H.R. 28 and the Fight for Transgender Youth in Sports

On January 14th, 2025, the House of Representatives passed deeply harmful legislation, H.R. 28, the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025." This bill, which purports to protect cisgender girls and women in sports, actually targets transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students, effectively excluding them from participating in school athletics. As an organization that advocates for the rights of all people, including transgender women and girls, we strongly oppose this legislation.

H.R. 28 proposes sweeping restrictions on the participation of transgender and gender-diverse students in sports programs. The bill asserts that only individuals whose sex is determined by "reproductive biology and genetics at birth" should be allowed to participate in women's sports. In doing so, it targets transgender girls and women specifically, denying them the opportunity to engage in sports alongside their peers, a right that should be universal for all youth.

The language of H.R. 28 mirrors the ongoing push by right-wing extremists to roll back civil rights gains for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people. By presenting the bill as a defense of “biological sex” and using vague language about “protecting” women’s sports, its sponsors are essentially trying to redefine gender in a way that aligns with a rigid, binary view of human existence, one that is rooted in certain religious beliefs, but not reflective of the lived experiences of millions of people across the country.

Our organization, in coalition with others, signed onto a letter led by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights opposing H.R. 28. The letter condemns the bill’s discriminatory nature and highlights the ways it will harm transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students. As the letter states:

“Youth sports often play a significant role in children’s lives and development, helping them to develop critical life skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. Sports spaces are imperative for all young people, no matter their gender. Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth want to participate in team sports for the same reasons as their cisgender peers: to be part of a team, learn sportsmanship, and challenge themselves. School athletics are very often the centerpiece of communities across the country, and denying transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth the chance to participate only serves to deny them an opportunity to be part of that community, further isolating and stigmatizing these youth.”

The letter also emphasizes that the real harm of H.R. 28 extends beyond sports participation, creating a broader atmosphere of exclusion and discrimination within schools. It underscores the importance of creating inclusive, supportive environments for all students, something this bill directly undermines.

What’s at stake here is not just sports, but the very principles of religious freedom and equality that should be guaranteed for all. The right to live authentically, free from discrimination, should never be compromised in the name of imposing one group's religious or ideological beliefs on the rest of society. We must reject these attempts to codify discrimination and stand up for the inclusion of all youth, regardless of gender identity.

Although H.R. 28 has passed the House, it now heads to the Senate. We urge you to speak out against this bill before it becomes law. Contact your Senators and demand that they protect the rights of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth by voting against H.R. 28. Inclusion is not a matter of political ideology; it's about upholding the dignity and humanity of every student.