Virginia Republicans Further Bill Preventing Schools From Hiding Gender Dysphoria From Parents

The Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill on Tuesday that requires public school officials to notify parents if their child “self-identifies” As something other than their biological sex. The final vote They came along PartiesThe measure was supported by 50 Republicans and opposed by 48 Democrats

Also known as “Sage’s Law,” The legislationHB 2432() was named for a 14-year old girl in Virginia who became a victim to sex slavery after her school kept her gender dysphoria secret from her mother. As The Federalist previously reported reportedSage, who identified himself as a boy in August 2021, began to experience bullying and harassment at school. Sage ran away, but was discovered in Maryland a week later as a victim to sexual assault.

According to a Summary If a school official is not in compliance with the law, “has reason to believe” Student “is self-identifying as a gender different from the student’s biological sex,” This official is required “to contact as soon as practicable at least one of such student’s parents to ask whether such parent is aware of the student’s mental state and whether the parent wishes to obtain or has already obtained counseling for such student.”

School officials are also prohibited from the bill. “encouraging or coercing a minor to withhold from the minor’s parent the fact that the minor’s perception of his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with the minor’s biological sex” Oder “withholding from a minor’s parent information relating to the minor’s perception that his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with the minor’s biological sex.”

Among the Virginia Democrats who voted against Sage’s Law is Del. Danice A. Roem, a man proclaiming to be a woman who argued that passage of the legislation would put children’s lives at risk.

“Mr. Speaker, if the delegate would like examples of children who have been forced out of their homes … go down the street to [Richmond LGBTQ+ youth center] Side By Side, go to Virginia Beach, and talk to one of the youth homeless centers there,” Roem said. “If you want experiences, if you wanna hear lived experiences from the very kids who this bill would affect, go talk to the kids who were kicked out of their homes and who were beaten for being outed against their own will.”

The following is an extract from the Daily CallerRepublican Del. Dave LaRock, the bill’s sponsor, refuted Roem’s talking points. “schools would have no way to accurately determine biological sex in opposition to ‘gender identity.’” He said: “It is very obvious in the school context that counselors would know a child’s biological sex, having a child that has been present in the school, perhaps participating in different sports, and who would then confide in a counselor.”

“So the student themselves would be likely to disclose, as part of that decision in the conversation leading up to it, what their actual biological sex is,” LaRock said.

The bill now goes to