I am deeply opposed to these transgender policies due to their social experimentation on children; violations of the basic right to privacy; and their inability to actually help the small number of children legitimately suffering with gender dysphoria and their mental health concerns.

My husband and I were a part of this lengthy debate in 2017 when PWC school board ignored hundreds of concerned parents and rushed a vote to include gender identity and sexual orientation as a protected class. On first glance, this seems like a compassionate measure, but upon deeper inspection there are serious and disturbing ramifications of this policy and the policies you are promoting now. A primary concern is privacy. After the #Metoo movement, you would think that girls' and young women's right to privacy would be respected, but instead they are being shut out of safe changing spaces and bathroom facilities.

A PWC school board member in 2017 responded to my concerns about bathroom/locker room privacy saying that it didn't matter because "boys were already gaining access to girls restrooms for sex" during school hours. When I asked about the short and long term consequences of these rushed policies, the same board member said "I'll be off the board by then." 

It's clear from my interactions with the PWC school board that Virginia public schools cannot even enforce basic codes of conduct and safety and that prior to 2017 thay were repeatedly failing at enforcing decent and respectful behavior between students. This sad reality is not going to improve with these ill advised transgender policies but only become more chaotic and ridiculous.

There is a very small percentage of children who actually experience gender dysphoria, and yet the DOE wants to encourage the ENTIRE student population, beginning in kindergarten, to experience and promote transgenderism. You will obscure the actual students who need help, while confusing the biological reality of thousands of MINORS. You also want to destroy or undermine legitimate parental authority, responsibility, and protection for their children. Have you forgotten who has given you the authority to teach and keep our children safe during school hours and activities? YOU ARE GIVEN PERMISSION TO EDUCATE CHILDREN FROM THE AUTHORITY AND AGREEMENT OF PARENTS. Virginia schools have no right to undermine a parent's primary and essential right to know what occurs to their child during school and their fundamental right to raise, guide, and protect them!

For a child struggling with their biological sex/gender identity, there can be many reasons for the outward expression of transgenderism. It can be a reg flag for abuse; unstable home life; serious illness or death in the family; domestic violence; neglect; other trauma or major life event. How can assigning a random pronoun of choice ever meet the mental health needs of children with gender dysphoria or their common comorbid illnesses of depression, phobia, and adjustment disorders? This is a mental health crisis that requires real care, NOT transgender activism.

You have developed these policies listening to a lobbying movement that makes up less than .5 percent of the population. These policies are about undermining legitimate parent authority and social experimentation on our children.

Please reject this disturbing trend of rejecting biological reality that leads to horrible pharmaceutical drugs and horrific surgeries on children. Will the DOE take ownership for the inevitable course you are promoting when it includes breast binding, breast amputation, puberty blocking drugs, sterility, amputation of reproductive organs? Will you be ready for the harassment lawsuits and other lawsuits that will follow from the mental and physical harm from your endorsement and promotion of transgenderism? 

You must oppose adopting these extreme policies and this blatant movement of social experimentation on Virginia's children. You will continue to see an exodus by families from your public schools and you will be making the case for taxpayers to object and oppose their tax dollars being used to fund these school policies.