1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned West Virginian, a former teacher, and a parent deeply troubled by the passage of SB 154 and SB 299. These bills are not about protecting children—they are about silencing and endangering some of the most vulnerable students in our schools. I urge you to reconsider your support for this harmful legislation. SB 154 forces teachers to betray the trust of their students, turning them into mandated informants rather than supportive adults. It removes the ability for kids to have a safe space at school, especially in situations where they may not be safe at home. By punishing teachers for acknowledging a student’s reality, you are creating a hostile environment that discourages both students and educators from staying in our schools. SB 299 is even more dangerous. By stripping away the already-limited medical exception for minors experiencing severe gender dysphoria, this bill directly puts lives at risk. You don’t have to take my word for it—every major medical and psychological association agrees that access to gender-affirming care reduces suicide risk in trans youth. Blocking this care is an act of cruelty, not governance. I am embarrassed that our state continues to prioritize culture war distractions over real issues like education funding, teacher shortages, and the opioid crisis. West Virginia is losing educators because of policies like these—policies that devalue their professional judgment, criminalize their compassion, and place impossible burdens on their already overworked shoulders. You were elected to serve all West Virginians, not just the ones whose beliefs align with your party’s platform. These bills do not serve our state’s best interests. They put students in harm’s way, drive away qualified teachers, and reinforce the message that West Virginia is not a place where people can live safely and freely. I urge you to oppose SB 154 and SB 299. If these bills become law, history will not remember them as acts of courage, but as shameful attempts to score political points at the expense of real human lives.