I live in Norfolk, Virginia, and I oppose Petition 432.

This petition is not about protecting public health or safety. It’s a harmful and discriminatory attempt to target transgender people under the guise of healthcare policy. The Board of Health has no business labeling an entire group of people as a threat simply because of who they are.

There are urgent and real public health issues that deserve your attention—like maternal health disparities, access to mental health care, and preventing intimate partner violence. This petition does nothing to address any of those. Instead, it seeks to exclude and stigmatize transgender Virginians, which only adds to the harm and marginalization they already face.

I’ve worked alongside trans individuals who are educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders. They deserve the same dignity and safety as anyone else. Supporting trans people is not a threat to anyone it’s a commitment to equity, respect, and public health for all.

If the Board of Health moves forward with this petition, it sends a message that discrimination is acceptable under the law. That’s not the kind of Virginia I want to live in and it’s not the kind of leadership we need from our public health institutions.

Please reject Petition 432 and stay focused on the real work of protecting and improving the health of ALL VIRGINIANS.