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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2/3/21  2:50 pm
Commenter: Sofia

Strongly support!
 

As a transgender student myself, I strongly support this because this bill allows me to be fully myself and to not be forced to go into a restrooms or locker room that doesn't define who I am, causing depression which affects my education. To the people who object this, I am NOT trans as a choice. This is who I am and I have been a girl since before I could talk. The only issues I have came from years of hiding my true identity and pretending to be a boy ehen I am really a girl, which caused me to become severely depressed and nearly commit suicide. I am much happier now as my real self, and I can now function as a contributing citizen for the first time in my life. Being transgender is NOT an agenda, choice, sin or anything else. It is just like being black or white...everyone is different. With a little bit of education on the topic from trans organizations you will see that it has been not only scientifically proven to not be a choice but allowing us to be our real selves lets us be happy, productive citizens who don't go around wanting to kill themselves on a daily basis. Plus, no sex offender or pedophile is gonna pretend to be the opposite sex just so they can pray on someone. They will simply go in as themselves. Seriously, this is 2021 and transphobia is not okay anymore and should not be accepted. All I want is to be me. I'm not worried about anyone's genitals in the bathroom or locker room, all I want to do is to do my business and leave, comfortably. Please pass this bill for not just me but the other student's mental health and lives. Because this does and WILL save innocent lives from suicide.

CommentID: 95618