'This is about politics:' Sen. Tim Kaine reacts to transgender policy changes in Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSET) — Senator Tim Kaine said the transgender policy changes made by Governor Glenn Youngkin look like politics because of how they were rolled out.
Kaine spoke to the media on Thursday and expressed his opinions on the new policy.
Governor Youngkin announced these changes in the state's procedures regarding transgender student accommodations last Friday.
RELATED: Gov. Youngkin responds to Va. student walkout in protest of transgender policies
Those changes received some backlash from students across the Commonwealth with some staging walkouts earlier this week in protest.
Senator Kaine said the changes were rolled out in a way that lead to confusion because the Board of Education was not told this was coming.
"When you are going to do something as an educational policy and you don't even tell your state board of education -- and remember this is a board of education where the majority of the appointees are Youngkin appointees -- It leads to a suspicion that this isn't about education, this is about politics," Senator Kaine said.
Kaine said the good news is that the public has the chance to make their voices heard during the public comment period that is open now through October 26.
SEE IT: Students across Va. walkout to protest changes to Youngkin's transgender policies
The changes require students to use the restroom and participate in sports that align with their sex, not gender identity.
It also forbids students from changing their name or pronouns in school without parental approval.
RELATED: 'This is the law' | Youngkin tells schools they should comply with new transgender policy
Kaine said he feels that you can find a balance of including parents without making that small group of kids feel targeted.
You can weigh in on these changes here during the public comment period.
