Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I urge you to vote NO on HB1271 and HB571 on Wednesday in the Judiciary Committee.</p> <p><strong>HB1271: </strong>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. The government should not have a monopoly to determine 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.  No one benefits from a law telling people that they are wrong about themselves.</p> <p><strong>HB571</strong>: This entire bill is premised on deliberate misinformation.  The research overwhelmingly shows that transgender people are more likely to be assaulted when they cannot seek safety in spaces that match their gender identity. There is no link between policies that include transgender people and increased assault. </p> <p>This bill touches several areas of life--correctional and detention facilities, domestic violence shelters, schools, and dormitories. Has the sponsor consulted with leaders and experts in this area to determine best practices and ongoing issues? If not, then I urge the Legislature not to rush into bad policy.</p> <p>In terms of domestic violence shelters arranged as dorms, there could be current situations in which a mother with a young daughter is housed with a mother and her young son. Under this bill, that could not happen, resulting in danger to the family who could not be accommodated in limited space.</p> <p>In terms of incarceration, it is important to know that currently facilities often take into account the danger to prisoners when determining housing. The Prison Rape Elimination Act is still federal law. And some trans prisoners are successfully suing facilities when their transferes would endanger their lives. Increasing the risk of assault against trans prisoners also increases the risk to staff because they will be intervening in more violent situations.</p> <p>Please, focus on the facts and not the fear-mongering. Thank you for considering my views.</p>