I agree with Jeff Caruso, of the Virginia Catholic Conference, who commented:

The Guidance Document seeks to prohibit “any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of any gender.”  

When children have unwanted same-sex or mixed-sex attractions, they and their families should be free to seek medical counseling toward the resolutions they desire. 

Parents, who are closest to their children’s challenges, know their needs and are in the best position to identify solutions. Just as parents must generally give consent for over-the-counter medications,[1] field trips, and extracurricular activities, they have a constitutional right to guide healthcare decisions for their children.[2]  

85-7 would also violate Virginia law governing parental rights. Code Sec. 1-240.1 provides that a parent has the fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education and care of the parent’s child. 

The Board has no authority to override this fundamental right of parents and to adopt rules that would censor constitutionally protected counseling discussions between families and their child’s doctor.