To the members of the Virginia Board of Health,

My name is Adeline, I live and work in the Richmond area, and I deeply oppose Petition 432.

The so called "Family Foundation" who supports political intervention in medicine and science has continually been on the wrong side of history. They have continually sought to outlaw the existence of LGBTQ+ Virginians in daily life. They don't base their opinions or calls for discrimination on science or fact, and their proposal in Petition 432 has no place in regulating our lives and health decisions.

Demonizing transgender people as a threat to the general public is wildly absurd. These are our neighbors, coworkers, public servants, veterans, and every other role in society. ALL people deserve our respect with equal treatment and protections under the law and policy decisions made by independent agencies like yours. 

As a transgender person myself, I can attest that the only thing I'm seeking to do is to be my true self. And when it comes to locker rooms or bathrooms, I'm just trying to get in and out so that I can carry about my day, just like every other person on the planet. Trans people, like myself, have always been here and we will always be here.

Please do not allow discrimination to become the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please reject Petition 432 and any such petition or policy like it. Petitions like this are not about health or promoting the general welfare of citizens in the Commonwealth, they are solely about discrimination.

Sincerely,

Adeline Ryan