Strongly Oppose, this will ENDANGER children

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<p>This policy is a horrifying proposal for a number of reasons. Pushing past the hypocrisy of disguising this transphobia as parental rights, this bill will do nothing but hurt the children and students that our government is supposed to protect. It has been long proven by medical professionals that using the chosen names and pronouns of transgender kids GREATLY reduces their risk for suicide. In forcing teachers and administrators to not only deadname (use the birth name of a trans child that likely makes they dysphoric) but actually out the child to their parents, Governor Youngkin is showing how little he truly cares about parents and students in the state of Virginia. Not to mention that teachers outing transgender students to their parents through this forced disclosure of a student’s request to go by a different name could actively endanger children in their own home. And to those who argue that if a child knows their parents would not be accepting of their transgender identity, they should not come out at school: I say that you have never had to live with the pain of hiding a major aspect of your identity from everyone in your life. Allowing students to live in a way that affirms their gender identity without the fear that their teacher will out them to their parents before they are ready to do so themselves is necessary. Trans kids NEED somewhere to safely express themselves and school should be that place. Please, please do not take that away. Two people who are very close to me are trans, and both have struggled with their mental health, and I cannot even imagine what horrible turn their lives would have taken had they been outed to parents in school. This is a personal issue for so many people, and the hurt that this policy would cause FAR outweighs the “parental rights” that according to this policy somehow extend to controlling how everyone is allowed to refer to children of other parents. This policy is a gross stretch of “religious freedom” and “parental rights” to the point of infringing upon the personal liberties of the students and teachers who need and wish to use the chosen name and pronouns of their peers. I cannot stress enough that this bill WILL KILL TRANSGENDER CHILDREN. This policy, for the safety of the constituents that Governor Youngkin claims to care about, can NOT PASS. I STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill. Thank you. </p>


Support Parents Rights

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<p>I support Gov. Youngkin's 2022 Model Policies.  Parents' rights are paramount.  </p>


I strongly support Gov Youngkin and the Department of Education on the 2022 Transgender Policy

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YES. I fully support this policy. It is good for all students.


Protect Emotionally Vulnerable Children and Parental Rights!

Dear Virginia Dept of Education,

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,
HOWARD STAFFORD
941 NW 110th Ct
Ocala, FL 34482

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Dear Virginia Dept of Education,<br /><br />Schools should never secretly socially transition students and keep the child's new name, pronouns and gender identities from parents. I am pleased and relieved that the Virginia Department of Education's revised model policies support parental rights and ensure that school employees don't cut parents out of critical decisions for their children. <br /><br />The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued "model policies" in 2021 that encouraged every school district in Virginia to hide a child's new gender identity from parents who choose to affirm the child's biological sex. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, the VDOE's revised policies make it clear that all children should be valued and parents' rights and beliefs should be respected. The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools keep parents involved in major decisions in their children's lives.<br /><br />The 2021 VDOE "model policies" encouraged schools to create "a plan (that) may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and pronoun associated with the sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents or guardians." <br /><br />I strongly support the revised policies that end this practice. Virginia schools should not drive a wedge between parents and their emotionally vulnerable children. Virginia school districts, including those who have already communicated their plans to ignore the 2022 revised model policies, should put an end to secret Gender Support Plans now.<br /><br />Sincerely,
<br />HOWARD STAFFORD
<br />941 NW 110th Ct<br />Ocala, FL 34482<br /><img src="http://admin.phone2action.com/email/open/leg/657523/148468543" width="1" height="1" />


Totally support 2022 model policies

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I support Govenor Youngkin 2022 model policies. Support our next generation!


I support Gov Youngkin 2022 model policies

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I appreciate Govenor Youngkin standing up for our children and parental rights!

Pass 2022 model policies from Govenor Youngkin


2022 Model Policies

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As an educator (47 years teaching in Virginia schools) I strongly urge you to approve the 2022 model policies.


Support Govenor Youngkin

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I fully support Govenor Youngkin 2022 model policies!


Please pass 2022 model policies

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Thankful for Govenor Youngkin's 2022 model policies.  I fully support it!!


Comments on Gender Policy

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I don't know why we are even having this debate, other than that School Boards, and public education systems in this state, have gone WAY too far.  "Preferred pronouns" are a joke...we should not be encouraging children and teenagers ever to change their God-given gender identity.  Nor should we be having anything like the so-called "gender-affirming" surgery, which is nothing but DENYING your gender.

I fully support parental rights in making these kinds of decisions for their (minor) children and teenagers, and I support Gov. Youngkin's policies in this regard.  Although I do not have children in public schools, I wouldn't have recognized the current world of middle school and high school today versus what existed when I was in public school.


Strongly oppose, support trans kids!

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These types of policies are incredibly dangerous to transgender children. There will certainly (absolutely certainly, this is not an unknown hypothetical) be a drastic increase in bullying, parental abuse, and suicide caused by implementing these policies.


I support this new policy and Thank Gov. Youngkin and his team for all they do for the children.

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I support this new policy and Thank Gov. Youngkin and his team for all they do for the children of VA.


Thank you gov. Youngkin!!

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<p>We must protect our kids!!! Only two genders. </p>


Parents Rights

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Parents bring a child into the world. They are the first to love and nurture them. They are their first teachers. No one knows the child better or has a greater interest in their welfare. It is in the interest of society to protect these rights. Do not use parents and children for social experiments. Protect Parents Rights!


2022 Model Policies

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I approve and recommend this policy. Thank You


I support the Governor initiative on Transgender policy. There are only two genders, male and female

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Two genders, male and female.  Transgender youths need mental health counseling not medical operations to change sexes.  Organizations like the ACLU and NAACP are Marxist and have no business in parental right decisions in the classroom. The Governor and the Legislative should support parental rights and stop this Marxist agenda in the public school, taxpayers supported! Further, the Legislative should pass immediately a bill to give Tax Tuition credits or vouchers to all parents and taxpayer citizens to provide the tax dollars to follow the student to school of choice. Be this private, parochial, homeschool, or other free choice, outside the state government public school system which is failing in education and parents rights to their children educational decisions. Arizona and Oklahoma are two states already providing that right in legislation.


Draft Policy Would Harm Students

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I am writing in opposition to the draft policy which would limit the rights of transgender students to be accepted by the school system. I am a grandparent of a Virginia public school student; my daughter also attended Virginia public schools. (For the record, they are both cisgender heterosexual women; as am I.)

 Human rights are not a zero-sum game. The majority does not lose rights when the minority is granted them. In my school days in another state, non-Christians were forced to participate in Christian prayers or feel that they didn't belong. They were often bullied - by teachers as well as other students. Christians did not lose the right to pray in school but to impose their prayers on others. This enriched everyone. When children with "foreign sounding" names came to school, teachers often refused to try to pronounce their names and just made up "American" names for them. This made the students feel as if they didn't belong. Today this is rightly seen as discrimination. Embracing the students' heritage didn't hurt those born in America; it enriched everyone. The proposed guidelines would allow teachers to call students by names which they don't use, in the name of religious freedom. That isn't religious freedom; it's bullying.  Teachers are free to have their own religious beliefs but should not be free to impose them on others.

I am glad that my granddaughter attends a diverse school which includes students of many minority groups. None of them poses any threat to her just because they are different. None of them is trying to "convert" her to anything. I find it heartbreaking that there are adults in my state who would like to see transgender students bullied by not only other students but teachers (by not using their preferred names, gender identities, etc.)

Students need to feel safe in order to learn, and it is up to the school system to provide them a safe space in which to learn. This includes allowing them to use their preferred names and pronouns and the bathroom of their choice. (I would much prefer that my granddaughter share a bathroom with someone who identifies as female than someone who identifies as male.)

Please allow Virginia's school systems to remain a safe place for all students by rejecting the proposed policy.


Protect Children and Protect Parents' RIghts

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I am a strong supporter of Governor Younkin's policy that protects students from harmful ideology and ensures that parents are able to influence and guide their children, not ideologues working for the public school system.  Children, who experience gender dysphoria, are being led by ideologues who have an agenda.  They are being encouraged to consume harmful hormones that will have long lasting health impacts.  There are no longitudinal studies on the use of hormonal treatments, however, we DO know that the puberty blocking drugs have a devastating effect--including the inability to ever have an orgasm.  Children are being lied to that they can CHANGE THEIR SEX, which is impossible. And children are being told to NOT TRUST THEIR PARENTS on the most important decisions of their young lives, undermining parental trust in public schools.  Many young adults who went along with these harmful hormones and sugeries are now speaking out--in great pain--with regret.  WE MUST PREVENT THIS MADNESS.  Other failures: young women are being sexually harassesed in the girls' restroom by boys; indeed, a young girl was raped at her school in Loudon County.  Girls's sports are being ruined, as girls are being forced to compete with boys, eliminating any chance of fair competition.  Finally, students and teachers are being compelled to use transgender pronouns, which runs counter to biology and to many religious faiths.  These policies must stop and must stop immediately. Bravo to Governor Younkin for restoring our faith in our government and public institutions.


