I am a voter and social worker who lives and works in the city of Charlottesville. I am writing as a private citizen to express my opposition to 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 grew up in Virginia running cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track for Abingdon High School. Sports taught me teamwork, the value of discipline, the power of consistency, and that the strongest teams are the ones that include students from all walks of life--including lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and queer students.

Now I work as a social worker for UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville. Everyday I get to work with resilient, hard working patients and families who are facing health challenges and other obstacles in their lives. Too often, people are facing preventable obstacles in their lives such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. Hatred impacts all of our health and can lead to family strife, suicide, mental health problems, and substance abuse. When young people feel included, young people are healthier. When people are healthier, everybody saves time and money. This isn't rocket science. Kindness saves the healthcare system money. Kindness helps students succeed in school and perform well at work. Everybody belongs in school. Everybody belongs in sports.

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.

Thank you for your consideration. Choose love and tolerance. Say no to hate.

Sincerely,

Michael Gifford, LMSW