Oppose

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The proposed policy changes regarding transgender and non-binary students in Virginia schools are harmful and should not be implemented.

I’d like you to know why, as a citizen and mother, who is a lifelong Virginia resident.

First, I am a social worker - for the past 14 years - and work with youth and families with mental health and behavioral concerns. I have seen first hand the importance of affirming a child’s gender identity and pronouns.

I have seen a youth who struggles with their sexuality and gender be denied over and over again by their caregiver, and some of the treatment providers who are “just following policy” to not be called by the name they have chosen and the gender they identify with. This youth has been in and out of the hospital and residential treatment for suicidal ideation, and spent countless hours receiving intense therapy.

On the other hand, I have seen youth whose families and case managers and treatment providers affirm their identity, use their pronouns and chosen name thrive and improve with short term therapeutic interventions, and move on to improve in school, build vocational skills and social skills. These are real people, with real lives, spending real state dollars on services.  Requiring that a parent or caregiver be asked first, to simply call a student by a different name or pronoun, can and does cost lives and real money. When just one teacher, or counselor, or trusted adult says to that student - I see you, you matter, who you are is not wrong or broken - it makes a world of difference.

Why put in place policies that would put up more barriers to that?

Second, my own child has recently started to say they are sometimes a boy and sometimes a girl. They may eventually identify as nonbinary or trans; we are just beginning this journey. But if they were not feeling safe enough at home to tell us, their parents, but were feeling safe enough to tell their teacher, or counselor, or coach, then wouldn’t I want them to know that who they are is okay? Even if I might not be ready to hear this, wouldn’t I want other trusted adults who love them (and yes, teachers LOVE them) affirm them for who they are?  They are a child. They are not confused about what gender means, they are not trying to make any kind of political or ideological statement, and they are not being defiant or oppositional, or whatever other fears that people might have about why kids are coming out as non-binary or trans.

They are just seeing that gender is fluid (it is, the science shows that), people are people, and all people deserve love and affirmation. My child is exceptionally lucky to have parents that affirm them. But if they didn’t, then what is the harm in allowing teachers or counselors or other school staff to affirm them? It would only help. There is NO evidence that affirming a child’s identity would harm them. None.

Thank you for reading and thank you for reconsidering the proposed model policy.

Lauren Austin


Governor Younkin's revised policies on parental rights.

David Crummett, concerned parent and grandparent

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<p>It is wonderful that Governor Younkin is updating these policies to ensure protections for fundamental parental rights and to make sure they are not cut out of the process. Due to being informed, parents will be able to protect their children from the normalization and affirmation of gender perversion (i.e. girl identifies as a boy, boy identifies as a girl) and the illicit sexualization of these children. It should be common sense and common decency to protect the innocence of children. Schools must not go behind parent's backs.    </p>


OPPOSE

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OPPOSE OPPOSE OPPOSE OPPOSE


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As a mother and psychologist I support regulations to restore parental rights in our schools.


Strongly Support Proposed Pro-Parent Policies

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I support the proposed regulations that restore parental rights and protection the First Amendment rights of students and staff.

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

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

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

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


Restore Parents' Rights in Education!

Dear Virginia Department of Education Officials,

Parents' rights have been undermined by transgender policies across the U.S., and the school districts have been trying their best to exclude parents from conversations and communications about their children and their children's education that they have every right to know.

I and my family do not approve of Former Governor Ralph Northam's 2021 model policies for transgender students.

Instead, we support the Youngkin administration's new model policies, "On the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents In Virginia's Public Schools," which protect the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their child(ren) while respecting all students across the Commonwealth.

Thank you for your commitment to parents' rights in education. I urge you to implement the policies as written and restore the right and responsibility of parents to make the best decisions for their child.

Regards,
Barbie Blake
207 Riverside Manor Blvd
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

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Dear Virginia Department of Education Officials,<br /><br />Parents' rights have been undermined by transgender policies across the U.S., and the school districts have been trying their best to exclude parents from conversations and communications about their children and their children's education that they have every right to know. <br /><br />I and my family do not approve of Former Governor Ralph Northam's 2021 model policies for transgender students. <br /><br />Instead, we support the Youngkin administration's new model policies, "On the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents In Virginia's Public Schools," which protect the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their child(ren) while respecting all students across the Commonwealth. <br /><br />Thank you for your commitment to parents' rights in education. I urge you to implement the policies as written and restore the right and responsibility of parents to make the best decisions for their child.<br /><br />Regards,
<br />Barbie Blake
<br />207 Riverside Manor Blvd<br />Fredericksburg, VA 22401<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657466/148745643" width="1" height="1" />


I support the Youngkin administration and parental rights!

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No one knows a child and their needs better than their parents. Children need their parent's support and guidance throughout their formative years (and beyond). 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 and harassment. This is good for all! Furthermore, let's not confuse children. Students should use the bathrooms that correspond to their sex at birth. Single-user bathrooms and facilities should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students.


Supporting new pro-parent policies proposed by the Virginia Department of Education

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<p>As parents and family, we support new policies that honor the role of parents in the care of their children during school, athletics, and other activities. Student participation in sex-specific athletics, school activities, and even the use of specific bathrooms/accommodations should be determined by sex (female and male). Placing regulations and policies to avoid harassment and bullying. While protecting the fundamental religious liberty interests of personnel, students, and parents. </p>


Gender Policy for Virginia Schools

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<p>I strongly support the proposed legislation to honor parents' rights in the education of their children.  The children belong to the parents not to the educational system. </p>


I oppose


Co-Parenting with the Government is not appropriate

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Our children deserve to be protected, and raised in healthy and nurturing environments. That starts at home. It extends into our schools, and communities. We are lacking common sense in navigating these issues....and need to do better for the health of all.