NO I OPPOSE!

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One can't possibly think this is a good idea...

1) At home abuse  due to mandatory "outing" of a student to their parent(s).

2) Increased suicides.

3) Increased classroom bullying,ostracizing and social isolation of students.

4) Increased retiring or quitting of  good quality teachers  in a time where we need these people (whom are with our kids 8 hours a day -enriching their lives) ; due to the state government forcing their unjust biases and prejudices onto them. No teacher that I know would want to willingly enforce harm on a child.


Protect Trans Kids

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Transgender rights are human rights. Denying anyone, of any age, the right to safely exist in school is antithetical to being supportive of children and of learning. Trans kids have astronomically high rates of self harm and suicide, and policies that encourage and enforce discrimination only drive those numbers higher. Protect trans kids. This includes using and respecting their pronouns, as you would for any student, as well as providing them a safe place to go about their day to day lives. This policy change actively endangers children.


Full support of this—protect our children!

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Let’s not forget the importance of maintaining fairness in athletics by safeguarding the integrity of girls’ sports at school—rather than forcing a situation on schools where biological boys play girls’ sports and end up taking away valuable, competitive opportunities from young women.


Protect trans kids

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<p>Please do not remove protections for trans kids. Making their identity and autonomy a political battleground is harmful. Allowing kids to be affirmed in their gender does no harm to anyone, but removing protections for trans kids does cause them harm. </p>


Assertion of Illegality Per Va. Code 2.2-4002.1(C) Requiring a 30 Day Delay

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Pursuant to Va. Code 2.2-4002.1(C), I assert that the Department of Education’s proposed guidance document Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Children in Virginia Public Schools (the “model policies”) is contrary to state law.  The model policies are contrary to Va. Code 22.1-23.3(A) because they do not “address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices.”

The only authorities which the Department of Education cite that arguably qualify as evidence-based best practices are in Section VII of the explanatory document to the model policies.  The comment to the model policies by the former Virginia School Board Attorney argues that these authorities are not, in fact, evidence-based best practices.  But if these authorities are evidence-based best practices, they are not evidence-based best practices which address common issues regarding transgender students.  The cited authorities focus either on the positive role of parental involvement in their children’s lives or else on how schools can prevent and handle bullying.  The links to some of the cited authorities did not work, making it hard to evaluate the sources.  Some of the other cited authorities make passing references to LGBTQ+ students, or note that children may be bullied based on their gender identity.  But on the whole the cited authorities focus on how schools and parents can create better home and school environments for all of the students in the school, and not transgender students specifically.  Although transgender students may tangentially benefit from parents and schools following these practices, the practices cited in the authorities are not designed to specifically address common issues regarding transgender students as the law requires.  Since the authorities on which the Department relies in Section VII do not address common issues regarding transgender students, they are not the evidence-based best practices on which Va. Code 22.1-23.3(A) requires the Department of Education to base the model policies.  Therefore, the model policies do not “address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices,” and the model policies violate Va. Code 22.1-23.3(A).

Because I have asserted that the model policies are contrary to state law, the Department of Education must now delay the effective date of the model policies for an additional 30 day period, and it must respond to my assertion in writing.  Va. Code 2.2-4002.1(C).  I request that it do so electronically as permitted by statute.  Because the model policies are contrary to Va. Code 22.1-23.3(A), the Department of Education cannot adopt the model policies after the end of the 30 day period.


Strongly oppose

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<p>Take politics out of education. Children’s lives should not be subjected to this type of infighting. Leave these decisions to professionals (social workers, psychologists, physicians, counselors) and families involved. </p>


Oppose - focus on educating kids, not obsessing over their genitals

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I've taught. Unless a child was asking to be called something offensive or obscene, I just... referred to the child by that name? It's startlingly easy, regardless of whether it's Stephen wanting to be called Steve or Sarah wanting to be called Alex.

As for sports, they are supposed to be for fun and to promote teamwork, physical activity, and self-discipline. "What Is Hidden By Your Underwear" is not on that list.

As for bathroom, they feature... cubicles? Trans kids are not an above-average bathroom threat (see statistics). They are, in fact, extremely vulnerable kids who are less likely to harm others in bathrooms.

As for school, it's supposed to be about keeping kids safe while teaching them. Trans kids attempt suicide at a tragically high rate. You'd have to be a sick  to care more about limiting their pronouns and restricting their bathroom usage and reporting their every single deed to parents (school is not panopticon...) than getting them to graduation safe and educated.


Strongly support Glenn Youngkin

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Thank you Govenor Youngkin for protecting parents rights and the safety of our children with the 2022 model policies! Pass as written!


Strongly oppose


Support Glenn Youngkin 2022 model policies

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Please finalize these updated 2022 model policies without adding to or taking away any of the policies as written. Restore parental involvement and protect children's privacy and safety rights.


Full Support

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Please respect the privacy and dignity of all students.

I approve of the improvements made to this bill.

Give power back to the parents. They know what is best for their child.

As a former public school teacher for 11 years, I support both teachers and parents. However, teachers need to teach academic subjects and not get involved in gender issues.

Girls need to feel safe and should not be forced into bathrooms or locker rooms with the opposite sex.

Thank you Gov. Youngkin!


We are not all Christian nationalists!!!!

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From WAPO:

If these “Christians” want their children to be raised with their religious beliefs, then they should homeschool them or send them to religious schools.  This will not happen because they don’t want to make the necessary sacrifices. They’re “Christian” enough to try to impose their beliefs on everyone else, but not enough to give up the money or the time necessary to pay tuition or homeschool.


Strongly Oppose the Policy

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School is supposed to be a safe place for kids to express themselves and experiment with different aspects of their identity (including fashion, career they want to pursue, chosen names, and more). As a parent of two kids in Virginia schools, I do not want my kids afraid that they or their friends will not be safe and respected at school. The 2021 policy was not about encouraging anyone to "become" transgender or providing medical treatment in schools. It is about trans kids feeling safe so that they are able to fully participate in their education. Knowing that being themselves at school with their friends may cause them to be in danger of physical violence, being kicked out, or other abuse means they may have nowhere at all to be themselves. I urge acceptance of all trans kids as they are, full stop.

People who choose to be disrespectful to trans kids do not need "religious" protection, as respect for those you disagree with is an expected behavior at school regardless of any types of belief.


Strongly Oppose: Support Trans Youth

How are we supposed to teach children to behave if teachers do not model the behavior they want to see? Calling someone by pronouns or a name they do not want to be called is the most basic disrespect. If teachers do this, they are modeling behavior that will teach children that it is okay to disrespect their peers. This is not the right way to bring children up.
Being misgendered also increases both the stress levels and the likelihood of suicide attempts for transgender students. It will make school a hostile environment for them, likely causing grades and attendance to suffer.
I am concerned about how the bathroom part of this law will be enforced. Will adults be watching the children go to the bathroom? Will they be checking their papers before they go in? This is a blatant breach of privacy and, again, is a horrible way to bring children up. Are we teaching our children to judge each other by what is in between their legs? We should be teaching each other to value each other based on each others' character. It is also viscerally disturbing to think about adults being forced to think so hard about children's genitals. I would not send my children to a school where this was the case.
And the mandatory reporting by teachers. If teachers tell parents that their children are trans, first of all that takes away the autonomy of the children as human beings, and second, it puts them in a great deal of danger. Many children are abused or thrown out because their parents find out they are transgender. Teachers in Virginia are mandated reporters of abuse, and therefore have a duty to prevent it rather than encourage it.
I would like to direct attention to these articles about LGBT youth homelessness, abuse, and mental health:https://www.americanprogress.org/article/gay-and-transgender-youth-homelessness-by-the-numbers/https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/data-on-transgender-youth/https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/forge/sexual_numbers.htmlhttps://lesley.edu/article/the-cost-of-coming-out-lgbt-youth-homelessness
I am begging you to let transgender children be. They are human beings that deserve respect and, as children, are vulnerable to the acts of adults around them.

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How are we supposed to teach children to behave if teachers do not model the behavior they want to see? Calling someone by pronouns or a name they do not want to be called is the most basic disrespect. If teachers do this, they are modeling behavior that will teach children that it is okay to disrespect their peers. This is not the right way to bring children up.

Being misgendered also increases both the stress levels and the likelihood of suicide attempts for transgender students. It will make school a hostile environment for them, likely causing grades and attendance to suffer.

