauma in their bodies manifests as seizures or psychosis or debilitating pain. We are the ones who listen to these children weep as we try to convince them that their future is bright and real, that the bullying will one day be in the past, that acceptance of who they are will come. When we say that this proposed policy will devastate our children’s safety, we know from witnessing it ourselves. This policy will negatively impact the health and wellbeing of our children, leading to higher rates of suicide and self-harm, and we demand this proposal be denied.

In support of Virginia’s trans and gender-diverse children,
Your healthcare workers

References:

https://doe.virginia.gov/support/gender-diversity/2022-model-policies-on-the-privacy-dignity-and-respect-for-all-students-town-hall.pdf

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/assets/static/trevor01_2022survey_final.pdf

https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/191952.P.pdf

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Dear Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Education:

We are the healthcare professionals who take care of Virginia’s children and families, dedicating our lives to serving you and your children in your greatest moments of need. Rooted in our tenets of healing, beneficence, and self-determination, we are called to advocate for the transgender and gender-diverse youth for whom we care, who will be irreparably harmed if the proposed 2022 Model Policies on Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools (1) comes into fruition.

Affirming a child’s gender identity, whether at home, at the doctor’s, or in school, is crucial to the child’s health and wellbeing. We know the statistics, that in 2021, over half of all transgender and gender-diverse youth considered killing themselves, and one in five attempted suicide (2). But for us, these statistics are more than numbers; they are the names and faces and memories of children we’ve met and cared for. In their moments of hopelessness, we find hope together knowing that when a child’s identity and pronouns are honored, their suicidality lessens (2).

Unfortunately, the aforementioned proposed school policy enacts dangerous barriers to the safety of transgender and gender-diverse children. First, in mandating schools to inform unsupportive parents of their child’s identity, this policy obliterates the one affirming space a child may have and increases the risk of suicide and abuse by unnecessarily provoking parental hostility and rejection. Additionally, it bans any measure to affirm a child’s identity without written parental instruction by requiring school employees to use the student’s legal sex and name instead of affirming their pronouns and name. This extraordinarily harmful mandate has no legal basis. The referenced US Supreme Court cases of Troxel v Granville, Wisconsin v Yoder, and Pierce v Society of Sisters refer to matters of familial visitation and the right to withdraw from public school - not a parent’s right to deny their child’s identity and access to critical health services, such as gender counseling.

Furthermore, the proposed policy mandates students to participate in extracurricular activities and use bathrooms according to their assigned sex, despite legal precedent considering this unlawful discrimination (3). In fact, this proposed policy eliminates every effort in its predecessor to create a nurturing and supportive environment, apathetic to the psychological and physical consequences to our transgender and gender-diverse youth. This policy claims that, “All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying,” yet persecutes children by denying them their identity. Any policy that directs teachers and staff to mistreat their students in this way is discriminatory at best and deadly at worst.

As Virginia’s healthcare workers, we are the ones who see children in emergency departments when they decide their lives aren’t worth living anymore, when the trauma in their bodies manifests as seizures or psychosis or debilitating pain. We are the ones who listen to these children weep as we try to convince them that their future is bright and real, that the bullying will one day be in the past, that acceptance of who they are will come. When we say that this proposed policy will devastate our children’s safety, we know from witnessing it ourselves. This policy will negatively impact the health and wellbeing of our children, leading to higher rates of suicide and self-harm, and we demand this proposal be denied.

In support of Virginia’s trans and gender-diverse children,

Your healthcare workers

References:

https://doe.virginia.gov/<wbr/>support/gender-diversity/2022-<wbr/>model-policies-on-the-privacy-<wbr/>dignity-and-respect-for-all-<wbr/>students-town-hall.pdf

https://www.thetrevorproject.<wbr/>org/survey-2022/assets/static/<wbr/>trevor01_2022survey_final.pdf

https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/<wbr/>opinions/191952.P.pdf


Strongly support Youngkin's policies to protect children.

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I strongly support Gov. Youngkin's policies to protect children.


In agreement

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I am for the Governor's policy on this. It seems more than fair.

 I do not want my children forced to learn sex (other than what the curriculum used to be) from others. This is something that IS 100% a parent's choice.  We have to be involved in our children's lives.  Any parent who abuses a child (based on being uncertain or seeking guidance on their sexual identification) is an ignorant individual. That would deserve the charges they receive.

More students and parents oppose this. These schools are funded on tax payer dollars. I want my tax dollars spent on better things for the educational system. Maybe better wages for teachers, aides, and bus drivers.

Now can we please move on to the economic disaster ahead of us?


Proposed 2022 MODEL POLICIES ... VIRGINIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the “2022 MODEL POLICIES ON THE PRIVACY, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN VIRGINIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.”

On page 1, you assert that there are “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 words “parents” and “children” do not appear in the Fourteenth Amendment. There are references to privileges and equal protection, which belong to “citizens.”  The term citizens clearly includes children who are born in the U.S. or naturalized. The rights of students who are citizens are clearly protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.