The back and forth from adults projecting their own unresolved trauma's is taking its toll on children who need not worry about such things before it is their time. Asking an entire population to conform to the needs of the few is difficult and not how true change can occur. Children need to be seen, heard, and properly cared for. It is not the job of the government to raise our children, teach them contradicting values of what is taught in their homes, nor led to believe agendas that aren't in their best interest. If a child is navigating gender and sexual identity, that child deserves compassionate care as appropriate-they should not be allowed to justify using different facilities, having an entire classroom, school, school district and beyond change to meet "their needs". They are children. We dont let them vote, smoke, go to war, pay taxes, drive cars...all sorts of things that we acknowledge is appropriate for adults with fully developed brains, and enough life experience to do so. These issues are no different....and the number of children you are hurting amid all this coddling and tiptoeing around sensitive issues is in and of itself traumatic. What are we teaching children? That every time they disagree with something that a big enough tantrum will get them what they want? This is not how we raise healthy young people and certainly not how we encourage leadership in them as they become active members of society.

STOP encouraging children to readily embrace the idea that hormone replacement and surgical interventions are a solution to them navigating the complexities physically, emotionally and spiritually of PUBERTY! Let them have space to discover themselves, have candid conversations with their families, mentors and friends. Let them be encouraged and in a positive space, rather than a reactive, aggressive, and combative one. Where is the love for these young people and what is best for them? Support and openness now? Or encouragement for a lifetime of medical bills, stress, anxiety, and being told that something is wrong with them that needs to be fixed....this is not ok.  The idea that anyone other than a parent and caregiver knows these individual children better is insanity. Our government cant even properly manage immigrants and their families-proper food, shelter, guidance to aid and programs that were supposed to help...do we really anticipate that the govt's intervention in this population would be any better? Insanity, and evil for the benefit of the billions of dollars that would be spent in medical and pharmaceutical arenas. This is not healthy and it is not healthcare for children. Adults....you are adults....you make your own decisions. Your body, your choice, right? But keep your ideologies, medications, and procedures away from our children. Period.

Female athletes across all ages and levels of performance have had to put up with trans females dominating their arenas....do we see the same in mens sports...no, of course not. USA teams ( think womens soccer) has had players who have spoken out that its no big deal...lets see them play the mens team and literally watch how regardless of medical intervention, biologically males are always male, and females in kind. Dont be ridiculous at believing otherwise. We were all for science being the bottom line during the pandemic...science should be the bottom line in all these debates as well.  Stop allowing for all girls navigating gender/sex identity to believe they need to change themselves....its ok to be who you are in the body you were born into...tomboys...regardless of preferred gender or sexual identity.

Also...

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

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

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

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

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


I oppose

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Please follow the science on this.


Opposing model policies in treatment of transgender/non-binary students

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<p>I am a parent and mental health provider. These policies will only do harm to children and increase the already increasing suicide rate of teens and youth. I strongly OPPOSE the proposed model policies around the treatment of transgender and non-binary students. </p>


I oppose this new policy, it is harmful

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I oppose the changes to school policies that prevent transgender students to access facilities corresponding with their gender identity. Transgender staff and students need the proper support, access, respect, and dignity as everyone else.

The suggested changes are harmful. No one should be outed without their consent including children. There are many instances where parents/guardians are not supportive of a student's identity and they have been kicked out of their homes. Often school is the student's safe place and we need to keep it that way.

Please support transgender and non-binary students.


I support Governor Youngkin's revised policy

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<p>The law holds parents responsible for their children.  The State and its organs should not restrict the rights and responsibilities of parents.  Government schools should not isolate parents from health care considerations of their children.  </p>


I strongly oppose

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I strongly oppose the guidance. This guidance will cause undue mental stress and harm to transgender K-12 students. These children need to feel accepted and supported with their decisions in their school communities, not rejected as outcasts.


Parents support Gov. Youngkin

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Boys and girls, under the age of 18 are declared, by our Judicial system, as incapable of discerning the consequences of their actions, in criminal cases. Sometimes, this results in minor-aged criminal defendants are held totally not culpable, for crimes, because of the aforementioned acknowledgement. When our School systems deem minor-aged children as capable of making life-altering decisions, it stands diametrically opposed to our Judicial system. Therefore, either our Court system should be adjusted to allow for the FULL criminal liability of convicted minor-aged defendants, or our School system MUST allow parents to be fully apprised of what happens to their children in school. Parents have sole domain over the raising of their children. Any attempt to subvert that parent-child relationship is unconstitutional and perverse.


Strongly Support Governor Youngkin

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Parents are the primary caregivers of their children. Schools are to be places of learning, in a safe environment. The instruction of transgenderism has no place in our schools and serve only to do psychological and irreversible physical damage to our youth. Statistics show that 98% children outgrow gender confusion, typically by the time they reach puberty. Drag story hours and transgender instruction is child abuse as it can cause confusion in a child. It also removes authority and creates a wedge in the family.

The thought that gender affirmation aids in suicide prevention in youth is a fallacy as suicide among anorexic youth is higher than those those who are gender confused. If we were to apply the logic of affirmation to prevent suicide, we would be assisting teens in starving themselves to a perceived ideal weight. Additionally, suicide rates increase post transition by 20 times the average of other adults.

