I live in Chesterfield, Virginia. I like it here. However, I'm scared for my friends.

I have friends who are transgender. I have friends with transgender children. I have friends who are intersex. And while it seemed strange at first, I've come to realize that these friends are simply recognizing the scientific reality - that biological sex is not as simple as "male" and "female." Chromosomes, hormones and anatomy all play a role. On top of that, culture and expectations make gender even more complex. Determining who qualifies as "male" is invasive, and frankly, none of everyone else's business!

Health and safety is not about doing a deep dive into someone's medical history. It's about providing safe spaces for everyone, regardless of whether you think they're weird. Do we really want to set up a system where we are concerned with whether a child is "biologically male?" What kind of examination do you plan on doing? 

We should be making sure that ALL children are safe and happy, no matter what you think their "biology" is. Instead of fixating on what locker room a kid is using, I'd like to see a focus on preventing bullying, preventing suicide, and preventing kids from being singled out for being "weird." Targeting transgender children is the opposite of that. It's bigoted, cruel, and scientifically unsound. 

Please, help keep my friends' children safe.