DEMOCREPUBLIX NEWS

Virginia education regulators shift control of transgender issues back to parents

Students in Virginia public schools will no longer be able to get gender affirming counseling without first talking with their parents.

According to the new criteria, parents must be notified and given the option to protest before the school conducts gender counseling services. Schools must also defer to parents on whether their children get counseling that promotes them to identify with a gender other than their biological sex.

According to Virginia's new school principles, parents are the most essential educators, and teachers, counselors, and administrators should collaborate with them. Because the First Amendment prohibits government actors from forcing people to use someone's chosen pronouns, school boards will not be able to order students to use someone's preferred pronouns.