With so much uncertainty about the new school year, we should be making things easier for youth, not harder. Getting young people into a routine that supports their learning and growth is imperative during this challenging time, and we must do everything we can to support students. But, laws like HB 500, passed in Idaho and signed into law by Governor Little, make that so much more difficult.
It is up to us to protect the most vulnerable in our community, and that’s why, when the NCAA Board of Governors meets in just a few short weeks, we are asking them to relocate their championships events from Idaho to show that this blatant discrimination will not be tolerated. We have seen incredible support for making sure trans student athletes have the chance to play the sports they love as their true selves, including this moving piece by former member of the U.S. Women's National Team, Lori Lindsey.
Every student athlete deserves the opportunity to build positive sportsmanship, learn discipline and hard work, and have fun while making lifelong friendships -- including trans students. Politicians shouldn’t impose blanket bans that keep certain athletes from being part of a team and playing the sports they love simply because of who they are.
Stay tuned for more on this important issue in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please help us spread our message by sharing our posts on Facebook and Twitter today.
Sincerely,
Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen
