Topic: Virginia lawmakers unanimously reject anti-trans bill

[Jessica_Rose]

Virginia lawmakers unanimously reject anti-trans bill

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/virginia-lawmakers-unanimously-reject-anti-trans-bill/ar-AA16Q6b4?cvid=dfcff802f0124541aa8296c2a28db07e

Story by LGBTQNation

This week, the House Early Childhood/Innovation subcommittee in the Virginia House of Representatives unanimously voted to reject a bill targeting transgender students.

H.B. 1434 – introduced by Republican state Del. Jason Ballard – would have required trans students to obtain a court order to update their names on any school records.

In response to the subcommittee’s decision, the ACLU of Virginia tweeted that “Trans & nonbinary students should be able to go to school and be called by their chosen names, without fear of being outed.”

Equality Virginia celebrated the lawmakers’ decision to reject the bill.

“This bill served no educational purpose and was entirely unnecessary,” the organization’s Executive Director Narissa Rahaman said in a statement to the Washington Blade. “LGBTQ+ students thrive when they are provided safe, affirming and supportive learning spaces, which includes allowing them to go by their chosen name without jumping through legal hoops.”

“HB 1434 would have run counter to that by creating a hostile school environment. By tabling this bill the subcommittee has sent a strong message that LGBTQ+ students belong in Virginia.”

[Jessica_Rose]

I realize that I post a significant amount of 'negative' news, and to be honest it has put me in a bad mood lately. I even discussed it with my manager a few days ago, and he understands. It's refreshing to encounter a little positive news on occasion. My new home state of Arkansas ranks near the bottom of the list, and they are trying their best to win the race to the bottom. I am sometimes torn between remaining stealth or speaking out in support of our LGBTQ+ community. I know what the 'right' answer is, but I fought hard to get where I am, and giving that up is not an easy decision.

“Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.” -- John Stuart Mill

Another version is routinely attributed to Edmund Burke, but apparently he never said this:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

I forgive the use of a single gendered pronoun...

Love always -- Jessica Rose