On page 2, your Guiding Principles include “Schools shall defer to parents to make the best decisions with respect to their children.” This is in clear violation of the constitutional rights of children who are U.S. citizens.  Moreover, it is contrary to many legal provisions that require our courts to make decisions based on the best interest of the child, not the best interest of the parents.

These blatant violations of constitutional and statutory provisions may well result in the use of taxpayer funds to litigate positions that are likely illegal.  The money could be better spent on better schools. I urge you to withdraw and rewrite your proposed policy.


STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS POLICY. PROTECT CHILDREN FROM TRANS ACTIVISTS

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<p>Any policy that intentionally leaves parents out of the upbringing and moral guidance of their children is inherently and fundamentally wrong - so this revised policy fixes that. It is evil to suggest that allowing parents the right to raise their children is going to “KILL” a trans child. That is called fear propaganda and it has no place in issues surrounding children. I ask this Board to stay strong and do what is right for the future of our country. These children need strong adults to protect them from the activists that are preying on them and clearly mobbing this forum. </p>


Support Parental Rights

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I write in full support of the 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students and Parent's in Virginia's Public Schools. Specifically, on the parental notification of preferred pronouns.  First, you must stand strong and firm against the media hyberbole and fear tactics regarding the effect on students who believe themselves to be transgender/non-binary.  Their rights are protected along with every other student and no discriminatory actions are being taken against them to strip them of their right to a sound, public education free of discrimination.  But they are, as are most all public school students--minors.  And when you are a minor, your parents have rights over your care and custody.  These rights include making  medical and educational decisions for their children.  This policy only acknowledges these long standing and time honored parental rights, engrained in our statutes, case law and fundamental societal fabric, that parents should be given the ultimate say so in how their children (minors) are to be referred to at school.  An eminently reasonable policy.  Opposition to it is what is cause for concern.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>As the parent and mentor of kids of all gender identities, all kids deserve to feel safe and supported in school so that they can focus on learning without unnecessary restrictions on who they are. I STRONGLY OPPOSE this proposal </p>


Support Policy 100%

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<p>Parents should not be taken out of the equation for any decisions for their minor children.  It is as simple and basic as that! They are minors. </p>


2022 Model Policies

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Support the policy 100%


Protect our children!  Strongly support!

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Please protect our children! I strongly support Gov. Youngkin's proposals.


Proposed transgender school policy

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<p>I strongly oppose the governor’s proposed policy on transgender youth at school and ask that the DOE also oppose this guidance.  This is a discriminatory proposal involving youth who are often struggling to determine who they are. They are often the targets of bullying and unfortunately are often young people who die by suicide. Our educational system should be a place where everyone is respected and feels safe. </p>


Oppose Backward Discriminatory Policy

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I strongly oppose Youngkin's discriminatory school policy. It sets this state backwards. I am a 70 year old retired Federal Executive who has lived in Virginia for 43 years. I strongly support allowing LGBTQ+ students having the same rights as everyone else. Youngkin may look and dress nicely. But he is nothing less than Trump in sheep's clothing with this and his other views and policies.  Do not let him set this state back to the 1950's and 1960's.


Protect Trans Students

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<p>The proposed changes to the previously adopted policies will harm our transgender students. For many of these students the only safe place for them to be themselves is at school. For a lot of transgender students it would not be safe for them to be themselves at home. Transgender students without support are more likely to suffer from depression and commit suicide. The proposed changes are supposedly to protect parent’s rights. But it seems to me they are only thinking about parents whose children fall into the gender norm. What about the rights of the transgender students to have a safe environment in which to learn and the rights of their parents to see their children safe and happy? If these changes are put into effect, Virginia will be taking a giant step backwards. I am a teacher in Virginia. These proposed changes make me sad and angry for our children and their futures. Please keep the model policies previously adopted and ignore these hateful and dangerous changes. </p>


Protect Trans Kids

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Gender identity should not be subject to politicians personal ideologies. We must make sure we protect our children, support them as they express themselves authentically, as is their right to. We can’t tolerate bigoted views that will push our children towards suicide..

Children are already struggling with anxiety and depression.


I strongly support this common sense approach.

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Parent involvement is critical and so is protecting all children, not just a minuscule minority.


Protect Trans Children.

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This proposal is not only discriminatory but also implies that children are the property of their adults. Children are human beings that are still growing and learning about themselves and deserve to do that safely; school could be the only place a child feels able to be themselves. This proposal is dangerous for any child with parents or guardians that are ignorant to the fact that their children have their own identity and deserve to reflect that how they see fit. It is not the job of the VDOE to dictate who a child is or how they identify and it is NOT the state’s business or obligation to report on those identities when it has absolutely zero effect on that child’s education. Keep politics and ignorance out of education. Children aren’t a political issue and the state and VDOE have more pressing matters to deal with than how a child expresses themselves.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope together we can focus on what really matters - the physical, emotional, and  intellectual safety and integrity of the children.


