I live in Caroline county and I oppose Petition 432.

This petition is not about locker rooms. The Board of Health has no business labeling groups of people harmful based on who they are.

There are real public health issues facing women and girls in Virginia, like domestic violence, maternal health, and poverty. Don’t let this hateful petition distract from your important mission to protect the health and promote the well-being of ALL people in Virginia.

Across our races, backgrounds, and genders, we all deserve to be treated fairly. There is a nationwide effort by some politicians and interest groups to force transgender people and LGBTQ+ people out of public life. These political attacks harm us all, whether we’re gay or straight, transgender or not, because they foster discrimination and distract us from the real problems we face.

I have friends and family who have transitioned and face daily discrimination and attacks when they are just trying to live their lives and be healthy. Petition 432 would take away opportunities for people to participate in activities that help them lead happy and healthy lives. Everyone in the state of Virginia deserves to be healthy and it is a priority for me that people are able to freely express themselves when participating in activities without being discriminated against.

This petition has nothing to do with the health of Virginians and everything to do with discrimination. No one should face discrimination because of who they are. Trans people have always been here, and always will be. Trans people cannot and will not be erased.