Arlington Mental Health & Disability Alliance (AMH&DA) cares deeply about the children of Virginia and their families. Our mission is to advocate for county, regional and state services that foster dignity, choice, recovery, and the highest possible level of participation in work, relationships, and all aspects of community life for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities, Our focus is on maximizing self-determination and dignity.
We are very concerned about the mental health crisis among children and adolescents and we fear the proposed "2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools" (Model Policies) will worsen this mental health crisis. Therefore, AMH&DA opposes the Model Policies along with other mental health organizations like NAMI-Northern Virginia.
We are strongly supportive of efforts to protect and respect all students, and to ensure schools are free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying. But safe and respectful school environments are fostered when students and staff use the desired name, nickname and pronouns of students.
Gender fluid and transgender students are a small percentage of the youth population but are at disproportionately high risk of depression, self-harm, and suicide. Gender fluid and transgender children are also at high risk of homelessness. Therefore, to promote the safety of gender fluid and transgender children and enhance the safety of the school environment, counseling should be available without parental consent, including discussion of sexuality and gender identity, on the same basis as it is for students on all other topics as needed to promote a productive learning environment (per 8VAC20-620-10).
If the student feels safe involving their parents in a discussion of gender identity, by all means the school should involve them. But if the student does not feel physically or emotionally safe doing so, they should still be provided short-term counseling as needed to support positive mental health and educational outcomes. Not all parents are comfortable discussing issues related to gender or sexuality. Gender fluid and transgender children will be at greater risk of physical and emotional abuse, and even homelessness, if parents must provide consent before counseling on these topics can occur. They will be at elevated risk of depression and self-harm if, without parental consent, the school refuses to provide counseling.
These data points make clear the need for policies that promote the safety and well-being of all students, including gender fluid and transgender students. (Source: This citation, https://www.childtrends.org/blog/research-shows-the-risk-of-misgendering-transgender-youth provides a variety of academic, peer-reviewed publications to support each of the following bullets.)
What these studies show is that using one's preferred pronouns and name or nickname, provides significant benefits -- reduced risk of suicide, depression, self-harm -- and positive outcomes in adulthood. These small courtesies promote health and safety.
A 2020 paper found that 56% of transgender youth reported a previous suicide attempt. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345113) The Model Policies, as written, will kill students.