I live in Hampton  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.

I’ve never been attacked or threatened by a transgender person. I have, on multiple occasions, been harassed and even attacked by WOMEN in public restrooms falsely accusing me of being a pervert due to my masculine presenting appearance and mannerisms. These types of incidents will only get worse and worse as this hateful rhetoric continues and discriminating policies get introduced or, god forbid, passed. 

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.