I STRONGLY OPPOSE Governor Youngkin's Proposed Policy. I agree with Equality VA that this policy is "cynical, political, illegal, negligent and malicious." How ironic that the policy is titled "2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools." This policy will strip students of their privacy, dignity and respect.
This proposed policy seems to be rooted in ignorance: Ignorance of transgender individuals and their rights, ignorance of public schools and their stakeholders, ignorance of child and adolescent development, ignorance of public opinion on this topic. Ignorance causes individuals to operate out of fear. The sharing of fear using the public megaphone that a governor has leads to greater fear and ultimately threats of violence.
Students in public schools have the right to feel safe. Personnel in school buildings spend much of their time and energy creating a safe environment in which all students are respected, knowing that their privacy and dignity are being protected. Public schools are not the place to experiment with policies such as this one proposed by Governor Youngkin. Doing so will lead to students who not only do not feel safe, but whose mental health will be compromised, who will not be available for learning and whose lives might eventually end in suicide.
The current 2021 model policies conform with state and federal laws, protect students and should stand. Do not replace them with the short-sighted, narrow-minded 2022 "Model" policies proposed by Governor Youngkin.