I am writing because I am shocked and strongly oppose the measures being pushed regarding opinions on transgenderism in our public schools. These opinions do not align with those of a vast number of our families as well as science, and have no proven grounds in actually supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our children. These efforts will absolutely keep me from enrolling my children in public schools, and I am deeply concerned for those families who are unable to seek other options like homeschooling or private school, which we will have to do. Specific points I have:

1) Most importantly, schools should not be accommodating the especially harmful view that youth is an appropriate time to be encouraging, in some cases, irreversible “gender transitions”.
2) The proposed policies articulate views – such as the view that “Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five to six” – that are far different from those of many parents. Through its blanket endorsement of views like these, the VDOE has gone far beyond the path the General Assembly prescribed.
3) No child should be forced to share showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms or other intimate settings with a member of the opposite biological sex.
4) Many children would feel uncomfortable when they encounter a member of the opposite sex – particularly adults – in gendered facilities or when entering a shared hotel room as part of an overnight school activity.
5) Children, particularly adolescents, can experience hypersensitive and traumatic reactions to these situations.
6) The model regulations infringe the First Amendment rights of parents to raise and care for their children.

Thank you.