Friend, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration and the Virginia Department of Education have released a proposed policy reversing evidence-based best practice trans-inclusive policies requiring Virginia’s schools to discriminate against transgender youth. We can’t let these policies move forward. The proposed policies seek to erase trans and non-binary youth from the classroom and create a hostile and even dangerous school environment. They restrict restroom access and sports participation for transgender and nonbinary students, require faculty and staff to “out” trans and nonbinary students to their parents, and prohibit teachers and staff from supporting trans students in a range of ways, including blocking them from using a student’s affirming name and pronouns. Now through October 26, the state will hear public comment on the proposed policies – and we need your help. Please join us by submitting your comment using Equality Virginia’s online portal here. Every parent hopes our laws will ensure our children’s safety, protection, and freedom. But the Virginia Department of Education is rejecting those values and advancing a policy that would target trans and non-binary kids for bullying and mistreatment just because of who they are. Can you take action today by submitting a public comment opposing these proposed changes and telling the Governor and Department of Education that #TransYouthBelongVA? Click here to learn more and submit – it takes two minutes. Let's send a rallying cry that hate does not belong in Virginia schools – and tell trans and non-binary students that they deserve the safety to thrive, no matter where they are. Thank you, Narissa S. Rahaman (she/her) Executive Director #TransYouthBelongVA | 
