Virginia Mandates Transgender School Policies

 

The Virginia General Assembly and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) launched efforts to require every K-12 school in Virginia to teach a transgender advocacy curriculum (see “Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students”) with policies that are part of school life though all children will not need transgender assistance.  This summer brought an unprecedented wave of parents exercising their parental rights to protect their children who attend public school.

 

Thousands of Virginian parents responded to these mandates and nearly 20 school boards have either decided to reject the VDOE's transgender-issue policy mandate, replace it with their own policy or resolution, or decline to take action on it, including counties such as Russell, Buchanan, Bedford, Campbell, Chesapeake, Highland, Louisa, Washington, and Augusta, among others.  Virginia Beach was among those school districts that are mandating the policy.  Many parents exercised their right to reaffirm their own parental rights stating that existing policies already protect every child, and that parents, rather than schools, are responsible for a child's health and welfare decision making.  These voices generated some national news coverage:

· Breitbart: Virginia School Board Unanimously Rejects Critical Race Theory And State Mandated Transgender Policy  

· CBN: School Board Says It's Protecting All Students and Parents in Vote on Virginia's New Transgender Student Policy 

· Fox News affiliates: Transgender Student Policy Vote Postponed After Dozens Speak at Loudoun meeting

· The Epoch Times: Parents Protest Ahead of Transgender Policy Adoption ..

 

If you and your children are struggling with gender dysphoria and how to treat it, you may wish to utilize these free resources:

Parent Resource Guide from Family Policy Alliance, who have also launched the Help Not Harm campaign to protect children from experimental hormones and surgery, and various resources available at the Witherspoon Institute from Dr. Andre Van Mol, co-chair of the American College of Pediatricians’ Committee on Adolescent Sexuality.

These state mandated laws may tend to place pressure on children or parents who may be struggling with how to handle gender dysphoria.  The best course of action is to seek expert guidance as listed here.  Attorneys are available to assist when a parent’s right to protect his or her children is violated, as the goal of family restoration is to help heal and restore families in conflict.