Dear John, On Friday afternoon, as thousands of Virginia students left school and went home for the weekend, the Youngkin administration and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) quietly released a proposed 2022 policy that will reverse the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. The proposed 2022 policies received no public input while being drafted, were not developed in accordance with evidence-based best practices, would force transgender and non-binary students to be out to their parents, and will put them at risk for harm and discrimination at school. By outing our students that have not had conversations with their parents the Virginia Department of Education is willingly subjecting LGBTQ+ students to abuse. We all want LGBTQ+ youth to have families that love and support them for who they are—and growing numbers of them do. But there continue to be some who would face rejection and even abuse if they were forcibly outed to unsupportive families. Equality Virginia will do everything we can to oppose this policy and will continue to hold the Youngkin administration accountable. In the coming days we’ll provide more information before a public comment period opens on September 26th. Let's send a rallying cry that hate does not belong in Virginia schools. To all the LGBTQ+ students out there– you make Virginia beautiful and deserve the safety to thrive– everywhere. You are brave, you are bold, you are perfect. We love you and we’ve got your back. Always. |
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In Solidarity, Narissa S. Rahaman (she/her) Executive Director |
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