Schools who support the teaching of gender "affirming" care and assist the youth in acquiring puberty blockers and/or hormone therapy are permanently crippling these children, increasing their rate of suicide and causing irreversible sterility

A Gender Resource Guide (www.GenderResouceGuide.com) provides links to studies that should cause every parent to realize that these decisions are to be made in the home, by the family. The proposed policy change does not take away the rights of a student to get a proper education regardless of personal belief, but only to place these serious life altering decisions where they rightfully belong: with the parents.


Completely Agreed with Gov Youngkin's new proposed Policies

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Thank you Governor for the newly proposal Policies.


Restore Parents' Rights in Education!

Dear Virginia Department of Education Officials,

I applaud this measure; to every person who represents us in Congress, be like Glenn Youngkin. If you aren't making policies like his, this is my message to you: grow a spine and start using it to defend our kids and common sense. How would you like it if your daughters were bullied into silence for speaking out about a boy strutting into their personal space?
To the "new approach" trans ideology people: Do you really think men and women are going to change how they've behaved since the dawn of humanity because some new professor on the scene says "I did the research?" Do you think biological males are going to behave themselves in female locker rooms because YOU tell them "it's your right to be here?" Do you think some boys don't come just to gawk? NO. Cut the crap and stop giving men and boys access to women and girls' locker rooms and private spaces. You scream and scream about rape victims not being able to get abortions, yet you make it amply possible for opportunists to access them in the first place.
Your stance on women's rights is all twisted. To the Senators and Representatives who aren't making policies like Glenn Youngkin's, you are giving voters the impression that you mean women have "a right to privacy" only when it benefits you and your agenda. Your application makes no sense. Privately vivisect someone in the womb? A-Ok! No one's human rights violated there. Privately change in locker rooms? Not a chance! How dare you trample trans human rights?
Glenn Youngkin, thanks for not putting up with bullying and male intimidation in girls' most intimate spaces. You've stood up for the weak and we will not forget it.
Thank you for acknowledging parents as the guardians of their children's best interests, for directing both our girls and boys to the strong support system of their parents for body-altering decisions and core beliefs. Glenn Youngkin, thank you for telling parents loud and clear, you have a right to pass your beliefs onto your children and raise them according to the dictates of your conscience without being penalized.
Thanks for combating what parents are so often told, "Obey the State Or Else."
My message to School Teachers Whose Salaries My Taxes Fund: BACK OFF. These are NOT your kids.
Congress people: You represent us, and if you use your power against your voter's kids, WE WON'T VOTE YOU BACK IN. Ever. Glenn Youngkin, if you run again, YOU HAVE MY VOTE (again :D). You're doing us proud. Keep it up. You are a warrior for these times and we need you.

Regards,
Christiana Blake
207 Riverside Manor Blvd
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

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Dear Virginia Department of Education Officials,<br /><br />I applaud this measure; to every person who represents us in Congress, be like Glenn Youngkin. If you aren't making policies like his, this is my message to you: grow a spine and start using it to defend our kids and common sense. How would you like it if your daughters were bullied into silence for speaking out about a boy strutting into their personal space? <br />To the "new approach" trans ideology people: Do you really think men and women are going to change how they've behaved since the dawn of humanity because some new professor on the scene says "I did the research?" Do you think biological males are going to behave themselves in female locker rooms because YOU tell them "it's your right to be here?" Do you think some boys don't come just to gawk? NO. Cut the crap and stop giving men and boys access to women and girls' locker rooms and private spaces. You scream and scream about rape victims not being able to get abortions, yet you make it amply possible for opportunists to access them in the first place.<br />Your stance on women's rights is all twisted. To the Senators and Representatives who aren't making policies like Glenn Youngkin's, you are giving voters the impression that you mean women have "a right to privacy" only when it benefits you and your agenda. Your application makes no sense. Privately vivisect someone in the womb? A-Ok! No one's human rights violated there. Privately change in locker rooms? Not a chance! How dare you trample trans human rights? <br />Glenn Youngkin, thanks for not putting up with bullying and male intimidation in girls' most intimate spaces. You've stood up for the weak and we will not forget it. <br />Thank you for acknowledging parents as the guardians of their children's best interests, for directing both our girls and boys to the strong support system of their parents for body-altering decisions and core beliefs. Glenn Youngkin, thank you for telling parents loud and clear, you have a right to pass your beliefs onto your children and raise them according to the dictates of your conscience without being penalized.<br />Thanks for combating what parents are so often told, "Obey the State Or Else."<br />My message to School Teachers Whose Salaries My Taxes Fund: BACK OFF. These are NOT your kids.<br />Congress people: You represent us, and if you use your power against your voter's kids, WE WON'T VOTE YOU BACK IN. Ever. Glenn Youngkin, if you run again, YOU HAVE MY VOTE (again :D). You're doing us proud. Keep it up. You are a warrior for these times and we need you.<br /><br />Regards,
<br />Christiana Blake
<br />207 Riverside Manor Blvd<br />Fredericksburg, VA 22401<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657466/148730496" width="1" height="1" />


I support Teachers teaching and parents parenting. Kids belong to parents, not to the government.

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I don't understand why we are allowing the indoctrination of children whose minds aren't fully developed to "chose" what gender they want to be. This is a decision that is to be carefully made with the parents and their families. This is not a decision for the public education system to be involved in. Look at how government schools have failed our kids just in basic education. How could we ever trust them with a process/decision that is so complex. I strongly support Gov Youngkin in his goal to support parents and the family structure.