Opposition to new Educational Guidance/Revision of 2021 GuidelinesT

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As an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, and the mother of a successful gay daughter, I strongly oppose the new guidelines.  My work is to encourage LGBTQ+ youth and adults to learn to live to their full potential as the people they have been created to be.  Unfortunately, the new guidelines are more focused on parental rights than on student rights.  Many others have noted that the support of one person in the life of an LGBTQ+ young person can make the difference between a life fraught with depression, suicidal tendencies and subjection to bullying to one full of love, acceptance, self-confidence, encouragement and success.   It's also common knowledge that far more LGBTQ+ teens/young people experience these negative feelings than non-LGBTQ+ youth.  The introduction of these new guidelines is already enhancing their fear and anxiety, along with those of us who love and support them.

Also, there is a citation in the document stating that Gender Dysphoria is a "disability," aka a mental illness.  The most recent copy of the DSM lists Gender Dysphoria as just that; not a disability or a mental illness.  The DSM asserts that "it is important to note that Gender Non-conformance is NOT a mental disorder.  The critical element of Gender Dysphoria is the presence of clinically significant distress associated with the condition."  This distinction provides a diagnostic name more appropriate to the symptoms and behaviors they experience w/o jeopardizing access to appropriate treatment.  Please do not marginalize these young folks any further by saying they are disabled or mentally ill.

This is one point among many that arise from this new document.  The document seems to put the RIGHTS of parents before the RIGHTS of students, for whom it is intended.  When parents are not ready to accept their child's sexual orientation, identity, etc., due to cultural, religious, prejudicial or other norms, it is beholden to other adults in their lives, i.e. teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, etc., to do so.  This is critical to prevent depression, suicidal ideations or worse, death.  This is not extreme.  It was not many years ago, that the young son of a prominent RVA doctor, came out to his father.  His Father's religious beliefs kept him not only from accepting his son, but also from allowing his son to remain in their family home.   This bereft and now homeless, senior in high school, jumped off an RVA bridge to his death.  THIS IS THE KIND OF PARENTAL THINKING AND BEHAVIOR we must work to change, not support/encourage.  Our government is NOT just for cis gendered, white, conservative Christians, it is for all genders, races, sexual orientations, religions, etc.  The sooner that is accepted and all human rights are honored, the closer we will be to fully serving our young people.  Our goal is to educate ourselves and to then understand and support our young people, even if it makes us a little uncomfortable.

Please DO NOT PASS these guidelines.

Barbara J

Powhatan, VA


Trans rights for all ages

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Our children deserve to be respect for who they think they are. Not doing so says we do not value the child. Let them use the restroom and join the teams and any other activity that matches their expressed gender.


Common Sense dictates that children were given parents to guide and protect them.

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As I was growing up I knew that some of my peers were acting immaturely. {I'm now 93.) I knew that it was not a good idea to lower the voting age because young people are driven by emotion and not prone to think things through.   They need their parents to guide and protect them.

Our schools should be investing the school day in teaching the basics of education.  It is no wonder that our scores are so low when teachers must consider gender when addressing each student instead of concentrating on the subject matter.  It is also no wonder that some students are more worried about their gender than taking in the subject matter.

And how any rational person can legitimately say that a biological male can enter a girl's locker room, bathroom or girl's sports and this is okay is beyond common sense.  His rights end where hers begin.

The grown ups have to take charge.   That's common sense.


I strongly oppose the proposed guidance

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<p>This guidance suggests that transgender students simply existing and learning in public schools is forcing an "ideology" onto other students. This is not the case. There is significant data indicating that simply believing transgender youth when they tell the adults in their lives who they are, and treating these young people as actual people, accepting their gender identity and calling them by the name and pronoun of their choice, allowing them to make their own decisions about the clothes they wear and how they wear their hair, are all simple and easily reversed ways to greatly decrease the chance of mental illness or distress in transgender youth. </p>


Opposed to Proposed Guidance

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I am strongly opposed to the proposed agency guidance. Most commenters have already articulated the inhumanity of this proposal. I echo what these individuals have said, and add that this guidance violates Virginia law. The Virginia Values Act bans discrimination against LGBTQ people in places of public accommodation, which includes educational institutions like public schools. As a taxpayer, I am not interested in having Virginia waste our money in defending against lawsuits it is certain to lose. As a trans ally, I am certainly not interested in Virginia doing so to harm children.

I am opposed to the proposed agency guidance.


Strongly Oppose - Trans Kids Need Our Support

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Trans rights are human rights. Trans kids, like all other kids, deserve to be accepted and feel safe at school. Reversing a policy that was intended to foster understanding and prevent further bullying and abuse is appalling.


So no nicknames.

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So no child can have a nick name. Wow we live in the south so no more double names 1 class room and 15 Mary's.  This is so stupid and hurts more that the Trans children you are of