We are the people of Newport News. We are transgender and cisgender people, students and teachers, families and allies. We respectfully request that the board of Newport News Public Schools reverse their recent decision to adopt transphobic policies which require transgender students to be deadnamed and misgendendered, outed to their parents or guardians without consent, and denied access to facilities and activities that match their gender identities.

These policies can cause immense psychological harm to students who are already at risk due to the widespread discrimination and bigotry they endure. They also endanger students by requiring educators and counselors to reveal students’ private information to potentially hostile families.

These policies are widely unpopular among students, educators, parents, and the Newport News community. They are primarily being supported by an aggressive special-interest group which is deeply hostile to the desires of the people of Newport News.

Finally, these policies contradict Virginia and United States law, as has been determined in numerous court cases, including Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board. Maintaining these policies is not just cruel and immoral, but also illegal.

We, the undersigned, request that the Newport News school board allow transgender students to be referred to by their chosen names and pronouns, maintain privacy regarding their gender identities unless or until the students consent to disclosure, and access facilities and activities that match their gender identities.

Sincerely,