I am concerned about how the bathroom part of this law will be enforced. Will adults be watching the children go to the bathroom? Will they be checking their papers before they go in? This is a blatant breach of privacy and, again, is a horrible way to bring children up. Are we teaching our children to judge each other by what is in between their legs? We should be teaching each other to value each other based on each others' character. It is also viscerally disturbing to think about adults being forced to think so hard about children's genitals. I would not send my children to a school where this was the case.

And the mandatory reporting by teachers. If teachers tell parents that their children are trans, first of all that takes away the autonomy of the children as human beings, and second, it puts them in a great deal of danger. Many children are abused or thrown out because their parents find out they are transgender. Teachers in Virginia are mandated reporters of abuse, and therefore have a duty to prevent it rather than encourage it.

I would like to direct attention to these articles about LGBT youth homelessness, abuse, and mental health:
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/gay-and-transgender-youth-homelessness-by-the-numbers/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/data-on-transgender-youth/
https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/forge/sexual_numbers.html
https://lesley.edu/article/the-cost-of-coming-out-lgbt-youth-homelessness

I am begging you to let transgender children be. They are human beings that deserve respect and, as children, are vulnerable to the acts of adults around them.


Strongly support

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Parents should be involved in their kids' lives.


Strongly oppose

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I strongly oppose these changes. Schools must be a safe space for all students!


2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, & Respect for all Students &Parents in VA's Public Schl

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<p>I strongly support Governor Youngkins policy.  He is trying to protect students, bring parental authority back, enforce that "the science" states, and protect the fundamental religious liberty interests of personnel and students.  Unfortunately thee are school districts within VA that hide the fact that girls have been abused on overnight ravel accommodations and in locker rooms.  It has been documented that some students are not comfortable with sharing bathrooms and lockers room with members of the opposite sex.  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 the gender dysphoria, they need guidance and emotional support from parents vs. strangers that want to force their agenda on young people whose bodies and emotions are still growing.  Parents haven't given up their God given responsibilities for their children.  The Government doesn't need to be in the business of raising children.  The schools need to look at the real world and get back to teaching the 3r's and subjects that will help today's children with the ability to function in the 21st century and be able to use their brains and stand on their own 2 feet.  The new policies will keep parents fully informed, and require schools to enforce existing laws, regulations and policies that prohibit and deter bullying or harassment. </p>


SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED UPDATES

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I am writing to express my unequivocal support for the proposed updates found in the revised 2022 MODEL POLICIES ON THE PRIVACY, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN VIRGINIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The proposed updates provide what should always be the case, for the protection of basic parental rights, and not shutting parents out of the process concerning how issues regarding gender and sexuality get handled by the school system regarding their children!  I totally support and advocate for the updated polices and language as follows:

that remove language encouraging school officials to potentially deceive parents when their children were considering making life-altering decisions regarding gender identity. It should totally be in the parental realm where decisions like this are made, not in the school system or by school officials. These are life-altering decisions that they are not qualified to make, and I believe children are harmed when parents are disempowered to be involved in decisions regarding their children’s mental, physical, and spiritual well-being!

- that upholds both students and teachers First Amendment Rights and religious freedom protections by not forcing them into compelled speech, a violation of their constitutional rights. No student or teacher should be mandated to speak or use language that go against their faith or conscience!

that allow schools to make their own decisions on how best to protect children, especially when it comes to situations such as who uses bathrooms and lockers rooms or is allowed in overnight sleeping quarters for school field trips. These situations present very challenging conditions for students and their parents and should not be handled with a blanket solution that bans parental involvement.

that allows schools to separate sports teams on the basis of sex.


Stupid decision

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Children are not stupid and can think for themselves, meaning no type of gov. should be making decisions for and putting them in predicaments that can be evaded. This “decision” that y’all came up with is only going to make things harder for them as they grow..think about it.


Strongly Oppose 2022 Model Policies

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As a Virginia resident, voter, and homeowner I am deeply troubled by the proposed 2022 Model Policies for Virginia schools and strongly oppose overturning the 2021 Model Policies. I understand that you want to appease your base, but to knowingly make policy decisions that will actively harm children is not only unacceptable, it is in direct conflict with your duty to the people of Virginia. Whether or not you approve of transgender people is not an excuse to ignore established best practices and knowingly endanger an already vulnerable group of children. Whether or not this new policy will cause harm to the estimated 6,200 transgender youth from ages 13-17 in Virginia is not a matter of opinion, it is an evidence-based fact1.

I am lucky to have a workplace that supports me and uses my chosen pronouns. If I had to spend the majority of my day in an unsupportive environment where people consistently misgendered me and used my birth name, I would be anxious and depressed all of the time and unable to focus on my job. Students spend most of their time in school and being unable to use their preferred name and pronouns without parental approval will result not only in transgender children being unable to focus and learn, but a significant decline in their mental health. 28% of transgender youth whose pronouns are not affirmed attempted suicide in the past year2. However, when pronouns are respected, transgender youth attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected2. These statistics shows that honoring students’ chosen names and pronouns is a crucial form of suicide prevention. Not all parents are supportive and for many queer youth school is the one relatively safe space they have to explore their identity. Students should be allowed to change their pronouns and nicknames in school without having to ask for parental permission, that way they can focus on school instead of dealing with the anxiety and discomfort of being misgendered throughout their day.

The proposed policy’s changes towards sex-specific school activities and facilities are harmful and based in fear rather than evidence. Transgender and nonbinary youth whose schools prevent them from using the restrooms/locker rooms that best matched their gender identities were significantly more likely to be sexually assaulted, 26% for transgender males and 149% for transgender females3. This proves that forcing students to use a bathroom or locker room based on their sex is putting transgender students at a greater risk for sexual assault. In regard to sex-specific school activities, while 56% of transgender youth reported a previous suicide attempt and 86% reported suicidality, school belongingness has been shown to mitigate these risks and is a significant predictor variable for reducing suicidal ideation and attempts among transgender youth4. Allowing students to participate in school activities that match their gender identity enables them to be with their peers and feel that they belong.

I did not come out until college, but I still dealt with gender dysphoria all throughout middle and high school. My school had gendered uniforms but allowed us to wear the boys or girls uniform regardless of our assigned sex and without having to declare that we were transgender. Being allowed to wear the boys uniform made everything a little bit easier and allowed me to feel a little more comfortable in my body. If I had been forced to wear the girls uniform I would have dreaded going to school and all of the dysphoria that I was already dealing with would have been exponentially worse. Students should be allowed to wear the uniform that they feel most comfortable in, regardless of their assigned sex or gender.

The proposed 2022 Model Policies also requires teachers and school staff to inform parents if a child has expressed that they might be transgender. This is a dangerous policy that has the potential to put a lot of children at risk for abuse and homelessness. Transgender adolescents experience significantly disproportionate levels of childhood abuse compared to cisgender adolescents and experience greater levels of homelessness as a result of being kicked out or abused5. Over 1.3 million children were victims of abuse or neglect nationwide in 2019 and in 78% of cases, the child’s parents were the abusers6. As horrible as that is, transgender youth are nearly twice as likely to suffer psychological abuse than their cisgender peers5. Parental rights cannot come at the expense of child safety, and we cannot make policies that assume that parents always have their children's best interests in mind.

For many transgender and nonbinary youth in Virginia, these policies will make things worse. These policies will take away the support those children have at school, support which is proven to reduce the risk of suicide by up to 33%7. Policy should be made with the interest of the most vulnerable in mind. If nearly one in five people who identify as transgender are ages 13-17 as the Williams Institute has found, it is incumbent upon policymakers to understand the strife that these individuals go through in the Virginia public school system and find ways to support them so that they thrive in their education, rather than enact policies that will harm them.

I demand that you rescind the proposed 2022 Model Policies for Virginia schools.

————————

Herman, Jody L., Andrew R. Flores, and Kathryn K. O’Neill. 2022. "How Many Adults And Youth Identify As Transgender In The United States?". Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/.

"National Survey On LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020". 2020. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020.

Murchison, G. R., Agénor, M., Reisner, S. L., & Watson, R. J. 2019. “School Restroom and Locker Room Restrictions and Sexual Assault Risk Among Transgender Youth”. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2902

Austin, Ashley, Shelley L. Craig, Sandra D’Souza, and Lauren B. McInroy. 2020. "Suicidality Among Transgender Youth: Elucidating The Role Of Interpersonal Risk Factors". Journal Of Interpersonal Violence 37 (5-6): NP2696-NP2718. doi:10.1177/0886260520915554.

Thoma, Brian C., Taylor L. Rezeppa, Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Rachel H. Salk, and Michael P. Marshal. 2021. "Disparities In Childhood Abuse Between Transgender And Cisgender Adolescents". Pediatrics 148 (2). doi:10.1542/peds.2020-016907.