Strongly oppose - we can do better for ALL kids

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Every child deserves a parent who will support them throughout their life. Parents who they can talk to and feel comfortable with. Parents who don’t judge them (or hurt them) for the person they are becoming. Someone who is kind, accepting, and helpful, not hateful. Unfortunately, not all kids have that. Those kids need to find other supportive adults in their community, people they can trust to help them navigate through their life. These can be our teachers, our administrators who are supposed to have our children’s safety and support in mind when they make policies. We send our kids off to school for SEVEN hours a day to be taught by devoted people that are underpaid and exhausted, but still show up. Teachers don’t just teach math and science, but help children grow to be better people and navigate the world. They care about these kids and not just about test scores. I would hope that if ever my child was struggling and couldn’t talk to me, that they would find someone they could talk to, someone that trust, like a teacher. This policy will take that away.

Supportive transgender policies aren’t about taking away the safety of cisgender children. It’s not about taking away girls’ rights or parents’ rights. It’s about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of ALL of our children. This policy will endanger our kids. This policy will teach those that bigoted individuals may see as different that they are alone and that they don’t matter. We can do better.


I support these reasonable and sensitive policies

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<p>As a former Fairfax County PTA president and grandfather of children in our public schools I applaud the new guidance document which carefully protects the needs of all our precious students. </p>


Strongly Support Gov Youngkin!!  Protect our Kids!!

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<p>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.  There should be NO reason why a teacher would be discussing this with any child.   </p>


100% Support New Policies that Prioritize Parental Input

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<p>     The problem with the previous school policies is they eliminate the parents from making key decisions involving their children in school.  The new policies honor the sacred role of parents as the first and primary teachers of their children who should always have an input on school policies affecting our children during school academics, school athletics, and other school-sponsored extracurricular activities.                                                                           Parents know their children best.  If their child is struggling with gender dysphoria, they need guidance and emotional support from their parents and the parents must have an input on how the school supports and treats their child.  The new policies, school officials must keep parents fully informed and require schools to enforce laws, regulations, and policies that prohibit and deter bullying and harassment.                                                               Student participation in sex-specific athletics, school activities and events should be determined by sex, e.g., for overnight travel accommodations and in locker room assignments.                                                                                Students should use the  bathrooms that correspond to their sex.  Single user bathrooms and facilities should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students.                                                                              The new policies protect the fundamental religious liberty interests of the students, parents, and school staff.                                                                                Parents should always have input to any student policy affecting their children while in care of the school.  </p>


100% Support New Policies Prioritizing Parental Input


I support Youngkin revised polices

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<p>Parents have the primary responsibility of raising their children.  Nothing should confuse the child or cut off their ability to communicate with their parents.  Schools have no right to deceive parents on life altering decisions.  I support the new update that removes the barriers of communication between parent and their child.  Kids need to be protected.  parents and school staff need to work together to increase parent-child openness.  There should be openness and trust between the school and the parent.  </p>


I vehemently oppose this harmful guidance

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To say that there's a lot wrong with this new model policy would be an understatement. Public schools should be a welcoming environment for all children including trans and nonbinary students. This administration claims to welcome all students, but its actions and this proposed policy indicates otherwise.

First of all, saying "parents matter" ad nauseam while blatantly excluding affirming parents of trans students reveals the agenda behind this policy. Additionally, even if an affirming parent does all of the paperwork and works with school officials so their student feels safe, teachers may still refer to students by the wrong name and/or gender identity under the guise of religious freedom.

Second, it is extremely harmful for schools to out students to their parents. This will endanger students. It also holds the potential for abuse. Do parents in the Commonwealth really want a handful of radicalized school officials surveilling and monitoring their students?

Third, this is another attempt by this administration to bring culture wars into our public schools. It began with the hysteria around critical race theory, and has moved on to target and discriminate against trans students. Let the kids in our public schools be kids.

It cannot be understated how this policy will target and harm trans and nonbinary students, and what I have written here does not cover the breadth of my anger with this policy. This is not how Virginia should be treating its students.

This is not good policy making. This is not good governance.

Virginia can be, and should be, better.


I oppose

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<p>If the interest were TRULY to protect children, they would provide a more accepting environment for trans youth.  </p>


Parent who strongly opposes this measure

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<p>As a parent of two children in public schools and as a friend of non-binary and transgender people I am firmly opposed to this measure. </p>


Protect Trans Kids - OPPOSE Younkin's Guidance!!!

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Hello,

As the parents of two young adults who graduated with honors from Virginia public schools, I adamantly oppose the guidance of the current Govenor.  One of my children did manage to be successful in school, receiving gifted services, attending IB and honors programs, competing in school sports at the state level and ultimately attending one of the state's top academic colleges.  She accomplished all of this while struggling with the anxiety and depression that occurs when a person feels they have to hide their true self.  My child waited until her freshman year of college to tell us that she was not a he.  This was a hard thing for us to hear, but fortunately for our child, we were able to accept her as herself.  Not all trans and non-bianary kids are that lucky.

I hear the fear of parents and adults that may be well meaning,  but the kids in danger are the transkids.  There are plenty of documented cases of violence against the transgender.  There are plenty of examples of suicide caused by bullying from fellow students or abandonment of family. Is it really surprising that my child waited till leaving highschool because of fear?  This path is not an easy one and please believe me that my child would not have choosen it if she did not know who she was.  This is not a trend.  This is not a choice.  This is people living their lives as the are.  Please do not make their road harder!

