Idaho Legislature Passes Discriminatory Law that Bans Trans Youth from School Sports

Politicians in Idaho have passed a law that targets transgender youth by banning their participation in school sports.

House Bill 500 illegally discriminates against transgender student athletes, which is counter to current policies set by the Idaho High School Activities Association.

“At a time when our country needs everyone to come together and support one another, we should not be targeting transgender youth with unnecessary and illegal legislation,” said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, deputy executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality. “Idaho has policies in place already. We need our leaders to focus on serious issues of public health and safety and work to bring people together, not divide us.”

NCTE is calling on Idaho Gov. Brad Little to veto this cruel, discriminatory and unnecessary legislation. We have had staff on-the-ground fighting in Idaho for weeks, organizing testimony, leading phone banks, and mobilizing at rallies.

“Transgender youth simply want to play on a team with their peers like any other young person. This legislation is discriminatory and illegally targets transgender young people. We know that participation in sports has a positive impact on young people. It teaches lessons like hard work, determination, and discipline. A ban like this hurts kids for no good reason,” Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen said.

Until now, Idaho has allowed transgender youth to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity.

The Women’s Sports Foundation, the National Women’s Law Center, Women Leaders in College Sports and others are among the groups that support the participation of transgender student athletes in school sports.