I live in Richmond, and I oppose Action 4905.

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/menstrual 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. Because of the lack of action in the US funding any real progress for women, it makes it very clear that people hate women AND trans people. You’re not trying to defend women! 

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. 

My husband is a trans man, and he transitioned at a young age. At that point, he was removed from all of the sports he played. He was a child who was removed from having fun and participating in friendly competition because of who he is. 

If you’re interested in helping women, I’d urge you to push for information, funding and education surrounding menstrual health. We are missing out on work, school and our lives because of pain that hits every month. And yet, where is the effort to stop that? I’m told my only option to manage my pain is birth control. No real medicinal or wholistic choices. The women around you are actually struggling. And it’s not because a trans woman wanted to run a race.

This proposed regulation 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.