Virginia Implements Revised Guidelines for Transgender Students, Adjusting Accommodations

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's administration has finalized new policies on the treatment of transgender students, which include rolling back some current accommodations and increasing parental notification requirements. The guidelines direct school districts to base students' participation in certain school programming and use of facilities on the sex assigned at birth, with modifications offered only as required by federal law. The policies also emphasize parental involvement and the use of students' official names and pronouns, unless a parent approves otherwise. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the guidelines, expressing concerns about the well-being of vulnerable youth. It remains to be seen how school districts will respond, and some advocates suggest the changes could be contested in court.