Our schools should follow the guidance of healthcare and mental healthcare advisors, not that of political conservatives.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6803a3.htm https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/ncvs-trans-press-release/

https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/19021/AAP-continues-to-support-care-of-transgender?autologincheck=redirected?nfToken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

With all of the love that a mother can give, I beg you to reject the Guidance of this Govenor!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Clements


I strongly oppose the new model policies. It's about respect

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I will never understand the desire by some in society to profess that they believe in freedom while simultaneously taking away the rights of the most vulnerable. I fail to see how requiring teachers to show the minimum level of respect for their students by using the child's requested pronoun harms anyone. Science and experience have shown us that the harms of not doing so far outweigh any imagined gains. You won't change how a child identifies, you'll just force them into hiding and further shame them in a place that should be helpful and welcoming. And what good does that do?


I stronly support the Governors 2022 Model Policies

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<p>A parent has every right to know how and what their child is doing in school.  It is the parent/guardian's role to ensure the safety and growth of their child, not the teachers or school system.  I stand behind our Governor and his new policy. </p>


Trust Teachers - Not a Decision for Out-of-touch Bureaucrats

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I have taught k-12 in NoVA for over two decades. I am a mom to two sons - one adult and one still in VA public school.

I don’t believe it's anyone’s business - other than that individual - how they want to be referred to, how they want to dress, how they identify. What someone sees when they look in the mirror is not for anyone else to judge. How are these decisions hurting anyone else? In most school grade levels a child’s attempt to change genders is a social transition only…there is no irreversible decision made at that age.

As an elementary school teacher, I have known students who, from the earliest of ages, did not identify as their biological gender. They were too young to even put their complex feelings into words but they knew. They shared who they truly were with anyone willing to pay attention.

But it doesn’t have to start in kindergarten. If a person wants to explore their own gender identity - at any age, without involving their parents in the conversation, then they should be allowed that right. When they are ready to do so. As someone who taught middle & high school students in the past, I knew that if I was lucky enough to earn a student’s trust and they confided in me - as long as it wasn’t going to cause them harm - then I could be there for them. I could listen and offer them acceptance. Teachers can offer pathways for help and support. At times, teachers are stability for a student when their world outside of school is unstable.

Sadly, the best pathway is not always confiding in a parent. Because some parents might not be ready to face this kind of change or have religious ideas that prevent them from being open to this type of thing. Some parents might choose to ignore what is right in front of them everyday. But they know. I have yet to see a situation like this where the student decided to change their gender identity overnight or on a whim. If parents want to see these changes they will, but there is a reason why some students choose to confide in their peers or teachers rather than confide in their families first. Why, as a teacher, should I insult a student by calling them something they are not? Why is our focus not on providing multiple pathways for our children to be and feel supported? When my son was depressed in HS, I was so happy that he talked to his teachers about how he was feeling. I trusted them to know when I needed to be involved and they did not let me down. We were partners in his care. We both wanted the best for him.

Honestly, from a teacher’s perspective, I think it is important to involve a student's parents in what is going on with their child whenever possible. I have always tried to work with the parent as my partner in doing what was best for their child - but never when it might harm the child. However, by choice, I live in a liberal area that isn’t as likely to have families refusing to support their child based on the gender decisions they make for themselves. Teachers are trained experts in child development - let them do their job by creating a supportive environment for learning and growing at school. Teachers know how to keep parents involved as partners - trust them to do so when it is best for the individual child.

The state needs to stay out of these decisions-let the experts handle it-as they always have.


Strongly Oppose - This is harmful to students

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I strongly oppose this policy. LGBTQ+ youth are frequently the subject of abuse and hate. In many cases they are not safe at home if their family/guardians learn they identify as anything other than a cisgendered straight christian. Requiring they be outed to their parents/guardians and others will cause many to be kicked out of their homes, abused, subjected to harmful conversion therapy and for many, consider acting on suicidal thoughts. While there are parents who can accept their children for who they are, this is not always the case. For many of these kids, school is the only safe space they have to express themselves and discover who they are. Taking away their protections in the school and outing them will make school one more hostile/dangerous place for them where they have to hide. While there are people who think all parents can love their kids and accept them and should be informed on all fronts of their child, this is in no way true across the board. This "parents first" approach is dangerous to the multitude of students who aren't safe at home. If a parent wants to be in the loop of their child's life, they need to show their child they are safe to share that and allow an open environment for dialogue and learning. Sweeping requirements for all students, regardless of their specific situation will only increase teen suicide, drug abuse and homelessness. Don't push more children to suicide just to appease affluent parents who are too busy to be involved in their child's life so they want someone else to monitor and implement their misguided imprisonment of how a student must act in order to remain in their family.


Strongly oppose this discriminatory policy

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I strongly and vehemently oppose this transphobic policy. Transgender and non-binary youth deserve the same protections that other youth are provided. This new model policy will roll back and remove the rights and protections of these children. It is known that using a trans youth's preferred name and pronouns will decrease rates of depression and suicide among these children. Trans youth deserve support and protection from the adults in their lives, and to have their identities validated and affirmed.


Supporting newly proposed policies

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We need this new Model Policies to protect parents and children.


As a pastor I oppose this policy that puts youth at greater risk of bullying, abuse and suicide

Rev. Juli Wilson-Black, Fairlington Presbyterian Church, Alexandria

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As a pastor of a congregation that includes transgender and non-binary youth, I strongly oppose this policy that puts them at risk.

This policy is being proposed under the guise of "parent choice," but it neglects the choices of parents who support their transgender and non-binary children. Not only that, but it makes trans and non-binary students even more at risk for bullying at school and potentially abuse or abandonment from non-affirming parents.

