I strongly oppose this petition.

This petition is not about safety — it is about discrimination. It promotes a narrative rooted in fear, hate, and exclusion, targeting transgender people under the false guise of public health. Virginians do not stand for that.

Trans people have always been here and always will be. No one should face discrimination simply for living as who they are. Trans people cannot and will not be erased.

The Virginia Department of Health’s mission is to protect the health and well-being of all people in the Commonwealth — across every race, background, and gender. That mission must include transgender Virginians. Instead of entertaining harmful political attacks, the Department should focus on what truly matters: expanding access to care, addressing maternal mortality, improving rural health outcomes, and ensuring every Virginian has access to the lifesaving services they need.

There is a coordinated national campaign to drive LGBTQ+ people out of public life. These attacks don’t make anyone safer — they make our communities more divided and less healthy. They are a distraction from the real public health challenges facing our families.

I urge the Department to reject this discriminatory petition and recommit to improving health care for every Virginian.