Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

If you are someone your kid feels safe telling, they will tell you.

And I hope you work every day to be that parent.

But a child's wellbeing is more important than your feelings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


What does it mean to be treated as a “boy” at school? Use the boys bathroom, boys lockers, join the boys sports teams?

Turn it on its head: are we letting teen trans “girls” into the locker room with my daughter?

There is no meaningful way the sexes are treated differently except in ways that can’t be compromised. Trans kids must used the communal facilities of their gender at birth. That’s unavoidable. They shouldn’t compete with the opposite gender on single gender teams. So what is the debate at all?

I'm not entirely sure I understand your argument- but your statements that you put forth as fact here trans kids use bathrooms of gender at birth, and don't compete with the other gender on single gender teams, is contrary to current APS policy.

Right. APS has had progressive and inclusive trans policies for going on at least three years now. I have not heard any parents of trans kids oppose the policy so I think it's a made up conservative right talking point that there's some big issue with schools withholding information from parents of trans kids. When there is not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


What does it mean to be treated as a “boy” at school? Use the boys bathroom, boys lockers, join the boys sports teams?

Turn it on its head: are we letting teen trans “girls” into the locker room with my daughter?

There is no meaningful way the sexes are treated differently except in ways that can’t be compromised. Trans kids must used the communal facilities of their gender at birth. That’s unavoidable. They shouldn’t compete with the opposite gender on single gender teams. So what is the debate at all?

I'm not entirely sure I understand your argument- but your statements that you put forth as fact here trans kids use bathrooms of gender at birth, and don't compete with the other gender on single gender teams, is contrary to current APS policy.

Right. APS has had progressive and inclusive trans policies for going on at least three years now. I have not heard any parents of trans kids oppose the policy so I think it's a made up conservative right talking point that there's some big issue with schools withholding information from parents of trans kids. When there is not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


What does it mean to be treated as a “boy” at school? Use the boys bathroom, boys lockers, join the boys sports teams?

Turn it on its head: are we letting teen trans “girls” into the locker room with my daughter?

There is no meaningful way the sexes are treated differently except in ways that can’t be compromised. Trans kids must used the communal facilities of their gender at birth. That’s unavoidable. They shouldn’t compete with the opposite gender on single gender teams. So what is the debate at all?

I'm not entirely sure I understand your argument- but your statements that you put forth as fact here trans kids use bathrooms of gender at birth, and don't compete with the other gender on single gender teams, is contrary to current APS policy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

If you are someone your kid feels safe telling, they will tell you.

And I hope you work every day to be that parent.

But a child's wellbeing is more important than your feelings.

Again its very simple. The parent has the right to determine what is in their own child's well being. So I decide the child's well being, not the school. Just like I have the right to make the determination on the most mundane of things - i.e. whether my child can go on a field trip. I should have the right to know/determine whether my child is being treated as the gender opposite to their gender assigned at birth. This is a dangerous slippery slope - imagine the reverse - if conservatives were in power and we had no rights as parents? That's why I'm also against the portion of Youngkin's guidance where teachers, against the child's parents wishes, have the right to refer to a student by pronouns corresponding to that student's gender assigned at birth even if the parents want the opposite. Again this infringes on parental rights because in the end it should be up to the parent, not the teacher. Now there are situations where teachers suspect abuse and there are laws for that. Teachers are mandated reporters.

It isn't "parents' rights." It's the right of the child to use pronouns they want to use and to have people call them by a name they want to be called. The only "right" relative to parents here is whether or not the teacher/school is obligated to notify the parent of such pronoun/name usage. Again, when it comes to sports, parents already need to grant permission and should already be aware of what sport/team their kids are trying out for or participating in. Kids should have rights, too; like who they play with on the playground and sit with at lunch. Or do you expect to be notified about all the kids yours are interacting with so you can grant permission for them to interact with specific classmates or not?

Liberal arguments don't make sense here. This is a common one I see. Your argument minimizes identifying with a gender, like its a nickname or choosing a friend. Yet if someone says kids schools can identify and treat students by their gender assigned at birth/biological sex, then liberals start screaming that this will cause the child to commit suicide. Either its something inconsequential, like a nickname, or its something serious/consequential.Pick one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

If you are someone your kid feels safe telling, they will tell you.

And I hope you work every day to be that parent.

But a child's wellbeing is more important than your feelings.

Again its very simple. The parent has the right to determine what is in their own child's well being. So I decide the child's well being, not the school. Just like I have the right to make the determination on the most mundane of things - i.e. whether my child can go on a field trip. I should have the right to know/determine whether my child is being treated as the gender opposite to their gender assigned at birth. This is a dangerous slippery slope - imagine the reverse - if conservatives were in power and we had no rights as parents? That's why I'm also against the portion of Youngkin's guidance where teachers, against the child's parents wishes, have the right to refer to a student by pronouns corresponding to that student's gender assigned at birth even if the parents want the opposite. Again this infringes on parental rights because in the end it should be up to the parent, not the teacher. Now there are situations where teachers suspect abuse and there are laws for that. Teachers are mandated reporters.

It isn't "parents' rights." It's the right of the child to use pronouns they want to use and to have people call them by a name they want to be called. The only "right" relative to parents here is whether or not the teacher/school is obligated to notify the parent of such pronoun/name usage. Again, when it comes to sports, parents already need to grant permission and should already be aware of what sport/team their kids are trying out for or participating in. Kids should have rights, too; like who they play with on the playground and sit with at lunch. Or do you expect to be notified about all the kids yours are interacting with so you can grant permission for them to interact with specific classmates or not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

If you are someone your kid feels safe telling, they will tell you.

