Later this month, the British Dance Council is going to consider a proposal that would ban same-sex dance partners from ballroom dance competitions by defining a dance partnership as having to consist of a “man” and a “lady”.

As an American who met his British husband in a same-sex salsa dance class, this issue is very dear to me, and dancing holds a very important place in my heart. At a time when we’re seeing many LGBT advancements in sports with high profile people like Tom Daley, Gareth Thomas, Michael Sam, Brittney Griner, and Jason Collins coming out of the closet, it’s disheartening that ballroom dancing is even entertaining the idea of allowing discrimination in sport. While other major sports are finding ways to be more inclusive for LGBT people, this hurtful change would be a giant step backwards!

This proposed discriminatory rule is being disguised as a way to “level the playing field,” however we all know that’s not true. As Heather Devine, the current European Same-Sex Senior Women’s Champion explained, “Ballroom dancing is not like tennis or football. Power and strength are not the key to winning. Poise, musicality, expression. timing, floorcraft and presentation are the main judging criteria. This means that two men do not have an advantage over a mixed-sex couple.”

The current European Same-Sex Senior Women’s Champions, Heather Devine and Chrisi Lyons, are against the proposed rule change. So are Sarah Hughes and Diane Willmot who have competed in mainstream events all over the country since 2005.

John Church and his dance partner, Alex, won the 2013 UK Closed Championship Title in the Over 35 Pre-Championship category and were the runners up at the Champions of Tomorrow 2014. In the 2013/2014 DPA (Dance Promoters Association) national league, they reached top position in the over 35 Pre-Championship Ballroom category, where they were up against over 135 mixed-gender couples. They are against the rule change as well.

Don’t ban these amazing dancers from competing, and please don’t implement a rule that would discriminate against the LGBT community.