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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1/19/21  1:14 pm
Commenter: Theresa T

Strongly oppose - gender differences matter in sports!
 

I strongly oppose these proposed policies, which ignore the scientific realities of the physical differences between biological males and females. They would threaten my daughter's all-girls' school and would disadvantage biological female athletes to the point where many might find it hopeless to compete for titles and scholarships.  The idea of allowing biological males who still possess male genitals into locker rooms and bathrooms with girls is frightening to me and to many others. The fact that parents may not be aware of their children's gender dysphoria while the schools are affirming it for children of any age is an affront to parental rights.  In addition, there are so many Pandora's boxes being opened by the wide-reaching new definitions of harassment and hate speech. It is completely absurd to ignore science and real biological differences in the name of equality, and it makes no sense to say on one hand that those who are gay are born that way and cannot change, and on the other that a person born male can be a female or one born female can be a male if they so declare, and that their gender identity can change from day to day or week to week. 

CommentID: 90765