And I hope you work every day to be that parent.

But a child's wellbeing is more important than your feelings.

Again its very simple. The parent has the right to determine what is in their own child's well being. So I decide the child's well being, not the school. Just like I have the right to make the determination on the most mundane of things - i.e. whether my child can go on a field trip. I should have the right to know/determine whether my child is being treated as the gender opposite to their gender assigned at birth. This is a dangerous slippery slope - imagine the reverse - if conservatives were in power and we had no rights as parents? That's why I'm also against the portion of Youngkin's guidance where teachers, against the child's parents wishes, have the right to refer to a student by pronouns corresponding to that student's gender assigned at birth even if the parents want the opposite. Again this infringes on parental rights because in the end it should be up to the parent, not the teacher. Now there are situations where teachers suspect abuse and there are laws for that. Teachers are mandated reporters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

If you are someone your kid feels safe telling, they will tell you.

And I hope you work every day to be that parent.

But a child's wellbeing is more important than your feelings.

Again its very simple. The parent has the right to determine what is in their own child's well being. So I decide the child's well being, not the school. Just like I have the right to make the determination on the most mundane of things - i.e. whether my child can go on a field trip. I should have the right to know/determine whether my child is being treated as the gender opposite to their gender assigned at birth. This is a dangerous slippery slope - imagine the reverse - if conservatives were in power and we had no rights as parents? That's why I'm also against the portion of Youngkin's guidance where teachers, against the child's parents wishes, have the right to refer to a student by pronouns corresponding to that student's gender assigned at birth even if the parents want the opposite. Again this infringes on parental rights because in the end it should be up to the parent, not the teacher. Now there are situations where teachers suspect abuse and there are laws for that. Teachers are mandated reporters.

Anonymous wrote:


What does it mean to be treated as a “boy” at school? Use the boys bathroom, boys lockers, join the boys sports teams?

Turn it on its head: are we letting teen trans “girls” into the locker room with my daughter?

There is no meaningful way the sexes are treated differently except in ways that can’t be compromised. Trans kids must used the communal facilities of their gender at birth. That’s unavoidable. They shouldn’t compete with the opposite gender on single gender teams. So what is the debate at all?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

If you are someone your kid feels safe telling, they will tell you.

And I hope you work every day to be that parent.

But a child's wellbeing is more important than your feelings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

This is a lot like abortion -- I won't need it for myself, but it should be available to protect those who do need it.

Umm how is this like abortion? It’s about my right, as a parent, to make decisions for my child. The entire thing is absurd. I need to give permission for my child to take Advil, go on a field trip, speak to a counselor. Yet somehow my permission is not required for my girls to be treated as boys in school??

I agree with you until the last sentence. Your children shouldn't require your permission to be treated as boys in school. But, barring legitimate concerns of safety for the children (which I think are rarer than the norm), you should be made aware of their request to be treated as boys in schools. Although, I think it's more complicated and nuanced, and I'd say age is a relevant factor to consider as well. The youngest should probably need parental permission. But middle and high schoolers? No.

What does it mean to be treated as a “boy” at school? Use the boys bathroom, boys lockers, join the boys sports teams?

Turn it on its head: are we letting teen trans “girls” into the locker room with my daughter?

There is no meaningful way the sexes are treated differently except in ways that can’t be compromised. Trans kids must used the communal facilities of their gender at birth. That’s unavoidable. They shouldn’t compete with the opposite gender on single gender teams. So what is the debate at all?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

This is a lot like abortion -- I won't need it for myself, but it should be available to protect those who do need it.

Umm how is this like abortion? It’s about my right, as a parent, to make decisions for my child. The entire thing is absurd. I need to give permission for my child to take Advil, go on a field trip, speak to a counselor. Yet somehow my permission is not required for my girls to be treated as boys in school??

I agree with you until the last sentence. Your children shouldn't require your permission to be treated as boys in school. But, barring legitimate concerns of safety for the children (which I think are rarer than the norm), you should be made aware of their request to be treated as boys in schools. Although, I think it's more complicated and nuanced, and I'd say age is a relevant factor to consider as well. The youngest should probably need parental permission. But middle and high schoolers? No.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vell Rives is gross. No way I'd fall for his spiel. The people who are voting for him are either Trump-Youngkin accolytes - even if they won't admit to it out loud - or they are not very bright.

I’m Middle Eastern. I voted Democrat all my life and hate Trump. I’m sick of Arlington Democrats getting involved in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position. I will be voting for Rives because of that. Also democrats have lost their mind on the trans issue.

Do you have school-aged children with trans friends? The Republicans are the ones who have lost their minds; trans kids and their families have just been going along, living their lives in Arlington until Republicans freaked out.

(I'm not saying life is easy for trans kids, to be clear. But none of the nightmare scenarios Rs are squawking about had any basis in reality)

Middle eastern poster here. There are no republicans running in Arlington. No democrats have lost their minds. I support kids being able to identify with the gender they are most comfortable with. I support trans kids being able to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. What I do not support is the right of schools to hide a student’s gender identity from their parents. That’s absolutely insane. As a parent, I have the right to know if my child is suddenly identifying with a different gender than their gender assigned at birth, no ifs and buts.

This is a lot like abortion -- I won't need it for myself, but it should be available to protect those who do need it.

Umm how is this like abortion? It’s about my right, as a parent, to make decisions for my child. The entire thing is absurd. I need to give permission for my child to take Advil, go on a field trip, speak to a counselor. Yet somehow my permission is not required for my girls to be treated as boys in school??