When a biological male has surgery to transition his gender, he does not become female. He becomes a handicapped male. Likewise, when a biological female has surgery to transition her gender, she does not become male. She becomes a handicapped female.

This proposed policy would force school officials to defend a minor's decision to mutilate his or her own body with the amputations done in sex reassignment surgery.

Please consider the absurdity of this policy with the following scenario. If a biologically male student were to go to his school counselor and say that he believes he should have his hand surgically amputated, the counselor would likely diagnose him with body integrity identity disorder and intervene to get the student mental help before the student could take steps toward self-mutilation. However, if the same student were to go to his school counselor and say that he believes he should have his penis surgically removed, under this policy, the counselor would be forced to affirm this student's desire and defend this student from anyone who would try to dissuade him away from self-mutilation, potentially including the student's parents.

Depending on how Recommended Standard, p.13, of this policy is interpreted, parents who do not affirm their child's expression of gender identity could be reported Child Protective Services.

“School staff should be prepared to support the safety and welfare of transgender students when their families are not affirming...Whenever school personnel suspects or becomes aware that a student is being abused, neglected, or at risk of abuse or neglect by their parent due to their transgender identity, they should report those concerns to Child Protective Services immediately.” (Recommended Standard, p.13)

Please rescind the purposed Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.