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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1/8/21  11:09 am
Commenter: Anonymous

Oppose
 

First, I apologize for not having ample time to review this document thoroughly. However, I think my observations and questions are valid. What I find confusing is on page 5 Section 22.1-23.3 - why does the VA code not include athletics? If Trans students are to be treated fairly as Title IX indicates on page 7 - why are VA public schools excluding athletics? Is this to say that Trans students should have all of these considerations put in place, except for when they want to play a sport that is opposite of their physical characteristics? Under the Student Policy/Confidentiality section on page 11 "When a student undergoes public transition...schools need to set clear boundaries about being gender inclusive." How is this to be enacted? How are schools going to control students from making fun of each other/bullying? Are schools going to impose zero tolerance policies for harassment of trans students? If so, how will schools ensure Black and Brown students are not over-represented in discipline and referral actions now that, for example, if a student says something negative about a Trans students - they are now suspended or given detention? It is clear that his policy was not created with the input of parents, as not one is listed on pages 3-4. It is a shame that this policy was not created with the consideration of scholarly work such as The End of Gender: Debunking the Myths about Sex and Identity in our Society by Dr. Debra Soh; Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier; and Ostgathe et al., (2014) found here: https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.11648%2Fj.ajap.20140306.14.; and Douglas Murray's The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity. There is not conclusive evidence to suggest that Trans students should not be diagnosed with BIID or Gender Dysphoria. This policy goes on to perpetuate the raising of children absent of parental input. Meaning, this policy is usurping parent's rights to be involved in their child or adolescent's life. This is ethically and morally unjust. 

CommentID: 88874