Richmond Times Dispatch Publishes NASW Virginia's Op-Ed Opposing Anti-Transgender Student Proposals

The Richmond Times-Dispatch published an op-ed October 7 by NASW Virginia Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, titled “Proposed Changes to Transgender Student Protections Threaten Mental and Physical Health of Children.”

The article shares the outrage and concerns of social workers regarding Gov. Youngkin’s proposed policies that would, if accepted, infringe on the basic rights of transgender students to use restrooms and play on sports teams of their preferred gender, and force teachers and administrators to “out” transgender students to parents by reporting when school employees are asked by a student to use preferred gender pronouns or names. The policies are misleadingly titled “The 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.

The NASW Code of Ethics requires us to fight discrimination in all forms, so please read the article and help amplify its reach by sharing it on social media and writing letters to the editor of your own local newspapers.