When we started this work in early October 2023, we knew there were no easy solutions and that it takes dedicated time and effort to create meaningful and enduring change. With your support through petitions and letters, we have been successful in having the USA Climbing Transgender Athlete Participation Policy paused and opening a line of communication with USA Climbing through their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC). We have since held several meetings with the USAC DEIC, other USAC staff, and members of the competitive climbing community. Throughout these meetings, we have always maintained our position that the inclusion of trans and intersex people in the policy writing group, specifically trans women and femmes, is nonnegotiable and that USA Climbing must do their due diligence by listening to multiple trans, nonbinary, and intersex people of diverse backgrounds and experiences while rewriting this policy. Rather than offering specific recommendations to their TAP policy, we have been focused on assisting USAC in amending their process as a whole, so that this change can reverberate through their current and future work for years to follow.

As part of their TAPP revision process, USA Climbing will be conducting listening sessions to gain more perspective from affected athletes, their families, and coaches. This process will be led by a third-party facilitator, who is also a trans climber. If you are interested in participating, follow us on Instagram at @transclimbersbelong where we will share more information as it becomes available.

Thank you for your continued support. This work cannot be done alone and we're grateful for everyone who has believed in and supported our endeavors.