In Michigan, a transgender high school volleyball player is facing public attacks from politicians and parents simply for playing the sport she loves.

Now, GOP lawmakers are using this one student's participation to push for a statewide ban on transgender girls competing in school sports. They’re trying to rewrite the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act—which protects Michiganders from discrimination based on gender identity—and urging schools to exclude trans students in the name of “fairness.”

But this isn’t about fairness. It’s about fear.

Trans youth already face higher risks of bullying, depression, and isolation. When politicians hold press conferences and demand investigations just because a transgender student exists on a team, they are sending a dangerous message: that trans kids don’t belong.

Schools should be places where every student feels safe, supported, and included. That includes trans athletes who meet the same eligibility criteria as their peers. Michigan law affirms their right to be treated with dignity—and our schools and lawmakers must do the same.

We call on Michigan legislators to stop targeting transgender student-athletes for political gain. We urge them to reject any attempts to weaken or rewrite the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. And we demand that our schools and the Michigan High School Athletic Association uphold the principles of equality, not cave to pressure that encourages discrimination.

The dignity and safety of trans youth are not up for debate. Let them play.