Many of the comments on this petition talk about how women and girls "need to be protected," as if they are in any danger. 

Are they? Does the existence of trans women harm other women in any measurable way? Or is it just a moral panic? 

Replace "trans women" with other minority women and consider how it sounds. 

"We need to protect our young women and girls from black women."

"We need to protect our young women and girls from Muslim women."

"We need to protect our young women and girls from lesbians."

It's the same rhetoric. Bigotry couched in the language of "protection," operating off of the assumption that trans women are predatory and dangerous.