U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe wrote an op-ed calling on states to allow biological males to participate in women’s sports.
“These bills are some of the most intense political assaults on LGBTQ people in recent years,” Rapinoe said of the efforts in some states to ban transgender women from women’s sports. “Sports have become another avenue to attack the rights of trans people. These efforts cause incredible harm to trans youth, who, like all kids in a global pandemic, are feeling isolated and need compassion and support.”
“Even before the pandemic hit, 1 in 3 transgender youth reported attempting suicide, as one national crisis-prevention organization reported in 2019,” Rapinoe continued.
Over 20 states have introduced legislation that seeks to ban transgender individuals from participating in organized sports leagues that match their gender preference, with proponents of the legislation arguing it is necessary to protect women’s sports from the unfair advantage gained by biological males.
MEGAN RAPINOE SLAMS BILLS BARRING BIOLOGICAL MEN FROM FEMALE SPORTS: ‘MIDDLE FINGERS TO ALL’
But Rapinoe argued that such legislation is “trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.”
“Proponents of these bills argue that they are protecting women,” Rapinoe said. “As a woman who has played sports my whole life, I know that the threats to women’s and girls’ sports are lack of funding, resources, and media coverage; sexual harassment; and equal pay.”
Rapinoe called any effort to ban transgender females from competing in women’s sports “discrimination,” arguing that their participation is critical to the “well-being of children.”
“Adults can’t present that we care about the well-being of children while actively creating environments that cause serious harm to them,” Rapinoe said. “We can’t make demands for a false sense of fairness while ignoring the actual needs of women and girls.”
“Transgender kids deserve the same chances to enjoy sports; to gain confidence, self-respect, and leadership skills; and to learn what it means to be part of a team,” Rapinoe continued. “When we tell transgender girls that they can’t play girls’ sports — or transgender boys that they can’t play boys’ sports — they miss out on these important experiences and opportunities. And we lose the right to say we care about children.”
Rapinoe concluded by insisting that transgender athletes be allowed to “live their dreams,” which can only be accomplished by letting them play.
“Discrimination hurts everyone. We’re stronger as teams, and as a country, when all people who love sports have a chance to have their lives changed for the better, just like I did,” Rapinoe said. “I want every transgender kid out there to know that they can live their dreams and be true to who they are. For them to realize those dreams, they need to be allowed to play.”
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A poll last year found that only 29% of Americans favor allowing transgender student-athletes to participate in sports in the gender they identify with.
