Hello, fellow Virginians,

I am a higher schooler in central Virginia. I am in our school’s club to help keep LGBTQ+ members of the school safe. The treatment of LGBTQ+ youth is a very important and personal issue to me. I am queer minor, which means my safety is entirely depended on my parents being accepting of who I am. I know that I will always be safe from the inhumane treatment of youth in conversion camps, but I do not know that those with less accepting parents, like many of my fellow club members, can remain safe if conversion camps continue to be legal. These camps do not in any way promote the general welfare of innocent members of the LGBTQ+ community, and we can no longer continue to be forgotten. Every single day conversion therapy is legal, the government is failing to do its job. Please make the decision to keep my friends safe and end conversion therapy.