You Vote: Should schools treat students by their biological sex or gender identity?

Proposal in Virginia seeks to base restroom use and sports participation on one's biological sex, not gender identity.

Published: October 28, 2022 12:59pm

Updated: October 28, 2022 4:23pm

The public comment period for Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposed reversal of his predecessor's transgender policies, which had let students use restrooms and participate in sports based on their gender identity, ended this week, Just the News reported.

Groups and individuals filed tens of thousands of comments on Youngkin's proposal, which says schools "shall respect parents' values and beliefs ... defer to parents to make the best decisions with respect to their children" and "keep parents informed about their children's well-being."

Schools may only "change the legal name or sex in a student or former student's official record" if it's reflected in a legal document or court order, according to Youngkin's plan, and they may only refer to students using their names or nicknames and "the pronouns appropriate to the sex" in the official record

However, parents can overcome this measure by instructing personnel in writing to use different names and pronouns due to "the student's persistent and sincere belief" of a gender identity at odds with their sex.

Student participation in extracurriculars, overnight trips, and "intimate spaces" such as locker rooms and restrooms "shall be based on sex," the proposed policy states.

Do you prefer Youngkin's plan or the policies of his predecessor? Do you want schools to primarily consider a student's biological sex or their gender identity? Here's your chance to weigh in:

Should schools treat students first and foremost by their biological sex or gender identity?

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