Yesterday (3/8/23), the first national anti-trans bill was discussed in Congress. HR734 would ban transgender people from sports that match their gender identity, with specific implications for transgender youth in school sports.
Bills targeting transgender people in sports gained traction in 2020 just before Covid-19 shut down many state legislatures. Lawmakers used sports bans as a foot in the door for future legislation; sports were the testing grounds for the anti-trans bills around healthcare, school curriculum, parenting, and more that followed. It is unlikely this bill as it is would pass, and most certainly President Biden would veto this bill given his support of the trans community. But this national conversation has opened the door - there are other federal bills targeting trans folks, including a healthcare bill, that will be discussed this week.
Each time anti-trans bills are discussed at this scale, we see a huge increase in calls to Trans Lifeline and Trevor Project. We know this impacts trans youth and transgender adults' mental health in negative ways.
Another concern is that something like this sports bill will be added to other pieces of legislation that have a better chance of passing or need to be passed (something like a budget or infrastructure bill) in the future. We also know transgender people will be a cornerstone of any conservative candidate's platform for the 2024 election.
Now is the time to speak up. To take action, please call your Congressional rep (find their information HERE) to say women's sports need protection from unequal pay, sexual abuse & lack of resources, NOT from trans kids.