Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I urge you to vote NO on SB468 and SB1989 on the Senate floor on Thursday.</p> <p>SB468: 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.</p> <p>SB1989: The "best interest of the child" ceases to be the standard if you start listing exceptions such as a parent wanting to disregard a child's gender identity. Nevertheless, there is no indication that parents who don't affirm their child's gender identity are currently somehow at a disadvantage. So there is no need for this bill. What the state should do instead is be ready to provide resources to families to promote greater understanding and support to children whatever their gender identity.</p> <p>Thank you for considering my views.</p>