I'm a woman. I'm trans. I was born and raised here in Virginia. I've been a lot of places, but nowhere else will ever feel like home, even though so many folks here (as evidenced by many comments in this petition) would prefer if I ceased to exist. I'm currently living in an urban area where I have beautiful and abundant support around me, but I'm moving back home this year because the mountains are the only place that will ever truly feel like home.

When I go to look at houses with my partner, I have to make a calculation, multiple times a day, every time I need to relieve myself, where I'll be safer to do that. More people so that if someone assaults me at least there'll be witnesses? The most abandoned looking gas station so I have the lowest chance of having to interact with anyone at all? If I'm in a stall and someone comes in, I sit and wait until I'm sure I'm as alone as I can be for fear of someone call the cops cause I had to attend to a basic biological function.

And if it shakes out that the "safer" option in any given scenario seems to be going into the MEN's restroom? Seriously? To any cis woman reading this, I want you to imagine being in a scenario where you had to use the men's restroom at a Gas station. Feels real scary, right? Now bolster that fear with every hateful, violent thing said about trans people in any given YouTube comment section (or Rockingham county school board meeting). Do you think I feel safe in a men's bathroom? 

I'm your neighbor. I'm just trying to survive. I want to build community with ALL of my neighbors. I want us to have each others backs. I want to bring my neighbors baked goods on holidays and work together when a flood comes through and we gotta rebuild together. And I just wanna take a in peace.