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.
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
1/16/21  4:41 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

Against this proposal, for mutual respect
 

As a parent, I find this completely unacceptable. The psychological challenges that accompany transgender identification require family support. If a child chooses to identify this way, it is not for the school to withhold this information from the parent. Honestly, it's not a small decision, so I can't imagine parents wouldn't already know? Isn't it in the best interest of the child if they can work with teachers and administration to properly support their children?

As far as the bathroom issue, a third, non-gendered, lockable individual bathroom and locker room should suffice. You are talking about a very small portion of the population at each school. Leave the boys' bathroom for boys born and identifying as boys and the girls' bathroom for girls born and identifying as girls. 

If this is a proposal advocating equal rights, and respect for all, then respect the parents of these minor children and the personal space of the cisgender students. 

CommentID: 90411