I live in Norfolk and I oppose 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. 

As a mental health professional working at the intersection of health care and education, I am deeply concerned about the potential for harm if the Virginia Board of Health acts on Petition 432. Public health policy must be grounded in science, equity, and a commitment to protecting the well-being of all Virginians—especially our most vulnerable communities. Petition 432, if implemented, risks undermining evidence-based practices and may contribute to misinformation, stigma, or reduced access to essential services.

In a time when public trust in health systems is critical, it is imperative that our policies reflect inclusive, transparent, and medically sound priorities. Virginia must continue to focus on strategies that advance equitable health outcomes, invest in community-informed prevention efforts, and protect the integrity of education and health care settings. I urge the Board to consider the broader implications of this petition and to uphold its responsibility to safeguard the health of all residents across the Commonwealth.

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.