Children's Bureau, Administration for Children & Families. 2019. "Child Maltreatment 2019". https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment-2019.

Price, Myeshia N., and Amy E. Green. 2021. "Association Of Gender Identity Acceptance With Fewer Suicide Attempts Among Transgender And Nonbinary Youth". Transgender Health. doi:10.1089/trgh.2021.0079.


Scientific proof only two genders

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God created a man and a woman.   There is science to prove the two genders.

As for school, education is about learning how to write, read, math, science and history.   The education system is not to be used as a political forum.

From a Veteran who has served our country.

God Bless America.


What about the anorexic community! No one is affirming the body I’m comfortable with

I need celebrated and assisted w vomiting and other transforming techniques

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Yes I don’t identify w my body. The body I identify w and need to realize to be happy is 100lbs or less. Why won’t the guidance counselor help me find ways to lose weight. Why won’t my peers tell me how brave I am…… yeah it’s no different


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I strongly oppose

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


This is awesome! Protect families, girls, sports, bathrooms, schools. Sick of bizarre liberal agenda

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<p>This whole debate is a joke. Just be. If you want to pretend to be a boy or girl great. Do it on your own time. In reality use your real bathroom play on the correct team for your real gender. </p>


OPPOSE

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<p>This policy is atrocious. Stop with the "parental rights" and please think of kids as people for just a moment. </p>


Strongly Oppose DOE 22-23 Model Policy

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This policy will require teachers to out trans kids to their parents, even in cases where they know the child will be abused or thrown out of their home. No teacher should ever have to choose between their career and a child’s well being. This does not increase anyone’s freedom or make anyone safer. It’s a bad idea.


This is abhorrent.

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<p>I strongly oppose the 2022 Model Policy. I know many queer youth who feel their safety would be endangered if their parents knew about their gender identity and how they express it. Parents have rights, yes, but they also have responsibilities. That responsibility involves taking care of their child and providing them shelter and support until at least the age of 18. Many minors are kicked out of their households when they choose to express their gender identity.  LGBT+ youth are four times as likely to commit suicide. This is not protecting children. School should be a safe space for children to express themselves and experiment with their identity. I am a straight, cisgender woman and I stand as an ally to my queer friends, peers, colleagues, and fellow students at the University of Virginia. Do not implement these policies, you will face strong pushback and full exercise of our rights to peacefully protest. The people of Virginia will not stand for bigotry and oppression in our state. </p>


Ignores the needs of students in favor of oppressive parents

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<p>This proposed guidance ignores the needs and right to self-determination of students. It should not be implemented. </p>


I support Governor Youngkin

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Parents know & have their kids Best


Parents should have every say in there kids

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<p>Parent's should not be pushed out of anything involving there children. This is really sad. This is is ridiculous and unacceptable!! </p>


This is not about bathroom rights. It’s about human rights!

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These policies take away the freedoms of transgendered children, while stoking the flames of transphobia. We are not all Christian nationalists. Quit forcing your shortsighted,  bigoted policies on all of us. You are a disgrace- the worst governor ever. The only freedoms you care about are those of straight, white, “Christian” men!


I support! Parents have rights!

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<p>I fully support Governor Youngkin’s bill to keep parents involved and aware of their children’s health and well-being. </p>


Bullying policies!!

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These policies send a message of hate and rejection towards transgendered youth! Virginia will live in shame until you leave office, and things go back to normal then. Worst governor who deceived the naive and ran on lies! Please tell me how that is being a good “Christian”?


I oppose the parental consent requirement.

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People should be free to choose their own identity. Parents should encourage their children to be themselves, the state should respect personal liberty and not try to legislate customary norms that do not fit for many.


Fully Support Youngkin

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Thank you, Governor. Your efforts are appreciated. Many find themselves without a voice during this hot debate. Thank you for helping course correct.


I oppose the parental consent requirement

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I oppose the requirement for parental consent for kids to use the pronouns of their choice.


“Parental rights” is laughable and is being used to rationalize transphobia!!

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The state is overreaching when they focus on “parental rights.” The only parental rights you care about are those who conform to your “Christian” values. What about the parents who want their kids to feel safe at school? What about the parents who believe basic human rights and dignity should not be violated to gain political points? Parental rights, my butt! You are a disgrace!


Hateful, bullying policies!!

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From WAPO:

If these so-called Christians want their children to be raised with their religious beliefs, then they should homeschool them or send them to religious schools. However, they won’t do that because they don’t want to make the necessary sacrifices. They’re “Christian” enough to try to impose their beliefs on everyone else, but not enough to give up the money or the time necessary to pay tuition or homeschool.


You're making some horrible choices. (Youngkin, treating trans kids terribly)

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I just read about you're little "Governor Glenn Youngkin making the lives of transgender children awful" initiative. It seems quite awful if you ask me.

Like, it seems the only real end goal is to systematically worsen the lives of the people of Virginia, especially the children. The fallout will increase parental abuse and depression among trans kids.


Thank you Gov Youngkin

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<p>Governor Youngkin, thank you for starting to take non educational issues out of Virginia public schools. The public schools need to return to teaching Virginia's students reading, writing, and arithmetic. Arlington County used to have a sought after school system, and the reason we moved to the county; however, there has been a steep decline in the last six years. APS does nothing for our identified gifted child, and will not provide additional services to our medically proven dyslexic child. APS does nothing well, except push social justice and democrat group think. Please do more to make Arlington County Schools set and demand high standards from ALL students instead of lowering expectations.   </p>


This policy is atrocious

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I am not transgender, and I whole-heartedly oppose this policy.  This policy will hurt so many innocent trans kids. You shouldn't ever force someone out of the closet, and this policy will do that. This is taking a step back. There are so many things that are wrong with this, and it is completely unnecessary and harmful to students everywhere.


Support Youngkin

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I strongly support the changes that Gov Youngkin is making.  Parents need to be informed of any issues that affect their children in the school.


Allowing parents to choose over a child’s identity

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This isn’t going to be the most refined response do please read it and understand it 1000% cracka. NOW why should a parent  have dictation of a child ( or teen)’s own interpretation of themselves ??? LET THEM BE THEM. period man. because genuinely, think about how your own child would respond to this. I mean really. If your child came home with a slip or form saying hi my name is [insert parents given dead name] when the kid has a already cool ass name like- whatever name they choose !! (Or atlas, that’s cool as ). also question, how would YOU feel if they came to you, the parent, and in your case you wouldn’t be allowed to enter a school zone due to being a ing creep,

I lost my train of thought

but

regardless

listen

please

this is important for the future of like everyone in the plannet

let kids and tweens and teens and everyone a change to be themselves. All those commercials on BS companies and subsidies like disneelne channel to say be yourself but you cannot allot the same message ? I mean he ing foreal. bro

 be Nicer like what the

let kids be themselves or young adults WHO EVER let them be them

and don’t take that sentence out of context. I’m talkin bout the kids / teens /! And how they shouldn’t have to compromise on their identity just because their parents do OR bc a cracker looking headass is doin .

anyways

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS thank you

peessssss (pease) ( peace)with extended s like slither

do better man. for the future you don’t be here in like 61.5 years anyeays from severe heart complication

<3 jl


Supporting the new Policy

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<p>I support our Governor in reinstating Parent's rights in decisions related to our Children!  </p>


Strongly Oppose This Cruel and Harmful "Guidance"

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We are a family of 2 cisgender, heterosexual parents with two cisgender children attending public school in Virginia. We strongly oppose the proposed Guidance and urge you to withdraw it immediately.

The most fundamental responsibility of public education in a democracy is to provide a safe educational environment for ALL children - not only those children deemed "worthy" by politicians. This proposed Guidance thoroughly undermines the ability of teachers and schools to provide the safety requisite for children to be able to learn. It ensures schools will no longer be safe places for kids to be their whole selves. It unnecessarily pits parents against teachers and families against school administrators, while also sending the message to teachers and administrators that only those whose identity matches the Governor's preference are acceptable. when we should be creating public school environments that are student-centric, support our educators, and are welcoming to anyone committed to teaching and learning.

Moreover, the proposed Guidance harms, rather than protects, not only children who are transgender or exploring their gender identity, but ALL children. It makes it clear to children that their government not only will not protect them, but actively will seek to exclude or harm them if they don't share identity characteristics of their politicians. It sends the message that only people with certain characteristics (in this case, cisgender heterosexual people) are human beings worthy of consideration and protection by their government. Those messages contradict basic human rights and civil rights, and thus the proposed Guidance promotes would set Virginia back decades.

