Recently in Albemarle County, our high school, Western Albemarle, has had an increase of incidents with biological males entering the girls bathroom. They do not go in there to use the restroom, rather just stand there and talk to people. It has been continually voiced to these male students and administrators that this makes the women in the restroom uncomfortable but we have been repeatedly told that there is nothing they can do. Our school has multiple gender-neutral bathrooms throughout it and we believe that if men are not comfortable in their assigned restroom that they should be going to said gender-neutral ones; rather than making the majority of women feel uncomfortable for their own benefit. The Virginia Board of Education has stated that biological males are not allowed in women's restrooms or changing rooms, but Albemarle County's inclusivity policy states that they are allowed. While we support everyone, and believe people should be allowed to express themselves freely, we also believe students privacy and safety should be equally prioritized without bias. This petition is for the purpose of changing the Albemarle County policy to no longer allow biological men into the women's restrooms, and we would appreciate every vote we can get to help make this change happen.

-Ella Buer, Bailey Tabor, Virginia Boyle