The guidance in this policy demeans people. It dehumanizes them for the sake of... nothing? There is nothing to be gained by denying people their right to self identity. There is much to be lost. To be 100% clear, I OPPOSE the draft policy and want the VDOE to reject it. I am an educator in the state. I know first hand what harm actions like those proposed in this policy will have. I know that young people need to feel supported and heard, particularly when then are expressing vulnerable emotions. There is nothing in this policy that is supported by the current findings of multiple medical organizations into the health and well-being of our children. The American Academy of Pediatrics, "an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults," has made their official position on such overtly harmful policies as this one quite clear when they write: "Our organizations strongly oppose any legislation or regulation that would discriminate against gender-diverse individuals, including children and adolescents, or limit access to comprehensive evidence-based care which includes the provision of gender-affirming care. Any discrimination based on gender identity or expression is damaging to the socioemotional health of children and families as evidenced by increased risk of suicide in this population." We are the role models for our children. When you pass this measure, you say to your children, children who may come to you one day with these same concerns or similar ones, that they are not acceptable as they are. That you do not, in fact, love them "unconditionally." Because, truth be told, all true love is unconditional, is it not? Everything else is just acceptance. I love my children just as they are, and to deny them that love, to show them, through either my words or my actions that some innate part of them is "less than," is to take away something that isn't mine to take away. I gave them my heart years ago. You, no doubt, have children in your lives that you have loved with all your heart. Would you take that love away because of who your child is, or grows to be? Would you wish that on yourself, should you be in that same child shoes? If so, shame on you. Shame on us all.