It is a disgrace for Virginia that the Governor, as well as elected and appointed officials charged with protecting our children's wellbeing, are advocating for, and support, such blatant and harmful discrimination. ALL human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and it is your job to protect the most vulnerable among us - our children. Human beings whose gender identity differs from yours - whether or not you choose to deny the fact that not all humans are cisgender - pose zero threat to you or others. Just as your legal right to swing your fist ends at my face, your right to exclude people because of their identity ends at your front door. Public schools are NOT your personal property, they belong to ALL Virginians. Please do right by ALL Virginians and relegate this Guidance to where it rightfully belongs - in the trash.


Oppose

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These guidelines are essentially bullying trans and non binary kids. Respect these children. Help them. Don’t out them to people who will not support them. That will only harm their mental health and put them in danger physically and also risk homelessness. Stop trying to turn these kids into political points for the governor’s extremist base.


I support the new policy

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Kids are minors. More importantly, it's parents who are responsible for their children, not the state. We need to preserve parental rights and authority.


Support!

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<p>I read the guidance document and a number of comments.  I am shocked that people could oppose this.  Saying this is "unconstitutional" or "discrimination".  Did you even read the document?  Parents are central to everything related to their children.  This is critical for a child to survive.  Children do not have the frontal lobe development to make sound decisions.  No one is saying the child doesn't have a right to express themselves.  It was the parent in the first place the bought the clothes, or provided the food, water, and shelter to protect them.  It's because of the parent that the child even lives in a free country or has the health insurance to seek medical care.  To say strangers who have known the child for less than a year should be able to make decisions without a parent knowing is reckless.  Teachers, of course, don't know everything about the child.  Why then would they be in a better position to make life changing decisions?  Teachers need to be communicating everything they see and hear to the parents directly.  Making unilateral decisions without parents is the most scary thought I could image as a parent.  I am horrified and saddened that this could be happening anywhere in this country.  At the end of the school year or education, it is the parent who is still there supporting their child.  Forever.  That's the role of a parent.         </p>


Opposed -- support ALL students

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Despite the title, the new model policies don’t support ALL students. In particular, they don’t support students who are questioning their sexuality and exploring their world. School should be a safe space for ALL students including trans students. Students should be able to express themselves as they wish as long as they are not harming themselves or creating a deliberate distraction in school. School personnel are trained to support students to help them discuss potentially uncomfortable topics with parents, but it is up to the student to decide when that time is. It is a breach of confidentiality and undermines the relationship of students to school personnel if the school takes it on themselves to “out” student behavior that is not harming anyone. And it’s just plain rude and disrespectful for anyone not to call someone by the name they wish to be called. I predict if these policies are approved, we will see an uptick in LGBTQ student suicide and it will be because of these policies.

Some will argue that the use of the bathroom is an issue. However, students use cubicles and do not use open showers after P.E. as they did in my day. That is a non-issue in 2022. If a particular school does not provide cubicles in the bathroom, certainly accommodations can be made.

I am not on the side of throwing out the whole model. I agree that students who transition after puberty should not play on competitive sports teams.


I Strongly Support this

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<p>Give parents back our rights. I do not co-parent with the government. Keep the groomers out of our schools. </p>


Strongly oppose

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As a former educator and current medical professional, I find this discrimination absolutely absurd. Discriminating against children or anyone based on a medical condition that they were born with is inhumane. Just because most people do not have appropriate education and understanding doesn’t give them the right to discriminate. Their irrational fear or inappropriate judgement should not allow rules, regulation or policy to be approved that limit human rights and dignity. This has nothing to do with politics or religion. It saddens me that some parts of society vehemently deny treatment and rights to people born with a medical condition outside of the person’s control and on the other hand spend millions of dollars treating medical conditions with no stigma whatsoever that are absolutely due to a person’s choices, such as Diabetes type 2. Instead of blindly following people with an agenda to instill fear and hate, I encourage you to take the time to learn from reputable sources about what it means to be transgender.


SUPPORT! School children are MINORS! Protect them from Groomers!!

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We must remember that school children are minors. Doctors cannot treat any minor without the consent of their parent. Likewise, teachers should not be able to indoctrinate or attempt to groom children without the consent of a parent. Allowing legislation that gives teachers authority over parents is a very slippery slope! What else will educators attempt to do when the parents aren't watching? This should be extremely concerning to ALL parents.

As a parent, I am extremely concerned about the future of my young children. The aggressive left wants control over our most vulnerable population, in order to control them. Governor Younkin, please consider creating legislation that allows parents vouchers for school choice. Parents should not feel forced to homeschool simply to protect their children from Marxist values and educators attempting to brainwash our minors.


Strongly Oppose

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<p>I strongly oppose. This policy is not about educating all students and creating a safe learning environment for all students. It's about cruelty, harm, and persecution of students. The policy de-legitimizes the profession of educators to do their job to support each student to feel seen and supported to succeed. </p>


STRONGLY SUPPORT 1ST AMENDMENT AND PARENT'S RIGHTS

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<p>As a parent myself, I strongly support parents rights to educate their children according to their moral and religous convictions. The schools do not have authority over our children, their bodies or their speech. It is the right of parents to discuss what they are comfortable discussing with their children and in a manner with which aligns with their moral and religous values.  </p>
<p>  </p>


Strongly Oppose


Strongly Oppose

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Students are individuals that deserve the right to maintain and figure out their own identity. This takes away the autonomy that students deserve and is an infringement on their first amendment rights. It is absolutely shameful.


Support the Next Generation

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Educators cannot do their job without supporting their students. Educators will not always understand all of their students' identities, and gender is only one factor. However, it is important that educators do not invalidate their students; this can cause a number of problems, such as dampening a child's desire to learn, mental health struggles in the child, and more. Children should feel comfortable at school to ensure a quality education, so they should be free to be themselves.


STRONGLY OPPOSE!

Virginia Department of Education:
I am a voter and a Virginia resident. I strongly oppose the proposed 2022 Model Policies for Virginia schools. Do not overturn the 2021 Model Policies.
I am struck by the cruelty in targeting a small population that already faces extreme discrimination. This document is presented under the guise of advocating for anti-bullying and individual freedom. In fact it preaches targeted bullying rooted in a narrow religious agenda.

Freedom means that we all have the right to our own beliefs and are therefore entitled to individual choice in our identities, including gender identity. Students cannot be compelled to believe in or conform to someone else’s values or opinion about their identity (See IV.A.1).

I am not talking about legal name changes, medical treatment/intervention, or including transgender issues in course content. These are all red herrings. Simply allowing transgender students to exist without harassment is not a legal, medical, or curriculum issue in the way that this guidance is trying to construe it.

I do not understand the purpose of bringing up “graphic sexual or violent content” in this context, other than to imply that identifying as transgender is somehow either graphically sexual or graphically violent (See VI.A.10). That is nonsense. Existing as a transgender person is neither sexual nor violent.

Parents can teach children anything they want outside of school hours; religious agendas have no place in public schools. At school, the curriculum taught is based on learning fundamentals of writing, reading, math, and science, not a religious agenda. Well-established, extensively documented and researched scientific facts and principles should not be abandoned from schools for the sake of religious-based arguments with no basis in fact.

In response to VI.A.15, which requires parents to be informed of suicidality except in the case of parental neglect: Suicide prevention, of course, requires parental notification and involvement. However, outing a student in this process is unacceptable and can escalate suicidality.Parents do not have to be abusive in order to push their children towards suicide. Sometimes, the sincerely held religious beliefs of family are a factor in a child’s suicidal ideation. Outing a student who is exploring their personal, individual identity before they are ready is almost universally guaranteed to exacerbate the situation. My friend, Peter, was outed to his family when he was in high school. Their religious beliefs led them to vehemently oppose his identity. He committed suicide. This is a common scenario.

To conclude:  This policy pretends to care about all students but really only cares about enforcing the agendas of parents who wish to push a type of person who is different from them into not existing.
Sincerely,
A transgender man

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Virginia Department of Education:

I am a voter and a Virginia resident. I strongly oppose the proposed 2022 Model Policies for Virginia schools. Do not overturn the 2021 Model Policies.

I am struck by the cruelty in targeting a small population that already faces extreme discrimination. This document is presented under the guise of advocating for anti-bullying and individual freedom. In fact it preaches targeted bullying rooted in a narrow religious agenda.

Freedom means that we all have the right to our own beliefs and are therefore entitled to individual choice in our identities, including gender identity. Students cannot be compelled to believe in or conform to someone else’s values or opinion about their identity (See IV.A.1).

I am not talking about legal name changes, medical treatment/intervention, or including transgender issues in course content. These are all red herrings. Simply allowing transgender students to exist without harassment is not a legal, medical, or curriculum issue in the way that this guidance is trying to construe it.

