Targeting trans kids under the guise of “fairness”
Transgender youth — particularly trans girls — are being targeted by legislative bills all across the country as conservative lawmakers declare some odd state of emergency in girls’ sports. I assure you that there is no crisis or imminent danger. But if these bills pass and ultimately, trans youth are not allowed to participate with their peers in alignment with their gender, we will put children into crisis and that will become a state of emergency in homes like mine.
Participating in sports helps with mental health, teaches teamwork, provides camaraderie with others, teaches discipline and goal-setting. It opens doors to friendship, connection, and community with others. That’s what my daughter experienced and other trans kids deserve to experience all of those benefits, too.
These are all life skills that can help a student during their educational years but also set them up for success as adults. Millions of kids participate in sports every year and don’t take home a trophy or secure a scholarship. But they all still win, because they leave the mat, field, or court having learned about themselves and having a shared experience with their peers.
For a trans kid who has had mental health struggles just to figure out who they are, might have been bullied or have had a hard time fitting in, denying them the chance to have those positive experiences and enjoy the mental health benefits that go along with them is just cruel. It’s especially disheartening that some of the people who support these bills also demanded that kids have access to sports during the COVID-19 pandemic as a mental health benefit, but are willing to deny that opportunity to a child because they happen to be transgender. Forcing a young person to choose between living authentically or playing a sport would benefit no one. And NO, it is not okay to say you will affirm a trans girl from 8am to 3pm in a classroom but then tell her and all of her peers that she is a boy when she runs to the soccer field at 3:15.
It’s also important to note that a recently published study found that overall participation in girls’ sports declines in states with trans-restrictive sports policies. Think about it…a cisgender girl that is too tall, too muscular, or even just too good can be questioned about her gender along with the few (if any) trans girls participating. These restrictive policies meant to support girls are actually harming them by driving down participation.
If legislators really want to protect girls’ and women’s sports, they could pass legislation that models the inclusive policies from one of the 16 states that have integrated trans girls into sports for years with no problems. They could invest money and resources into those athletic programs. We can celebrate and support girls’ sports…by including ALL girls.
