President Donald Trump signed an executive order today aimed at further restricting the rights of transgender Americans by taking away their ability to play sports at any level.
Kurt Weaver, COO of You Can Play, responded:
“It is troubling that Congress and the White House are prioritizing political attacks on trans youth instead of addressing real issues facing female athletes – like funding gaps, inequities in women’s sports, and access to quality coaching and facilities. Sport governing bodies already have regulations in place to ensure fair competition, and work with experts to ensure continued equitable opportunity in athletics for every athlete."
“This dangerous executive order lacks any backing from people actually involved in sport administration, and has no data to support its position. Decades of research and real-world experience show that inclusive sports benefit all athletes – especially children – fostering teamwork, discipline, and personal growth."
“Government overreach into decisions best left to experts in the field is unnecessary, harmful, and a distraction from what really matters: making sports safer and more accessible for all.”
Mardi Moore, CEO of Rocky Mountain Equality, added:
“Rather than ensuring all students are learning in safe schools, President Trump’s ongoing attacks against trans youth are a shameful attempt to distract from his administration’s failure to come up with a plan to address those issues. Why is the government telling a very small group of kids that they can’t play sports with their peers and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, dedication, and cooperation?"
“There is nothing complicated about prioritizing all students being safe in schools and learning the valuable lessons that athletics teach our youth. This administration is squandering limited resources and acting like a playground bully instead of advancing meaningful solutions to improve our local schools.”