I do not understand the purpose of bringing up “graphic sexual or violent content” in this context, other than to imply that identifying as transgender is somehow either graphically sexual or graphically violent (See VI.A.10). That is nonsense. Existing as a transgender person is neither sexual nor violent.

Parents can teach children anything they want outside of school hours; religious agendas have no place in public schools. At school, the curriculum taught is based on learning fundamentals of writing, reading, math, and science, not a religious agenda. Well-established, extensively documented and researched scientific facts and principles should not be abandoned from schools for the sake of religious-based arguments with no basis in fact.

In response to VI.A.15, which requires parents to be informed of suicidality except in the case of parental neglect: Suicide prevention, of course, requires parental notification and involvement. However, outing a student in this process is unacceptable and can escalate suicidality.

Parents do not have to be abusive in order to push their children towards suicide. Sometimes, the sincerely held religious beliefs of family are a factor in a child’s suicidal ideation.

Outing a student who is exploring their personal, individual identity before they are ready is almost universally guaranteed to exacerbate the situation. My friend, Peter, was outed to his family when he was in high school. Their religious beliefs led them to vehemently oppose his identity. He committed suicide.

This is a common scenario.

To conclude:  This policy pretends to care about all students but really only cares about enforcing the agendas of parents who wish to push a type of person who is different from them into not existing.

Sincerely,

A transgender man


Opposition to Hate and using children for political theater

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<p>Disgusting new policy. Pushing hate and discrimination into our public schools. Children are not theater. Stop wasting educators time and making Virginia teachers want to leave teaching.  It's hard enough working in schools ...we are not your political pawns. </p>


STRONGLY OPPOSE! Hypocritical policies!!

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Don’t tell me how much you love all babies, then tell me how much you hate gay people!!

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward." Matthew 6: 5


This is NOT "improving outcomes for children"

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The goal of a state education system, first and foremost, should be to provide children with the outcome that is best for them. Giving parents a chance to provide input on what their child is learning is a vital part of that.

However, "outing" a transgender, gender-non-conforming, or gender-questioning child to their family (who may be unsupportive of that, and may deprive the child of certain opportunities because of that), is not part of providing the best outcome for a child.

The "parents above all" approach works only until the wishes of the parents come into conflict with what is best for the child. For instance, if a parent does not want their child to learn scientifically proven facts such as "the earth is round" or "inhaling second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer", then that may result in a poorer outcome for the child.

In another example, if two parents are separated and share joint custodial rights, but have conflicting inputs as to what their child should be learning in school or how a teacher is allowed to refer to their child, then the "parents above all" approach forces a legal battle between parents, inevitably resulting in a worse outcome for the child.

Students exploring their identities, including gender, both in and out of school, is an integral part of improving outcomes. If it turns out that their gender exploration was, in fact, exploratory, students can renege on their request at any time (similar to a request to go by a nickname, which is something that has been mentioned in the model policy).

If the state agencies governing public education really want to improve outcomes for all children, they should revise their "parents above all" approach to instead be "students above all", and revise their model policies accordingly.


Bullying, hateful policies under the guise of “parental rights”!!

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The state is overreaching when they focus on “parental rights.” The only parental rights you care about are those who conform to your “Christian” values. What about the parents who want their kids to feel safe at school? What about the parents who believe basic human rights and dignity should not be violated to gain political points? Parental rights, my butt! You are a disgrace!


These policies are transphobic and hateful!!

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Youngkin said during a recent interview: “We must have parents at the front of the line — not at the exclusion of a trusted teacher or counselor — but parents must be the first stop for these decisions.”

How shortsighted of you! Not all of us are so dumb to fall for this.

While this might work if the parents are loving and supportive,  but what if they aren’t? Then what? Watch out. You may end up with blood on your hands.

What basis do you have to overrule all of the major psychological associations that have designed standards of care for trans minors over the last several decades?


This is discriminatory-trans need their  own school away from the bad regular school

Please give trans their own place and take the affirming adults w you

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Trans should have their own school with the adults that support them. They can believe whatever they want and identity w any curriculum. They can have one locker, bathroom, and sports team. They can make believe together and be happy away from publicly schools. Wait it’s only 3% of the population so u can’t make a special school.


Parents know their children's needs better than anyone

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


reject these draft policies

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These policies are unhelpful to children and unhelpful to caring parents and school staff.

For example, requiring the school to inform parents if their child sees a counselor for gender related issues: Does this empower parents or school staff to care for the child in a new way that was previously unavailable? No. This kind of policy closes or complicates current avenues to care, and does not open any new ones. Parents have always been able to ask how and what their kids are doing in school. If parents are afraid that their children don't trust them enough to confide in them... a school policy change is not a solution.

Many people support these draft policies because they imagine that it will protect children from being harmed by strangers, outsiders with "ideologies." These people are disregarding the many, many children being harmed by their family members and family ideologies. The children who need policies for protection are the children with unsafe home lives.


Teacher's Perspective: This Guidance Will Hurt Kids

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My name is Anna Barr, and I am teacher in Falls Church City. I am also the faculty sponsor for the Meridian High School GSA.

Back in August, during Pre-Service week for us teachers, I led a professional development session on how to build LGBTQ inclusive classrooms. My goal of the session was for participants to walk away understanding that adolescence is a time where students are engaged in the all-consuming, high stakes task of figuring out who they are.  Anyone who knows a teen can probably confirm by experience that this task involves a lot of experimenting, instability, and taking risks in terms of self-expression, how they dress, who they hang out with, how they behave, etc – every day is an opportunity to see what feels right as they create a new, independent sense of themself.

Also, in that session, I quoted a Virginia Mercury article from August 10th that quoted Gov. Glenn Youngkin making early indications that his definition of “parental rights” includes a requirement on schools to inform parents about students who are taking these risks, and to limit the opportunities for expression and socialization available to students who are doing this identity work - particularly surrounding their gender and sexual identity.

So when the news broke about a month ago that these indications were set to become policy, I was upset but not surprised.  I knew how disheartening and scary this news would be for queer and trans students. My heart especially went out to the students who need their circles of trusted friends and adults that they find in school to be the main, maybe the only, source of welcoming and validation in their lives.

To quote adolescent identity scholars Michael J Nakkula & Eric Toshalis, “It takes tremendous courage for an adolescent to become someone [they] can call “myself” and then dare to bring that self into the world.”  Besides being illegal under the Virginia Human Rights Act and the settled law of Grimm v. Gloucester, this guidance discourages and dishonors that kind courage, and cannot be allowed to stand.


Support Governor's changes to education policy

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Thank you for keeping your promise to VA parents that they will no longer be cut out of the process of deciding how our children will be educated in OUR schools—especially when it concerns how gender and sexuality issues are being taught.


Quit forcing Christian nationalism on all of us!!

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From WAPO:

these so-called Christians want their children to be raised with their religious beliefs, then they should homeschool them or send them to religious schools. However, they won’t do that because they don’t want to make the necessary sacrifices. They’re “Christian” enough to try to impose their beliefs on everyone else, but not enough to give up the money or the time necessary to pay tuition or homeschool.


Christian nationalism should not be forced on all of us, and these policies does just that!


Strongly Disagree; An opinion by a VA public schools Student on the Transgender Bill

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<p>I absolutely disagree with this bill, because I believe that students of all counties deserve the right to not be outed by their school or district. Virginia claims to be protecting these students when in reality they are only hurting them. Not all students are out to their parents or in a safe place to come out to them. They may be kicked out, abused, or even killed for what their identity is. I agree that parents have the right to parent but they do not have the right to know absolutely everything about their child. It is unhealthy and downright Toxic. As a child myself my parents don't know everything about me, children hide things from their parents all the time and why? Because they dont need to know everything going on in their lives. As a student who has friends of the LGBTQIA+ community who are in very unsafe households, I worry about their safety everyday knowing that they could possibly be outed by their school just for being of another gender identity. Transgender people are people, it doesnt matter what they look like or what they were born with. Its about how they feel. I stay anonymous not only because Im a minor but I also speak for those who dont have a voice. Those who are afraid to speak up for their rights. In reality who is this bill affecting. The students. Who is it benefiting? Absolutely nobody. Why? Because its just giving abusers a reason to hurt their child. We go to school to learn. Not to live in fear of not knowing what will happen to us. To the parents who support this bill I ask you to look inside yourself and ask what is really going to benefit my child. Being Transgender is not a phase or a trend, its who your child is. You accepted the role as a parent to protect and to love your child unconditionally. Just because they're Gay, Transgender or whatever they may be you should still love and support them it may not be what you were expecting but its who they are. If this bill is passed Suicide rates among students of the transgender community could skyrocket because they arent seen as who they are, because nobody (or barely anybody) supports them. For a government who wants to "Protect the Youth" this is not protecting. This is hurting. </p>


Strongly Oppose

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I strongly oppose this policy change. While it pretends to be in the interest of "meeting the needs of all students" and creating an educational "environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying," in actuality, it does the opposite. This policy would open transgender students up to bullying, harassment, and abuse - not only from their peers, but also from adults. Transgender students are among the highest population at risk for depression and suicidal thoughts - this policy would only increase that. Empowering parents is certainly important, but not at the risk of the child. This policy change is an affront to anyone who actually cares about the well being of ALL children and should be vehemently dismissed.


