Equality Virginia wants to reassure you, these bills will not pass this subcommittee. A similar transgender athlete ban was defeated in this subcommittee during the 2022 session, and we expect the subcommittee to do the same with these three bills. We understand that the scheduling of these bills and the hearings can cause a mix of emotions, and we don’t want to add to the stress or overwhelm you might be feeling. Trauma-informed communications is a central part of our work. For those wishing to testify in-person - especially directly impacted community members - we encourage focusing on stories of joy. Feel free to share how participation in sports meaningfully impacts transgender athletes. There will be several organizations speaking about the harms of these bills, and we invite community members and advocates to share personal stories of empowerment. If you wish to attend this subcommittee hearing, but do not wish to testify, we encourage you to join us in packing the room with people opposing these bills. If you need help with crafting your testimony, you can reach out to Kyleigh Hynes at [email protected]. For a summary of the key information contained in this email, please see below. Thank you for your advocacy, today and always. In solidarity, Narissa Rahaman (she/her) Executive Director Key Information: What: Senate Education & Health, Public Education subcommittee When: January 26th after the Senate adjourns (in the afternoon, sometime after 12:00 pm) Where: Senate Room A (900 East Main Street, Richmond, VA) How To Share Your Opposition: | 