I live in the City of Richmond and I oppose Petition 432. 

I am a cis-gender woman and mother of a little girl, sister to a non-binary person, and friend to many queer and transgender people. In addition, as an attorney I have volunteered my services to assist transgender people with name and gender marker changes. 

Transgender people in Virginia and everywhere simply want to enjoy the same protections, privileges and freedoms afforded to their cisgender neighbors. Statistically, transwomen are vastly more likely to be the victims of violence than perpetrators. Moreover, there are real threats to the health and wellbeing of women and girls, such as domestic violence, maternal health, and poverty. The resources of the Commonwealth would be much better spent addressing these issues, rather than targeting a class of people based on an imagined threat with no basis in reality.

It is morally and legally repugnant to label an entire class of people as dangerous or harmful based solely on who they are. 

Trans people have always existed, you cannot erase them, you must not discriminate against them.