Model policies for the treatment of Transgender students in Virginia’s public schools

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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 and 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 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.


I strongly disagree

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<p>I strongly oppose the current proposed policy change. This regressive policy seeks to return to an age of repression, anger, and discrimination. In the interest of "protecting" all students, transgender and gay students are being told to disappear, to no longer exist. Parents always have and will always be in control of their children's upbringing, but sadly, in this case, "parental rights" is a code for blatant discrimination and bigotry. Public educators in Virginia are dedicated to educating our children and helping them be the best they can be. That would be ALL of our children, and ALWAYS with parents' support and help. I strongly oppose the proposed policy change. </p>


Strongly oppose.  This policy is on the wrong side of history.

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In 100 years, lawmakers who supported this policy will be viewed in the same way as we now view the lawmakers who banned interracial marriage.


Strongly OPPOSE these draft policies

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I’m a Virginian, a former School Board member, and most importantly, a parent. I write today to urge you to reject the draft “2022 Model Policies on the privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in Virginia’s public schools”.

We’ve all had the experience of not fitting in. Maybe we weren’t the popular kids, or the sporty kids, or the fashionable kids.

What if it went deeper? What if you didn’t fit with you? With the sex you were born with? With the name your family gave you?

For thousands of Virginia students, and about 1.6 million Americans over the age of 13, that’s a fact of their lives (https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/).

My child is one of them; they are nonbinary. They came out to us early in high school. I knew they had something big on their mind, so I suggested we take a walk. They wanted to talk but couldn’t get the words out. Eventually, they told me and I reassured them we love them - period - and that we support them. They were relieved, but not surprised. They knew they were safe with us.

Far too many children are not safe at home. Over 1.3 million children were victims of abuse or neglect nationwide in 2019 and in 78% of cases, the child’s parents were the abusers (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment-2019). As horrible as that is, transgender youth are nearly twice as likely to suffer psychological abuse than their cisgender peers (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-016907).

There’s more. In 2019,  6% of heterosexual high school students surveyed nationally reported attempting suicide in the previous year (https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/disparities-in-suicide.html). While that’s terrifying enough, for lesbian, gay, or bisexual high school students, it’s 24%. And it gets worse: 56% of transgender youth surveyed reported they had attempted suicide at least once (https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520915554).

Far too many children are abused by those who should care for them. Suicide and self-harm already take far too many of our youth. Both are utterly horrible; both are worse for transgender youth.

For many transgender and nonbinary youth in Virginia, these policies will make things worse. These policies will take away the support those children have at school, support which is proven to reduce the risk of suicide by up to 33% (https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/trgh.2021.0079).

The draft policies will harm children you have a duty to protect. More students will feel they have no place they belong, more students will be abused or neglected by those who should care for them, and more students will harm themselves or worse. These are actual, real harms to actual, real young people. People like my child, and 300,000 other American teenagers.

I urge you to reject these draft model policies and protect the thousands of transgender students in Virginia’s public schools.


Protect ALL kids and put parents back in charge

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<p>I support this policy! </p>


Protect tranz kidz by giving them their own bathroom, locker, and sports teams.

It’s so important to have a make believe place for make believe people

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I worry for the misguided youth, caught up in a harmful fad, promoted by extreme liberal adults. The adults are sick, celebrating body dysmorphia instead of giving some healthy guidelines and boundaries.


Vehemently oppose this transgender policy.

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This policy has a very misleading name, claiming to be for the privacy, dignity, and respect for ALL students and parents. It fails to do this.

This policy is extremely harmful to transgender and nonbinary students who are already subject to mental issues such as depression and bullying from peers and adults.

All parents are not equipped to make the best decisions for their children— if they were, there would be no need for Child Protective Services nor would there be so many children in foster care.


Listen to kids!

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These guidelines are forcing educators and other school staff to ignore how a child might be feeling about THEIR OWN BODIES.  Specifically, the part where school staff MUST ONLY USE the sex that’s listed on a legal document.  What harm might come from believing a child as they discover for themselves who they are? Is the boogie man of queerness so scary as to force children into molds that don’t fit them?  Let kids be the kind of kids they want to be.


Support parents rights

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As a grand parent I support The govenor of Va. in giving the parents full support abought what is taught the the children in the schools, not  only the school system. We as a country should be at the top five countries in education of our schools not #24. Lets get back to teaching real education.


Strongly support this common sense approach!

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This policy proposal represents a common sense and reasoned approach which I strongly support.  The balance that the policy strikes is appropriate and in keeping with a limited (properly) role of government and public school administrators.  The guiding hand in a child’s life should be the parent’s, not the bureaucrat’s.


Support based on this:

Marshall Orenic,  Candidate for Harrisonburg City Council

After much consideration, I have decided to share my view on this matter because Imay, as a future city council member, be required to weigh in on this issue as it relates to the HCPS School Board. Also, as a parent of a HCPS 2nd, 7th & 9th grader and husband of a HCPS teacher's assistant, I believe I have a good understanding of the possible effect this policy can have on our school environment. Each parent/guardian has the legal obligation to care for and protect their child. Any policy that hinders that duty is unlawful. Withholding any information that directly effects a parent/guardian’s ability to care for their child is unacceptable! With that being said, I think this policy allows each school to figure out what is best for their student body. The Guiding Principles as stated in part B is as follows, and I whole heartedly agree with its intent: "Schools shall serve the needs of all students: The Department is committed to working with school divisions to ensure a positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students. Each student’s individual needs should be taken into consideration by their school, and divisions should develop policies that encourage schools to account for these individual needs, with due sensitivity to the needs of other students and the practical requirements of the teaching and learning environment. Schools should attempt to accommodate students with distinctive needs, including any student with a persistent and sincere belief that his or her gender differs from his or her sex. A team of appropriate school staff and other caregivers should collaborate with the parents to identify and implement reasonable accommodations or modifications, taking into account the resources and staff available in the school and school divisions, as well as the rights and needs of other students and of school staff. Single-user bathrooms and facilities should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students."

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After much consideration, I have decided to share my view on this matter because I
may, as a future city council member, be required to weigh in on this issue as it relates to the HCPS School Board. Also, as a parent of a HCPS 2nd, 7th & 9th grader and husband of a HCPS teacher's assistant, I believe I have a good understanding of the possible effect this policy can have on our school environment.
Each parent/guardian has the legal obligation to care for and protect their child. Any policy that hinders that duty is unlawful. Withholding any information that directly effects a parent/guardian’s ability to care for their child is unacceptable! With that being said, I think this policy allows each school to figure out what is best for their student body. The Guiding Principles as stated in part B is as follows, and I whole heartedly agree with its intent: "Schools shall serve the needs of all students: The Department is committed to working with school divisions to ensure a positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students. Each student’s individual needs should be taken into consideration by their school, and divisions should develop policies that encourage schools to account for these individual needs, with due sensitivity to the needs of other students and the practical requirements of the teaching and learning environment. Schools should attempt to accommodate students with distinctive needs, including any student with a persistent and sincere belief that his or her gender differs from his or her sex. A team of appropriate school staff and other caregivers should collaborate with the parents to identify and implement reasonable accommodations or modifications, taking into account the resources and staff available in the school and school divisions, as well as the rights and needs of other students and of school staff. Single-user bathrooms and facilities should be made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage, indicating accessibility for all students."


Fully support

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I fully support the change in policy.  Any policy that drastically removes parental involvement in their minor child’s well-being endangers all children at the behest of some amorphous group of experts.  Current fads are being utilized by zealots to groom children away from parental guidance toward groups and ideals that are in direct conflict with not just their wishes, but with generations of societal wisdom.  Parents and students who do not conform are the only people being bullied, whether through students, school personnel, or even the FBI in the case of Louden county.  This must stop, and this change is a welcome start.


Strongly Oppose New Guidance on Trans Students

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Policies surrounding trans students should be based on current scientific data and not crass, reactionary, politics. It is shameful that those touting their “pro-life” or family values do not back up their claims with policies that protect and support vulnerable children.


