I am opposed to the transgender policy proposals by the Virginia Department of Education, HB 145 and SB 161, because I believe it undermines parents rights in public schools, and may also weaken the privacy and safety of all students. Research on gender identity is an ongoing process yet the VDOE would base its policies on views stated as fact. An example of this is the statement, "Gender identity is considered an innate characteristic that most children declare by age five or six." What study or studies is this concept based upon? Who carried out the studies? Parents and guardians have a right to know the answer to this and other questions raised by the proposals, before the regulatory process goes further.