Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools guidance document was developed in response to House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161, enacted by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, which directed the Virginia Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies concerning the treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools. These guidelines address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to: compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws; maintenance of a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students; prevention of and response to bullying and harassment; maintenance of student records; identification of students; protection of student privacy and the confidentiality of sensitive information; enforcement of sex-based dress codes; and student participation in sex-specific school activities, events, and use of school facilities.
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2/2/21  11:32 pm
Commenter: An LGBT student

A plea for empathy, support this guidance!!!
 

After reading a lot of comments something has become clear to me. Many opposing parents or others are saying schools should not be “pushing into the homes”. I’m confused, as they would not be. What they would be doing is providing an environment where trans students get treated with dignity and respect. How could anyone claim to teach children to love and respect themselves when in the same breath they condemn so many proclaimed truths made by these children? I don’t know who needs to hear this, but gender is an entirely social construct. Genitalia does not dictate gender identity, sex does not dictate gender identity. It is just that, an identity. No one can tell you who you are. That is something everyone must learn on their own. All this guidance would do is provide tools and knowledge for kids to help them with that task. It would also allow these kids to learn and grow in a school environment without the added anxiety, stress, and fear that comes with stigma surrounding any LGBT identity. Let our kids be who they are, unapologetically and with our support. 

CommentID: 94629