I am writing to state my support for the updates to 12 VAC 5-550 in the strongest possible terms It is my hope that my home state will join the many other states in our country in updating these outdated regulation.

I am a life-long resident of Virginia, and I have many loved ones in Virginia who are transgender so this is a deeply personal issue to me. Transgender people already face a disproportionate amount of discrimination, and having documents which show their sex assigned at birth can convey their transgender status without their consent. It is critical to have more inclusive regulations around changing gender markers on identifying documents for the safety of transgender people - not all of who are able to or wish to have sex reassignment surgery.

The current regulations which require proof of such a medical procedure are unnecessarily restrictive and harmful to transgender people, most especially transgender people who have other intersecting identities that are discriminated against, such as trans people in poverty, trans people of color, and trans people with disabilities. These people who for whatever reason are unable or unwilling to undergo a sex reassignment surgical procedure - operations which are potentially life-threatening - should not be denied access to identifying documentation that affirms their gender identity.

Sincerely,

Jaeger E. Spratt