Contact:
Richard Salmon
571-926-1671
Prince Wm Group Observes Biological Sex Is The Difference That Matters
MANASSAS Virginia, January 18, 2021
--The Prince William & Manassas Family Alliance opposes recommendations of the proposed Virginia Department of Education policy, Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia Public Schools (virginia.gov). This policy document promotes the transgender ideology. This policy document treats gender identity as more important than biological sex. If implemented the policy would even force teachers and students to echo back what those who have “transgendered” themselves want to believe about themselves. Forcing people to say things they do not believe violates the First Amendment. Our public schools should be safe for all people, not just those troubled with ‘gender dysphoria.’
--The Alliance opposes recommendations to accommodate transgender students in all public school restrooms. In comments filed on a draft the Prince William County affiliate of the Family Foundation urged the State to protect privacy and modesty of all students rather than require schools to allow all students to use any restroom based on a temporary identification with a sex other than that of their birth.
--The Alliance explained that it believes that in the beginning “God created man in his image, in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them." Our gender is in our DNA.”
While it said that it condemned bullying or mistreatment of any transgender persons who doubt their birth gender, the proposed transgender policy does not take into account its potential detriment to transgender students. Physicians claim that in the majority of cases young people who question their birth gender come to terms with who they are by young adulthood and move forward in their original gender.
Transgender students adopt clothing and a hair style like their ‘gender identity,’ take a different given name and use preferred pronouns when referring to themselves or when being addressed. Giving them access to bathrooms and showers of a gender other than that corresponding with their genitalia will not satisfy their ‘gender dysphoria.’ Rather it will reinforce the confusion and intensify their focus and that of their fellow students on this narrow aspect of their self-image.
Many transgender youths take hormones that will induce irreversible sex change. Though it sounds simple, the hormones weaken bone development and possibly affect brain development that continues into young adulthood. In most cases the hormones render them sterile.
The secondary sex changes induced by hormone therapy are permanent: girls develop facial hair, a deepened voice and often the girls have their breasts surgically removed to appear more masculine. Boys are feminized to develop breasts, a higher-pitched voice and again, are rendered sterile. If, later, transgender individuals regret their decision, they cannot reverse the damage done to their bodies. This often leads to depression and even suicide.
Family Alliance President Ruth Dale says her group endorses kind and respectful treatment of transgender students but emphasizes “We also want the student body of which the transgender students are a part be to be treated with equal respect and dignity. They have a right to privacy and modesty. Sharing bath and shower rooms with students having different genitalia does not serve that end.”
Therefore, we oppose ‘open’ use of bathrooms and shower rooms by transgender students. Instead, single-person toilet and shower facilities should be provided for transgender students’ use. It is the most equitable way to help all students.”
Alliance Secretary Richard Salmon also requested that Virginia senators and delegates who last March mandated local school boards adopt the State Board policy not then yet in existence, suspend that requirement until the state department adopts a final policy and the General Assembly conducts oversight hearings on the resulting “model.”
A draft has been published at Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia Public Schools (virginia.gov). The public is invited to comment between now and 11:59 pm. on February 3 (CLICK ON => Guidance Document Public Comment Forum (virginia.gov). We encourage all the citizens of Virginia to comment on the proposed policy.
We believe the parents and grandparents of school age should be irate about this policy proposal. Please let your state legislators know how you feel. Their contact information is available here, Who's My Legislator.
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The Prince William & Manassas Family Alliance is composed of citizens of Prince William county and the City of Manassas from many occupations and religious affiliations. Our mission is to stand for and protect family, moral and religious values. Our web site is: www.familyallianceonline.org.