In recent developments, the office of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, made significant changes to the resources available for LGBT youth and emphasized the importance of parental rights. These alterations occurred shortly after an inquiry from The Daily Wire, prompting the Governor’s Department of Health to remove a list titled “National Resources for LGBT Youth.” The list previously featured various resources, including a website called “Queer Kid Stuff,” known for its focus on social justice for children, and an anonymous chat site catering to minors.
Macaulay Porter, the Press Secretary for Governor Youngkin, affirmed the Governor’s unwavering commitment to upholding a parent’s role in their child’s life. Porter asserted that children fundamentally belong to their parents, emphasizing their position over that of the state. The statement further underlined the importance of providing resources that are appropriate for each age group. However, Porter expressed concerns about the government enabling anonymous conversations between adults and children without parental approval. Such facilitation, according to Porter, raises the issue of sexualizing children against their parents’ wishes and does not align with the purpose of a taxpayer-supported website.
The inquiry by The Daily Wire specifically focused on two websites listed on the resources page: “Queer Kid Stuff” and the “QChat Space.” “Queer Kid Stuff” identifies itself as an educational web series catering to children aged 3 and above within the LGBTQ+ community. Its primary goal is to destigmatize queer topics in early childhood spaces actively. The organization also places a significant emphasis on queer identity, experience, and history, particularly highlighting the contributions of Black and Brown transgender women to the LGBTQ+ movement, both in modern times and throughout history.
One video featured on the organization’s YouTube channel showcases men in drag teaching children how to create pride flags representing gay and transgender identities. Another video addresses transgender medical interventions, including puberty blockers, top surgery, and bottom surgery. These videos have sparked discussions around the appropriateness of introducing such topics to young children.
Additionally, the “QChat Space,” previously listed on the resource page, is an anonymous chat site designed for minors aged 13 and above who identify as LGBT. The site, notable for its lack of age verification, includes various discussion topics such as drag culture, gender-affirmation surgeries, self-discovery through astrology, and queer youth activism. Notably, the platform offers a “quick escape” button allowing minors to swiftly conceal their use of the site.
The decision to remove the resources page reportedly met with disappointment among some individuals within the Governor’s office, as reported by the Virginia Mercury. Vanessa Walker Harris, the Director of the Office of Family Health Services, expressed her concerns in an email to colleagues, questioning the lack of involvement from subject matter experts and characterizing the decision as politically motivated.
It is worth noting that prior to these changes, Governor Youngkin’s office had already removed additional materials from the website. This included an FAQ page that directed users to a chatbot operated by Planned Parenthood and information about five organizations that offer financial support for abortions.
As these revisions take effect, they have sparked discussions surrounding the Governor’s stance on LGBT youth resources, parental rights, and the involvement of the state in children’s lives. The adjustments made by the Youngkin administration have generated differing opinions within the government, raising questions about the decision-making process and the appropriate allocation of resources for supporting marginalized communities.
