I live in Isle of Wight County in Virginia 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. 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 have spent my career serving LGBTQ+ youth and identify as non-binary myself. There is endless hate, violence, and discrimination and now is the time to fight against policies like this rather than allowing fear mongering to continue to attack the some of the most vulnerable in our society. 

Sports are crucial spaces for youth to develop mentally, physically, and socially. I have been an athlete my entire life and my access to athletics protected my mental health in more ways than I'll ever know. Policies like this do not protect anyone, they just cause harm. 

No one should face discrimination because of who they are. Trans people have always been here, and always will be.