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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1/5/21  12:31 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

Oppose the Guidance
 

The policies put in place by Virginia's Department of Education place students and educators who hold the traditional view of men and women, a view based on both history, tradition, religion, morality, and most importantly SCIENCE.  It is perfectly appropriately to address a person with XY chromosomes as a male and XX chromosomes as female.  This is objective reality based on science.  It is measurable and ascertainable.  To address someone as other than they are is to LIE to them.  I cannot, in good conscience lie to my children or even to other children.  Nor would I have my own children lie to other children.  Moreover, it will put the guidelines in conflict with Article I, Section 16 of the Virginia Constitution.  To quote the relevant part: "No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."  It is a matter of religious conscience that God created man and woman.  To be forced to profess that one is the other, or that there is some alternative to this duality is to compel a religious belief at odds with the Virginia Constitution.

CommentID: 88288