I live in Albemarle County 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 have concerns about the potential for harm if the Board of Health acts on this petition. Any time rights are taken from one group, it is just a matter of time before they are taken from another group. We are a stronger nation if we make space for all people and all voices in all arenas.
• My priorities for improving health in Virginia, as a nurse are to make healthy food accessible for all, improve access to high quality healthcare, and ensuring all people can play sports if they want to.

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.