Chesterfield School Board to vote on proposed changes to transgender student policy

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Chesterfield County School Board is set to vote on proposed changes to Policy 1015, which currently outlines the rights and treatment of transgender students in the district. The potential changes stem from Governor Glenn Youngkin's recent model policies, which were issued by the Virginia Department of Education earlier this year, and could significantly alter how transgender students are treated in local schools. If approved, the changes would have broad implications for transgender students, affecting everything from bathroom and locker room access to participation in gender-segregated sports. Most notably, the proposed policy revision would require students to use facilities that align with the sex listed on their official records. Additionally, students requesting to use a different name or pronoun would need to have their parents notified in writing. Currently, students can use any name they choose without providing evidence, and their school is not required to inform parents. Under the new policy, if a student requests a name change that differs from the one on record, the school would be obligated to notify parents. This provision has raised concerns among advocates for transgender rights, who argue that such changes could create a chilling effect and undermine the trust between students and teachers. Sam Skrimpz, a local transgender man, shared his concerns about the proposed policy changes. Skrimpz, who moved to Virginia from Louisiana to access better resources for transitioning, spoke about his own struggles with bullying and isolation during his school years. "I was suicidal for all of middle school until high school -- until high school and then I started using drugs to kind of numb the pain and the self-hatred of not being accepted by really anyone around me," Skrimpz said. He believes the policy changes would only make matters worse for students already struggling with their identities. "You're going to have adults who are tattling on kids to their parents," Skrimpz said. "Someone who experienced this 12 years ago and to also be in the same place with it within the school system culture 12 years later." On the other side of the debate, some parents argue that they should have the right to be notified about any major decisions regarding their children’s identities. Daniel Copenhaver, a parent of multiple Chesterfield students, voiced his concern about parental rights. "No one's going to tell me they know better for my child than me," Copenhaver said. "The parents need to be notified about any major thing going on with their child." Copenhaver, who expressed strong support for the proposed changes, added that he would consider pulling his children out of the school district if the policy does not change. "Something as serious as a life-changing event like changing their gender or identifying however they want, I believe the parents should be notified," Copenhaver explained. The potential policy revisions would also impact students’ participation in gender-segregated sports. Currently, students are allowed to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity, as long as they have parental consent. However, under the proposed changes, students would only be allowed to participate in sports that correspond with the sex listed on their official school records. 8News reached out to Chesterfield County School Board for comment, but has not yet received a response. With the vote scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 10, both supporters and opponents of the policy change are bracing for a decision that could have lasting implications for the district’s transgender students and their families.