Research reported by The Trevor Project shows that being supported at school, having pronouns respected, and being free from bathroom discrimination reduce suicide risks for transgender and non-binary youth.  So I urge you not to remove those protections.


Strongly oppose. Our children have rights.

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I strongly oppose this guidance as it goes against the common consensus of educators and doctors on how to treat transgender students.

"Concerned parents" should not get to vote that it's ok to force a minority to adhere to their standards against their nature. Of course its easy to get a majority of people to not see an issue with a policy that does not affect them at all. That does not make it right to ruin the lives of the children that are affected by this.

Most of this guidance document is just cruel against transgender children without providing any upsides.

Where is the benefit in refusing to call children by their preferred pronoun to appease some teacher's religious belief? That surely does not outweigh the emotional damage and bullying our children would have to endure.

Where is the benefit of sending my 6 year old transgender daughter into a bathroom with men?

Where is the benefit in forbidding teachers to use the chosen name of a child? There are plenty of people that do not go by their regular first name without having to provide a court order.

My daughter has been living happily under the current rules and hurt no one doing so. Her school fully supported her without doing any damage to any other student. Most of her classmates accept her the way she is without any issues.

Where is the benefit in forcing schools to take this all away?

It does not help any children and only appeases a few parents who wouldn't support their kid if it was transgender or gay and want to force the school to out their kids to them because their own children do not trust them.

An unsupportive parent "right to know" cannot be more important than the wellbeing of the child itself.

Drop this policy for the good of the children.


THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S NEW 2022 MODEL POLICIES REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDE

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We strongly disagree with the 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools. The policy requires that only parents can request that the school address students as transgender and that name and pronoun changes would require not only a request from parents, but also official legal documents or court orders noting the change. This would force students to “come out” to their parents, even in situations where the student knows that the parents are opposed. The requirement for court documents is clearly designed to prevent giving students the opportunity to be addressed by their teachers and school with a different gender and name.

However, while transgender issues are the focus of the controversy, we have broader concerns with the policy document, which seems to bend over backwards to assert more extensive parent rights to determine how and what their children are exposed to or taught in public schools. The job of public, as opposed to private schools, is to teach the language arts, history, science and mathematics based on the best practices and facts. This policy's statements about parent rights would seem to provide scope for parents to object to teaching that might differ from their social, political or religious views. If that's the case, then parents should send their children to a private school.


I strongly back Governor Youngkin's support for parents.

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Govenor Youngkin is right! I support what he is doing for parents. Thank you Governor Youngkin.


Teachers are not social engineers....they are teachers.

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As a public school teacher I appreciate Gov Youngkin's model policy.  Student names and pronouns must correspond to student records.  The teacher training on Transgender policy for this year stated that names and pronouns are 'fluid' and as such can be changed daily or even class by class.  This is ridiculous.  We all know how much harder we are ALL working (students and teachers) to catch up and move forward academically to prepare students for life after graduation.  Having to keep track of which pronouns to use when and to update and refer to multiple student files is not efficient nor is it effective for furthering students' education.

I completely agree with the need for compassion for all of our students, but we need to focus on the public school's mission which is to prepare students academically so that they might best be prepared for independent living once they graduate.  While in school, and under the age of 18, they are DEPENDENT upon us to prepare them.  Distractions such as keeping track of differing names and pronouns prevents us from keeping focused on our mission.

Teachers must be allowed to teach.  We are not social-engineers.


Strongly Support - Parents need to be in the conversation!

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You can't just take the parents out of the picture.


We strongly support Gov Youngkin's Proposed Policies

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As parents in Northern Virginia we are appalled by policies enacted by the prior administration (Northam's) in what was clearly a bad faith effort to remove parents from critical decisions affecting their school children. Parents are solely responsible for the upbringing and education of their children and must play the principle role in doing so.  Schools are completely out of bounds in usurping parents regarding issues of sexuality, gender, race, etc.  Schools exist to focus on the core topics of reading, writing, math, science, history and not in advocating politically correct ideology and social engineering.

We strongly urge you to finalize the 2022 model policies as presented by Gov Youngkin that protect parental involvement in the process and protect our children's privacy and rights.


BIPOC support for common sense measures in this proposal

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<p>I’ve read the policies and there is nothing hateful or discriminatory about them. It seems like a straight forward attempt to be fair to all interests. </p>


This is common sense policy that protects children and parental rights

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

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

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

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

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


I am medical professional and I OPPOSE the 2022 VDOE Draft Model Policy.

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My name is David Lieb, and I am an endocrinologist. I provide transgender affirming hormone therapy and transgender care in my adult endocrine clinic. I am a medical professional and I OPPOSE the guidance and want the Virginia Department of Education to REJECT the draft policy. In my role I have cared for a significant number of transgender individuals that live in my community. In addition to my role as a clinician, I am a medical educator, and teach students, residents and fellows. In each of my clinical encounters with those for whom I care I hear about past discrimination and harassment that they have faced while growing up. I am aware of the data showing that 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth have attempted suicide as a result of their lack of support both at home and at school. Fortunately, though supportive environments, including a supportive learning environment, we can prevent future transgender and nonbinary individuals from unnecessary, LIFE-THREATENING experiences.

