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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1/9/21  7:52 am
Commenter: Cynthia Helffrich

Oppose
 

Part of the job of our education system is to protect our students. There is proof that encouraging and promoting this idea that sex doesn’t matter and you can be whatever you want is harmful to individuals. Sex DOES matter. Men and women are different. They are different in beautiful ways and this should be celebrated. One is not better than the other and individuals cannot switch because they feel like they don’t fit in. No one feels like they fit in to their body. You have to grow and learn to appreciate it.  Bathrooms, locker rooms, classes, and groups designed limited to students of a certain sex in no way offends or diminishes the importance of the other. Instead, like different ethnic clubs, they allow people to be who they are in safe spaces. Treat the bullying, treat the unhealthy relationships students have with their own bodies, other students, and the world in general. It stems from a lack of love and acceptance on both the part of the individual and the group. Throw out this transgender agenda. It is only harmful.

CommentID: 89204