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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1/17/21  8:55 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

Respect for all
 

It is important to have respect for all. The proposed Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students elevates the needs of some above the needs of others. For instance, the identified need of a child to express his or herself in terms of adopting stereotypical feminine or masculine dress or expression is elevated above the parents' rights to guide and care for their child; the need of a child who does not conform to their biological sex is elevated above the rights of children who conform to their biological sex by preventing the latter from privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms. 

Interestingly the policies are written claiming to remove barriers for one group, without recognizing they are creating barriers for others. For instance a biological boy who is allowed to compete against biological girls may eliminate the biological girl from advancing. Remember back in the 70's when women's sports was created to recognize that girls and women needed a separate space to fairly compete in athletics? 

All children need love, respect and safety, but these policies are not considering "all" but are elevating one class above another. 

Thus, I oppose these policies. 

CommentID: 90544