I strongly oppose the petition seeking to ban transgender women from participating in sports or using athletic facilities in Virginia. This proposal is discriminatory, not grounded in science, and deeply harmful to trans individuals across the Commonwealth.

Transgender people are not a public health threat. Framing them as such is fear-mongering and promotes misinformation. The Board of Health should focus on protecting all Virginians’ health—not targeting already marginalized communities.

Banning trans women from sports sends a dangerous message that some people don’t deserve to exist in public life. This isn’t about fairness; it’s about exclusion. Everyone deserves the freedom to play, participate, and belong.

I urge the Board to reject this petition and affirm that trans athletes belong in sports—and in Virginia.

See the following evidence:

1. Trans athletes do not have an unfair advantage.

A 2021 review published in Sports Medicine found no consistent evidence that transgender women have a performance advantage in elite sports after at least one year of gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Source: Hilton, E. N., & Lundberg, T. R. (2021). “Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage.” Sports Medicine, 51(2), 199–214.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01389-3

2. Major medical organizations oppose blanket bans on trans athletes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and National Women’s Law Center all oppose laws that ban transgender youth from sports, citing harm to mental and physical health.

AMA statement: https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-opposes-discrimination-against-transgender-individuals

Participation in sports improves mental health for trans youth.

Trans youth who are allowed to play on teams that align with their gender identity report lower levels of depression and suicidality.

Source: The Trevor Project, “The Mental Health and Well-Being of LGBTQ Youth Who Participate in Sports,” 2021

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/the-mental-health-and-well-being-of-lgbtq-youth-who-participate-in-sports/

4. Claims that trans women are a “public health crisis” are scientifically baseless.

There is no medical evidence suggesting that trans people’s participation in sports poses a public health risk to others. This framing is rooted in stigma—not science.