Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I urge you to vote NO on HB1271 on Wednesday in the Judiciary Committee. The definition of sex in the bill is inaccurate and harmful, and this bill is a draconian mandate on local governments across the state.</p> <p>A declaration of two sexes does not belong in the law. When we put matters like this into law, where they don't belong, it usually leads to some group losing rights. The government should not have a monopoly in determining people's identities.</p> <p>This bill supports inaccurate concepts of sex and gender, which are far more complicated than the text of a short bill would lead people to believe. Biology presents a far more nuanced understanding of sex and gender than the bill allows; the subcommittee heard testimony about that. Our country's history refutes the bill's understanding if we remember that settlers encountered Native Americans with a view of gender broader than just two sexes.</p> <p>The stories of people all around us also challenge the premise of the bill. Many people today are nonbinary and use they/them pronouns. Regardless of whether the sponsor is supportive, this is who many people today are telling us they are.  A PRRI report in January 2024 noted that almost 28% of Generation Z identifies as LGBTQ and a rising percentage are nonbinary.  No one benefits from a law telling people that they are wrong about themselves.</p> <p>There is no stable foundation for this bill and no demonstrated need. There is only potential to harm our fellow Tennesseans, as well as local governments. Thank you for considering my views.</p> <p>Thank you for considering my views.</p>