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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2/3/21  7:52 am
Commenter: Iris

Oppose
 

Thank you for attempting to address the needs of the transgender community. I am opposed to this proposition because of the broad wording that makes no allowance for those who are NOT transgender and who would be losing their rights to privacy for example in the bathroom etc.  I am opposing this because of the broad wording that makes no allowance for the rights of parents to be made aware of what's going on with children under the age of 16. Let's support love and compassion but protect the rights of ALL children not just the minority. I feel like in an effort to protect them minority you've gone way overboard and stripped the majority of their rights. IT IS ALSO PERVERSE FOR GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO COUNCIL CHILDREN TO QUESTION THE WAY THEY WERE BORN. SOME WILL GO DOWN THAT ROAD NO MATTER WHAT WE DO. GOOD COUNSEL GIVEN AT A YOUNG AGE CAN SAVE MANY PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE GENDER CONFUSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY TRANSGENDER : THEY ARE simply CONFUSED. THEY MAY NEED COUNSELING.  LET'S ENCOURAGE COUNSELING BUT NOT PRESUME TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK A TRANSGENDER AGENDA. Again let's think about the rights of ALL children: the majority of which are not gender confused. 

CommentID: 94810