Strongly support

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<p>Parents should decide how to address the transgender issue with their children; that is not the role of public schools. Parents also, generally, have a right to know what the schools know about their children. How else can parents make informed decisions in the best interests of their child? Finally, especially after the last couple of lost years of education, we really need our schools to focus on the basics of education to help kids catch up to where they should be -- and not be focused on advancing radical social ideas far outside of the mainstream. </p>


Protect Trans Youth

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I am not a transgender person, but I am blessed with being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I won't bring up the multitude of studies in all sciences and social sciences that can attest to the vitalness of affirmation, trans-inclusive healthcare, and legal protections (as well as LGTQ+ inclusive more generally). I trust the studies, the scientists, and researchers, the data and testimonials. I trust the stories and persons of my community. What I can simply share is how fundamentally, even life-or-death, important that educational institutions develop, extend, and safeguard the rights of the transgender and non-binary youth of this country, all 50 states and territories. It's about basic human sovereignty, bodily autonomy and complex self-determination, mental health and well-being, kindness and dignity, care and love, and protection and survival. Despite what certain bigots espouse, this country's most vulnerable to discrimination and violence should not be a scapegoat or vilified. They just want to make trans people feel invalid, alienated, and unsafe, with the hopes that they disappear from public and social life (whether forced back into the closet or worse). This especially applies to transgender youth, as they desperately require the support, safety, privacy, and expertise to explore and affirm themselves, and should feel safe in the places they spend the most time and their most formative years - schools. It is students who go to school; it is students and teachers who they interact with; and, it is the community they are a part of and live in. They simply want to be themselves in public, in the small ways often taken for granted, to be called the name and pronouns, to dress and look, and to use the facilities they find most affirming.  Please, please, please listen to the LGBTQIA+ community and allies in making these rights and protections the law of the land.


students and which bathroom - way to avoid this issue altogether

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As far as limiting students to restroom use based on either their pronoun preference or their birth gender:  either let the students use the restroom where they feel most comfortable or change the actual restrooms to be used by *everyone* (either all students or all adults).  The schools should focus on acceptable use and function:  everyone is expected to be civil to whoever else is in there, use the restroom as needed, wash up, and go back to the rest of their day.

Nobody should have to explain their personal presentation, their identity, their clothing, or their medical needs in order to be allowed use school or other public restroom facilities.  People come in a wide range of physical form and needs.  Function first.

If it's a matter of someone - anyone - misbehaving and bothering another person in a restroom for any reason, whether physically or verbally, that's a disciplinary matter, not a gender-specific matter.  Nobody should be interfered with while trying to use a restroom for its normal purposes.  Any bullying or harassment in bathrooms should be put to a stop immediately.

Shared, general restrooms that are for *everyone* to use would get people over a lot of this mislaid focus on birth gender.   How?  Shared restrooms would each have - as they usually already do - individual stalls.  If there are any urinals needed, have them away from the stalls.  If there are privacy concerns, add a physical barrier between the urinals and the rest of the space.  Make sure there are smaller restrooms in the building for just one person (or someone with an assistant or a young child) to use as needed.  Is the restroom for a gym area?  It would have private changing rooms as needed.

Why "everyone" restrooms?  Because *everyone* needs to go, whether they need or prefer a stall or urinal.  If they don't "go" in the typical manner because they have an ostomy bag, they still need a place to deal with such things.  "Everyone" restrooms would simplify the situation for those who might need someone else's assistance, whether with restroom-specific medical equipment or with mobility devices.  There would be no more lines outside the women's room while the men's room has space.  No more trying to figure out which door to go through - or worse, trying to find the "appropriate" restroom in time if the men's and women's restrooms aren't right next to one another.  Eventually, no more awkwardness if someone walks into a restroom who doesn't look like others in there.

"Everyone" restrooms would also simplify the architectural requirements and should make the restrooms easier to use and more efficient.  The reduced duplication would likely free up space for other use.

"Everyone" restrooms would reduce if not eliminate multiple restroom problems.

Some folks would likely complain that "everyone" restrooms would mean born-males ogling their born-females or vice-versa.  Ahem, some kids are gay or bi (and this has always been the case).  Ogling is a general behavior issue to address, not a gender-specific restroom issue.

So please stop putting people on the spot or worse, outing them before letting them relieve themselves.  Ideally, also stop putting male-only/female-only restrooms in public buildings and start making them general-use.  It may take all of us some time to get used to the shared-space concept but in the long run it should be easier and healthier for everyone and potentially less expensive.  And nobody should be harassed for needing to use the restroom.


Kids deserve support; requiring legal paperwork is absurd and wrong

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Students deserve support and inclusion at school, not ridicule or mortification.  That's the main issue here.  They are at school to be educated, not to be made fun of and not to be put in potential danger.

Singling people out for their use of nicknames (unless it's something obscene or so silly, like Twinkle-toes, as to be a distraction) or for how they present themselves relative to gender stereotypes would draw undue negative attention to that student and could keep them from feeling safe at school.  This would keep them from focusing on learning.

People give themselves or get nicknames all the time.  Some stick with one; some have several at a time or change what they go by from year to year.  If they like their nicknames, use those.  Ask them to choose one for the teacher to use consistently, to keep paperwork accurate.  If they don't like their nicknames, don't use them and discourage others from calling them by those nicknames.

Most importantly:  if any students get to use nicknames without parental permission or notification, then all students get to use nicknames without parental permission or notification.

If Zelda wants to go by Jojo at school or Michelangelo wants to go by Angel and it doesn't affect that student's learning, then that shouldn't be much different from letting Alexander go by Zan, other than the adults needing to remember which student goes with which less obvious nickname.

If students try to change nicknames frequently, that's a different issue and should be discouraged - at least as far as what the adults need to remember.  Teachers and administrators already have a lot of students to keep track of and some have a lot of paperwork to do for each student.  In this case, the teacher/staff could point out to the student that it's difficult to keep track of their grades with name changes and ask them to choose one to stick with for the term.

There's no reason for the school to notify parents about nicknames unless the student is struggling in school because of the nickname (such as if other students are calling them by a name that upsets them) or if the student seems to be under duress and is using a nickname to cause trouble at school.

Parents might choose what they call a student at home but they don't get to choose what the student calls themself at school or to friends.  Parents certainly shouldn't be required to get legal counsel before the school agrees to use a student's preferred nickname or pronouns.  That is absurd.  It's not the school's place to choose a student's name.  Also, the legal requirement would also cost those families, time, money and would cause conflict and stress.  And as noted earlier - if the school tries to require this process for any family, then the same process would have to be required for all families of students who wish to use a nickname.  Otherwise this would be discrimination.


Common Sense Policy- wholeheartedly support

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<p>It’s about time common sense policy found it’s way back into Virginia schools. Parents absolutely have a right to know and teachers often cross that line trying to be parents or friends with young students. And sorry, not sorry- people with penis’s do not belong in bathrooms or locker rooms with people with vagina’s especially at a young age. Nor do people with penis’s have any right to play sports against people with vagina’s and call that “fair” or OK. Thank goodness for Gov Younkin and his common sense policies. </p>


Oppose these terrible guidelines

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<p>The governor needs to listen to us, not just put up a website and then say he’s going to put these guidelines in place no matter what! As a parent and a voter I am telling you I oppose these guidelines. They will only cause harm to an already vulnerable part of the population. Respect trans and non binary kids. Listen to the tens of thousands of kids across the Commonwealth that walked out of their classes to show support for trans and non binary kids. We do not want these guidelines. Leave these kids alone. Stop trying to score political points off of vulnerable kids. </p>


Oppose the Model Policies-Protect Trans Students

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I am writing as a concerned citizen about the recently proposed Model Policies would which severely roll back transgender rights in Virginia. It would deny transgender youth the ability to use the facilities they identify with, create an arduous process to be acknowledged with proper pronouns, force teachers to expose one's gender identity to their parents (which can be very unsafe for many youth), and no longer require school employees to not discriminate against trans youth. Transgender youth have already extremely high rates of suicide, self-harm, and mental health crises, and this will only make that worse. Please revoke support for the Model Policies and refuse to implement these policies.


Strongly Oppose:  Let kids be themselves

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I strongly oppose the proposed new policies regarding transgender youth.  These students need and deserve our support.  These kids are courageously sharing their true selves despite possible repercussions and discrimination.  When they ask for their community to acknowledge their true selves by referring to them by a name and pronouns of their own choosing, the schools should do so.   These kids deserve respect and to be accepted as the people they are.


Strongly Support!!

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I strongly support the guidance document.  It will definitely NOT create a hostile environment against trans or binary students as bullying and hostile environments are not tolerated in schools.  However it does empower parents to be knowledgeable and informed of what's going on in the lives of their children who are entrusted to the school system.  Keeping secrets from parents simply erodes trust at every level.


Strongly Support!!

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<p>The new guidelines put both children and parents first! </p>