Trans, women athletes lead charge to force women's sports teams to accept male competitors

On Monday, a group of professional, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes signed a letter in opposition of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would prevent biological males from competing against women.

Athlete Ally states that the bill to protect women's sports from incursion by male athletes "would stipulate that Title IX compliance requires a federal ban of transgender & intersex girls and women from participating in sports." However, the bill does not prevent these persons from playing sports at all, it simply stipulates that they would compete alongside others of their own biological sex.

The letter, featuring names like Olympic soccer player Megan Rapinoe and women’s basketball player Sue Bird, was also signed by trans athletes Chris Mosier, CeCe Telfer, JayCee Cooper, Layshia Clarenden, and Patricio Manuel, who boxes in the super featherweight category.

"As professional, Olympic and Paralympic athletes," the letter reads, "we have dedicated our lives to sports. Sports have given us our greatest friends, taught us incredible life lessons, and given us the confidence and drive to succeed in the world. Those of us who love sport know that its value goes far beyond the playing field, to developing a sense of self and identity, and reflecting what we value as a community."

"Sport is a tremendous outlet for physical and mental health, teaches valuable lessons on teamwork and discipline, and has brought us lifelong community. Every single child should have access to the lifesaving power of sports," the letter continued.

The letter goes on to state that "transgender and intersex human rights are under attack," saying that if the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act passes, "transgender and intersex girls and women throughout the country will be forced to sit on the sidelines, away from their peers and their communities. Furthermore, the policing of who can and cannot play school sports will very likely lead to the policing of the bodies of all girls, including cisgender girls."

"This will deter girls from participating in sports and create additional barriers. Denying children access to a place where they can gain significant mental and physical health benefits, and learn lifelong lessons that come from being part of a team and working hard towards your goals does not protect women in sports," the letter stated.

The athletes said that they believe "gender equity in sport is critical," which is why they urge lawmakers to instead focus on "causes women athletes have been fighting for decades, including equal pay, an end to abuse and mistreatment, uneven implementation of Title IX, and a lack of access and equity for girls of color and girls with disabilities, to name only a few."

"Our deepest hope is that transgender and intersex kids will never have to feel the isolation, exclusion and othering that H.R. 734 is seeking to enshrine into law," the letter concluded.

The letter, organized by Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ advocacy group, was signed by 40 athletes. Alongside Bird and Rapinoe in signing the letter was Gwen Berry, who protested the national anthem at a US Olympic track and field qualifying event in 2021.

Olympic soccer player Lori Lindsey who wrote on Twitter, "I'm proud to have signed onto this open letter in support of trans & intersex youth and against HR734. Every child deserves the right to play the sport they love."

Signer Bella Bixby has advocated for the removal of women from the National Women's Soccer League, saying that the "W" is "non-inclusive."

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, introduced by Rep. Greg Steube in February, prohibits school athletic programs from allowing biological males to compete in athletic programs designated for women, adding that it would be a Title IX violation for "federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls."

The bill’s summary states that "The bill does not prohibit male individuals from training or practicing with programs or activities for women or girls as long as such training or practice does not deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits."

The letter comes as the Biden administration has unveiled their proposed changes to Title IX, which would generally allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.

For schools to ban biological males from women’s sports, they would have to take into consideration the differences among students in different age groups, and the different levels of competitiveness a team may be at.

According to a Department of Education summary, they state that "One-size-fits-all policies that categorically ban transgender students from participating in athletics consistent with their gender identity across all sports, age groups, and levels of competition would not satisfy the proposed regulation."