Dear John, This summer has been a difficult one for many transgender and nonbinary youth and their families, friends, and allies as school boards and communities have debated over whether their divisions should adopt the VDOE Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. As school has resumed throughout the Commonwealth and many students have entered back into hallways and classrooms, the distress from the summertime has continued and in many cases has increased, especially for transgender and nonbinary youth who go to school in divisions that did not adopt sufficient policies. We see and stand with these youth and their families as they navigate this difficult and uncertain time. At Equality Virginia, we have been working hard to facilitate the adoption of these policies in each school division in the state. From offering support to local organizers and educators fighting for these policies on the ground, to uplifting the stories of transgender and nonbinary students in the media, to drafting calls-to-action to encourage more advocates to add their voices - we have been deeply committed to ensuring that transgender and nonbinary students can feel safe and supported at school. The work of local advocates has been paramount in this process as they have rallied their neighbors and colleagues and changed narratives about trans students and their rights. We honor and thank them for the work they have done and will continue to do for the youth in their schools and communities. |
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The rollout of these policies has unfortunately been less than straightforward, with each school board choosing to approach the process differently. Some school divisions thankfully have adopted the VDOE policies in full, others have made minor, insufficient updates to their already-existent nondiscrimination policies, and still others have unfortunately decided to reject the policies altogether. As we get further into the school year, many trans youth, parents, and advocates are looking for next steps to hold their school boards accountable and ensure that administrators and educators understand how to implement the new policies properly. We are working on creating a streamlined guide and curating a toolkit of additional resources for trans students and families who are encountering difficulties in their school system, and we hope to share it with communities soon. For advocates living in areas that have not yet adopted the full policies, we encourage you to continue calling, emailing, and meeting with school board members to express the importance and urgency of adopting comprehensive protections for transgender and nonbinary students. |
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Another way you can make a lasting commitment to students across the Commonwealth is by becoming a monthly supporter, which will help sustain this incredibly important work year-round. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out via email to [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns, or need additional guidance and resources to support your efforts to protect transgender and nonbinary youth in your area. Thank you for all that you do to advance LGBTQ+ equality in your county or city, in Virginia, and beyond! In Solidarity, Kyleigh Hynes
Safe Schools Coordinator |
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