A4TE Condemns House Vote to Pass Nationwide Ban on Trans Youth in Sports

[Washington, D.C.] – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a floor vote (216-206) to ban trans and intersex girls and women from participating in sports at federally funded schools and universities. A similar bill is also currently before the U.S. Senate. Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Advocates for Trans Equality Executive Director, released the following statement: 
 
"This discriminatory bill is an unconscionable attack on transgender girls and women across the country. Every child deserves a quality education, including the ability to participate in athletic programs. This bill is not motivated out of concern for women and girls in athletics, but animus toward a small group of vulnerable students.  
 
"We know that school policy, whether made at the local, state, or national level, has profound impacts on bullying and harassment of LGBTQI+ students. If this bill is signed into law, it makes every school less safe for transgender students and their peers. 
 
"The American people have a laundry list of urgent matters impacting our families everyday and our ability to put food on our tables and roofs over our heads, and these anti-trans politicians are ignoring the people’s business to take up the hateful agenda of right-wing extremists and target youth who just want to play sports with their friends.  
 
"It is not the government’s role to replace parents and intervene in the lives of our young people. They should be instead focused on ensuring that every student, no matter who they are or where they live, can be safe and respected at school. 
 
"This is an attack on Title IX. Extremist lawmakers emboldened by the incoming administration plan to systematically weaken civil rights protections for all Americans, and they are starting right now." 
 
 

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About A4TE 

Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) is an organization that fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in the United States. Introduced in July 2024 after the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and the National Center for Transgender Equality merged, A4TE is the largest trans-led advocacy organization in the U.S. and brings together experts, advocates, and communities to shift government and society toward an equitable future where trans people live joyful lives without barriers.