I live in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and I oppose Petition 432. As a clergy person in the ELCA, this is not a faithful way to treat people.

This petition is not really 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. This is unacceptable! 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 that need attention. 

All people are unique and we've never been all the same. All people deserve respect and dignity. 

I believe that if the Board of Health acts on this petition, it would be overstepping and would not improve health and wellness but harm us all since it is intended to discriminate and create fear instead of well-being.

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.