This bill would exclude transgender students from participating on interscholastic, intramural, or club sports teams and accessing locker rooms consistent with their identified gender in K-12 public schools, charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program.
Excluding trans students from participating in sports teams consistent with their authentic gender identity is unfair and discriminatory. Transgender athletes want to participate in school sports for the same reason as anybody else: to find a sense of belonging and social engagement, to be a part of a team, and to challenge themselves.
But states and schools across the country are trying to exclude trans people from enjoying the benefits of sports on equal terms with their cisgender peers. Not only do these proposed laws discriminate against trans youth in ways that compromise their health, social and emotional development, and safety, they also raise a host of privacy concerns.
Enforcing these bans would be horrible for all women and girls. It would require girls as young as four to answer invasive personal questions about their bodies and face humiliating physical inspections of their private parts by adult strangers.
Every student is at risk under this bill. Any player could be targeted with questions about their gender – whether that’s from an opposing team or a teammate who is upset they lost out on playing time or didn’t make a team. That’s not good for anyone.
The ACLU of Wisconsin vehemently opposes this legislation and is firmly committed to defending the rights of trans Wisconsinites. Trans youth deserve to live and thrive as their authentic selves, free from discrimination and political attacks.
Four Myths About Trans Athletes, Debunked