Trans-affirming school policy matters a great deal to me as it directly affects those for whom I provide medical care. Under the current 2021 VDOE Model Policy, school districts must maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for ALL students that is free from discrimination and harassment. It protects student privacy and the confidentiality of their sensitive information. The 2022 VDOE Draft Model Policy will REDUCE safety for children and adolescents and expose those who identify as transgender and nonbinary to bullying, harassment and discrimination in our schools. I am a firm believer in the public school system, and part of my support rests on knowing that ALL students will feel safe at all times while in class or when participating in school-related activities.

Objective data tell us that the 2022 Draft Model Policy will worsen the mental health of transgender and nonbinary youth. The high suicide attempt rates in this population is reduced in youth with supportive school environments. Data show that the presence of at least one supportive, accepting adult can reduce the risk of a suicide attempt among LGBTQ young people by 40%. The current Draft Model Policy will reduce those supportive adults that many transgender and nonbinary youth can only find at school, and not at home. In short, this Draft Model Policy is LIFE-THREATENING, and MUST be rejected.

David Lieb, MD, FACE, FACP


I Support Youngin's Parental Rights in VA Schools

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The family is the most important unit of society. Parents know their children much better than teachers and state administrators. The function of schools is to educate in core academics not to indoctrinate cultural bias. Secrets should never be kept from parents nor should parents be made out to be villains. In rare cases where parental treatment of children are in question or there is abuse, the state already has a mechanism in place to adjudicate issues, Child Protective Services under Social Service. Minor children are not adults and not capable of making life changing decisions. Children continue to develop mentally and physically until until they are 18 years old, the legal age. Their thoughts, disposition, mannerisms and their body will change many times before they reach adulthood. It is absurd, unnatural, unhealthy to advocate for gender reassignment prior to reaching adulthood.


Fully support Gov Youngkins revised policies

Concerned parent, grandparent and professional Garber

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The schools have allowed policies that support different agendas.  This is not the job of our education system.  This did not just begin recently.  We have been " sliding down hill" for awhile.  And unfortunately, the children are the ones suffering.

Thank you Gov. Youngkins for standing up boldly for All of the children and parents.  Thank you for addressing the transgender issue in our schools.  Please continue to include parents and concerned citizens in making our school system a better learning environment.

 Many of our family and friends are choosing to remove their children from public education in Virginia.  It is also causing many of us to be unsatisfied with the way our taxes are being spent in the school systems.  Continue discovering the issues that need to be addressed.


Strongly oppose model policies as unsafe for vulnerable students

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<p>Please reject these so-called model policies. Students in the transgender community deserve to be protected and feel safe like all other students. This group of students has the highest rates of suicide and we can expect that will be exacerbated by these policies should they be adopted. The "problem"  being Target by these policies is unclear to me and not one that warrants government involvement. The vocal minority isn't harmed by students who are navigating their gender identity and expression. These students are being treated as deviants and sexual predators. Love thy neighbor and leave this issue alone. This is political grandstanding and will only wind up in the courts costing taxpayers unnecessary resources that could be better spent on student supports. </p>


Strongly oppose this policy

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We need to accept and support all of our children. This policy only makes things worse.


Support Gov. Youngkin’s proposal

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Public schools have no legal right to change my child/grandchild’s gender identification without my written consent. School personnel shouldn’t be tasked with trying to use a correct pronoun for a child when Virginia lags behind most states in math,science and reading. If privacy for transgender children is life threatening,set up individual bathrooms for every child. My child/grandchild shouldn’t be exposed to opposite sex genitals when a minority of students don’t know what gender they are. England just came out with a new study showing gender confusion is temporary in children and not a permanent lifelong thing. Just because a group of professionals decided to update the DSMV on mental health disorders,doesn’t mean gender dysphoria is a real disorder. No child should be allowed to change his gender permanently until adulthood.
thank you,

Don Gentilini


I support Governor Glenn Youngkin. Parents First!

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<p>Protect our young children. Put parents first! </p>


Support the policy - trust parents, respect children

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Please support the Virginia Department of Education’s 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools. The model policy, which provides guidance to Virginia public schools on handling gender nonconforming students, should be an example to other states that are attempting to balance the interests of students, parents, and school officials in a way that will create an inclusive school environment for everyone.

The model policy gives parents control over “decisions with respect to their children.” It upholds parents’ rights under the Fourteenth Amendment by allowing them to take the lead in working with their school to determine how to handle children who behave differently than the expectation for their sex.  The model policy also protects teachers and students from being forced to go along with a believe that gender identity is determined by the person claiming the identity, a belief which is not universal and can reasonably be challenged.

Almost everyone believes that students should not be treated as less deserving of respect than their classmates for any reason.  But issues of “gender identity”, if we presume that such a thing even exists (also up for reasonable disagreement), are complex and involve negotiating the rights of some people against those of others. The VDOE’s 2022 model policy balances the interests of multiple parties by recognizing constitutional rights while at the same time reaffirming the commitment to creating a welcoming school environment for gender nonconforming students.


I OPPOSE the 2022 Model Policies in their entirety!

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As a Virginia resident and parent to a Fairfax County high school student, I vehemently oppose the Proposed 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.

These policies are contrary to state law and their adoption will result in rampant violations of the rights of students, parents, and school personnel, and will inflict serious harm on transgender and nonbinary students.

Medical professionals, parents, and students (including the thousands who walked out in protest of these policies) agree: all students should be safe, welcomed, and included in Virginia’s public schools. This cannot happen when trans and nonbinary students are forcibly outed, when their pronouns are ignored, or when bathroom or sports policies are exclusionary.

In a recent interview with Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Jon Stewart said it best: [targeting trans and nonbinary children] seems antithetical to the values you profess to espouse.

