The need to protect our youth regardless of race, sex, or gender is our ultimate priority when considering the educational spaces they are meant to occupy. It is crucial that we encourage the protection of students in policies in order to protect them from peers who may not yet understand them AS WELL AS adults and faculty who need formal requirements in order to hold them accountable. Bullying, harassment, and discrimination regarding one's identity are inexcusable and to deny these youth of protection of their personal privacy regarding confidentiality of information, school records, and dress code are all facets of empowering and encouraging youth to stay within the educational system.

The lack of these BASIC rights is what leads to long-term, irreparable inequity in adulthood and should be avoided at all costs through the utmost protection of youth via protective and inclusive policy.

ALSO, TO THOSE IN OPPOSITION: It is evident you did NOT read nor comprehend that these policies were REQUESTED via HOUSE and SENATE BILLS by the VA GA and that the guidelines address EVIDENCE-based practices and information. Your personal concerns regarding the "influence" of your own children are thus issues regarding the level of education in your own household. Perhaps consider taking a Gender Studies course at any University in which policies regarding Transgender/Non-Binary students are certainly more forthright than the BASIC rights proposed here for the youth.