But then came Youngkin’s new policy on transgender students — which ultimately led to a heated exchange between Good and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D), according to multiple aides with first- or secondhand knowledge of the meeting. , and who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly. The Youngkin administration this weekend introduced a new directive that would limit the rights of transgender students in schools, ordering all 133 school districts to adopt policies that would require transgender students to use facilities and participate in activities that correspond to their gender at birth. It would also prohibit students from changing their names or pronouns at school without parental permission, putting Virginia at the center of a national debate about the relationship between schools and parents regarding children’s gender identity. Virginia policy latest attempt to curtail rights of transgender students Responses to the policy — which will take effect after 30 days of public comment — have been deeply divided. Republicans and parental rights advocates applauded it as the right thing to do for families, while Democrats and LGBTQ advocates slammed it, saying the measure would lead to bullying of vulnerable children who are already marginalized and need support in school. Monday’s meeting with Youngkin vividly captured those emotional differences. Among discussions of economic development and infrastructure, Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) raised her concerns with Youngkin about the new policy’s mental health impact on transgender students, according to aides. Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that about 2 percent of high school students identify as transgender, and 35 percent of them have attempted suicide. For Wexton, whose niece is transgender, the issue is personal, and she previously publicly called the policy “a vile and disgusting attack on vulnerable transgender children” that Youngkin “should be ashamed of.” How Jennifer Wexton became the patron saint of the transgender community Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D) and Don Beyer (D) built on Wexton’s concerns, ranging from higher suicide risks among transgender students to the constitutionality of the policy and its impact on inviting businesses to Virginia, aides said. Youngkin described the policy as a statement about parental rights in education, according to one of the people. Youngkin’s restriction on the rights of transgender students is probably illegal, experts say When it was Good’s turn to speak, he defended the governor and his administration’s new policy as the right thing for children. In Good’s view, schools and teachers were “grooming” children to change genders, claiming they were being forced into gender transitions. Instead of bullying transgender students who contribute to suicide, Good argued that “the fact that these kids are killing themselves is because of grooming” or something, and that they were “forced” to undergo gender-affirmation surgeries — comments that aides said raised the temperature in the room. Spanberger responded strongly, telling Good, “That’s not true.” Good stood his ground and insisted he was telling the truth, according to people familiar with the exchange, before Sen. Tim Kaine (D) stepped in to calm things down by reciting a Bible verse, Matthew 25: 40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” A spokeswoman for Good did not respond to requests for comment, but Good confirmed that the tense exchange occurred in an interview with Punchbowl News, saying that when it was his turn to speak he tried to push back against Spanberger, accusing Democrats of supporting ” beautification’ of children. and the “mutilation of children” through gender-affirming surgeries. He then said Spanberger yelled and cursed at him to call him a liar, though he said she was the one lying about the Democrats’ position. A spokesman for Spanberger said in a statement that she “always appreciates the opportunity to have a frank discussion with the Governor about the issues facing Virginia’s Seventh District,” noting that she discussed emergency preparedness, the conservation needs of the Chesapeake watershed Bay — and “her perspective as a parent related to recent education policy announcements made by the Governor’s administration.” “Separately, she will always resist conspiracy theories that harm or attack Virginia’s students, their parents and their educators – as was the case when one of her colleagues in Congress did just that,” the statement added. He had previously said after Youngkin’s policy was made public that the move “will harm children, especially LGBTQ children who already suffer from higher rates of depression and are at greater risk of suicide.” Bob Good Rises from Liberty University Bubble to Fight Congress’ Culture Wars Good, a self-described biblical conservative, frequently speaks out against transgender rights and has frequently traveled to school board meetings in his district to urge parents and school administrators to reject policies that accept transgender students at school. On the same day as the meeting with Youngkin, she appeared at a press conference held by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to support her bill that would make it a felony to provide gender-affirming care — including treatment like teen- exclusion drugs and surgery — for transgender children, which Good equated to child abuse, reiterating his belief that it led to suicide. Medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended that transgender children have access to gender-affirming health care to reduce psychological distress. Historically, the private monthly meetings of the Virginia delegation are opportunities for lawmakers to strengthen working relationships across the aisle and find common cause to help Virginia. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D), the dean of Virginia’s delegation, said in a statement that he is “proud of a long tradition of being able to work together on issues we agree on for the betterment of all Virginians.” noting that it was a unique tradition that state legislatures maintained compared to other states. But Scott added, “Obviously, there are issues where we disagree,” without elaborating. A spokeswoman for Youngkin declined to comment. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also text a crisis counselor by texting Crisis Text Line to 741741.