I sincerely hope the existing 2021 Model Policies remain in place.


Lazy policy making. I expect more from my leaders.

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The model policy demonstrates lazy policy making, and minimal thought. As children develop there will be many years of flexible self discovery as they settle into who they want to be. The parents can daily decide if a student wears customarily male or customarily female clothing, without first notifying or seeking approval of the school administration. The parents cannot and should not be required to daily submit paperwork to decide if a student is referred to by customarily male or female pronouns. This requirement for paperwork creates an unecessary burdon on the school system, and negatively impact parents' ability to nurture their child. I propose that in all official documents students are referred to by name, or by the neutral pronoun "xe", while in unofficial communications and general speech, whatever the student voices is allowed. Almost none of the education material in our schools is affected by the reproductive organs, as such it is pointless to strictly regulate and require school officials and employees to constantly identify the organs present or desired when neutral pronouns like "xe" exist. Separately, in sports the separation of men's and women's competition has historically been used to ensure fairness because of muscle mass, and physical ability - notice how the historical use has not been to separate by sex organs, or reproductive ability. In this modern time the qualifications for any sport should be based on the actual ability of the competitor this is done in high school wrestling all the time with weight classes, where the actual advantage given by a body shape and corresponding muscle mass is minimized to ensure the competition is based on skill. If the separation of the sexes in sports is to ensure fairness, there is no reason a person with a uterus and above average muscle mass cannot compete with a person possessing a penis and below average muscle mass. And there is no reason why teams cannot be composed of persons with different sex organs but similar physical ability. As to locker room and showers, I don't like for anyone to see my sex organs, and when directed to use group showers in school, outright refused. There is absolutely no reason to force a child to expose themselves to other children simply because those children possess the same sex organs.

I expect more thought, care, and consideration from my representatives and policy makers. Lazy policies only serve to harm the Commonwealth.


I support Governor Youngkin's policy

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I support Governor Youngkin's policy for transgendered students.  Particularly, parents should know about what's happening in their children's education, especially regarding life altering decisions and safety within the education system.


Support the policy change

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Schools have no right to withhold information from parents.  Schools should be working WITH parents to help ALL students become the very best they can be.  Gender issues should be shared with parents so that the parents can help the child navigate through those issues instead of hiding them and causing more shame for the child.


Concerned parent, grandparent and professional


Comment to Oppose the Proposed 2022 Model Policies

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I respectfully submits this comment in opposition to the proposed 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools (the “2022 Model Policies”). I believe these Model Policies are contrary to state law. Additionally, their adoption would result in serious violations of the rights of students, parents, and school personnel, particularly transgender and nonbinary students and their parents.

The ACLU has stated about the Model Policies: “Schools are critical safe havens for students to express themselves, and to grow as human beings. The 2022 Model Policies will not create a learning environment that is safe for all students. Instead, they will result in school district policies that threaten transgender students’ identity and basic humanity, ostracize them, and deprive them of the same opportunities afforded to cisgender students. Courts have long recognized that separating students because of innate characteristics is harmful. The 2022 Model Policies will inflict such harm on transgender and nonbinary students.” I support their comment in full.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 15 to 24 and transgender students who attend schools with affirming policies are less likely to commit suicide. They are happier and healthier and able to grow up into adults who give back to their communities.

The proposed 2022 Model Policies claim to protect “parental rights” but only if you consider anti-trans parents to have the right to bully and harass their own and others’ children. The rights of affirming parents of trans and nonbinary children are trampled on.

In short, this is a bad and probably illegal policy. Please reject the proposed 2022 Model Policies.


STRONGLY OPPOSE

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<p>Not only will this policy increase the mental health crisis, gun violence and depression in schools, it totally takes our society back decades. Trans rights are human rights. </p>


Hateful school regulation our governor is promoting!

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This typical move by the Republican party. Truly the party of hate, hypocrisy, and dishonesty. After they supported a emotionally disturbed and pathological former president to get what they wanted at all costs. They would bring this country to the brink of destruction to blame the Democrats. Don't transgendered people have enough to deal with, high rates of depression and suicides. 'Can't we just all get along!"


Parental Notification on Trans-Gender Activities in Schools

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<p>The Governor is right to require that parents be notified before their children are subjected to gender modification in school.  Schools must answer to the parents, not the union. The power of the teacher's union to subvert our kids needs to be curbed!    </p>


We need to protect Virginia's transgender young people from bullying and attack

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I am deeply concerned that Governor Youngkin's Model Policies for schools (2022) will increase the harassment and intimidation of transgender, nonbinary and queer young people.

I am particularly concerned about the restroom policy, because it makes it riskier for transgender youth to use public school facilities.  Most school restrooms have no outer doors, so in any case someone of the opposite gender can easily enter; and the inner stalls do have doors and locks for privacy. Transgender people are not the ones posing a looming threat to others, but rather are at a much higher risk of being bullied, harassed or even physically harmed themselves. Young people who come out as transgender, nonbinary or queer don't do so because it's "fun." On the contrary, coming out still carries great risk of social rejection and overt attack. These young people do so because, for them, the benefit of feeling true to  themselves and honest with others outweighs the risks of inciting retribution.

In regard to parents giving permission for their child's pronoun use: Yes, parents have a right to guide their children, but not at the expense of a public school policy that affects ALL children in the state of Virginia. Parents who wish to dictate how their children refer to themselves (when outside their direct supervision) can do so by educating them at home. However, they may find that when their children are of age, they will reject parental efforts at coercion, and may also reject their parents, whom they perceive as in-house bullies.