{"id":817556,"date":"2022-09-28T18:28:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T18:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radiofree.asia\/?guid=ccbd0be0da3bc6adeb54757b4d66d4d1"},"modified":"2022-09-28T18:28:49","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T18:28:49","slug":"gov-youngkins-anti-trans-policies-trigger-massive-student-walkouts-in-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/09\/28\/gov-youngkins-anti-trans-policies-trigger-massive-student-walkouts-in-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Youngkin\u2019s Anti-Trans Policies Trigger Massive Student Walkouts in Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of students across Virginia protested this week, walking out of their classrooms and schools to demonstrate their opposition to policy changes being proposed by the administration of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) toward transgender youth in the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

Youngkin’s state Department of Education <\/span>issued new model policies last Friday<\/span><\/a> to “provide clear, accurate, and useful guidance to Virginia school boards that align with statutory provisions.” The new document takes a “parental rights” approach when it comes to transgender youth in schools, encouraging districts to enact rules that discriminate against and potentially endanger LGBTQ children.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new policies say<\/span><\/a> that transgender students participating in public school activities, such as sports, should only be involved in programs that correspond to the gender assigned to them at birth. It advocates a similar policy for the restrooms or locker rooms transgender students should use, prohibiting trans children from using facilities that match their gender identities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The policy changes by Youngkin’s state Department of Education also say that schools should require students under the age of 18 to be addressed by the name and pronouns stated in official government records, and that students’ preferences to be called another name should not happen without parental consent \u2014 an action that <\/span>could be harmful to children in households with unaccepting parents<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The guidance isn’t yet in effect but will be once a 30-day public comment period closes next month. After that, <\/span>schools will be required to adopt policies “consistent with” the state’s model policies<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

After news of the policy changes came on Friday, students organized to walk out of classrooms this week to protest against the Youngkin administration’s actions. <\/span>Thousands of students across more than 100 schools took part in the demonstrations<\/span><\/a> across the state on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social media posts showcased students appearing outside their schools, with many chanting “trans lives matter,” while holding signs in opposition to the changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Short video from Osbourn Park High School! Trans Lives Matter!<\/p>\n

Students walk out in protest on Glen Youngkin's bigoted anti-trans bans. pic.twitter.com\/n0irKmhtOj<\/a><\/p>\n

— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) September 27, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n