Trans athletes deserve to express themselves through the sports they love. Blocking us from participating isn't about fairness or protection—it's about control and erasure. Our gender identity doesn't determine our athletic ability, and it's time to recognize that trans people belong in sports. We're strong, we're dedicated, and we work just as hard as anyone else to compete.

I’m a trans man and I’m gonna tell you a bit about my younger self that I hope will help you understand and empathize with my community.
I am very athletic and I played sports up until middle school,  I played on the boys football and baseball teams and the girls softball team, as I got older it started to feel like I didn’t wanna be on the girls team and I couldn’t be on the boys team bc boys started to see me as a “girl.” I heard the word transgender and learned it fit how I’ve felt my whole life. At age 14 I made the decision to focus on my transition instead of continuing to play sports, this was 14 years ago so i felt it was the choice society gave me at the time. I didn’t even think it was an option for me to play on the boys team as a trans boy. I just settled for being able to be my authentic self and trying to forget sports exist. Even tho I transitioned and was happy in my gender identity , I always thought about how i wanted to play sports and that hurt me a lot , I missed playing,  I always dreamed of playing in college but I  felt forced to find new dreams. I was too scared of being bullied to try out for the boys teams or just be told I’m not allowed to at all.  I didn’t think of a future besides just getting out of high school.

I only wanted to really be me for the first time in my life and I didn’t want the drama. I was bullied for being trans in high school, I relied on my anger and intimidation to help me survive. I turned to drugs and alcohol thru highschool, I was depressed and anxious at times. None of this is because I’m trans. It’s because throughout my whole childhood, I was bullied for being different than what my sex at birth is, and I was trying to conform to society, i chose to only live my life where I felt accepted. I was not able to live the childhood I wanted and that negatively affected my mental health. It’s taken me most of my 20s,  of therapy and learning self love and care to overcome my social anxiety and be confident in myself. 

Point is, now trans kids are fighting for their rights louder and more visibly, they are so brave and self aware , they know who they are more than I knew at their age, humans evolve to be better,  it was so hard for me as a child , I could not imagine how hard it is now for these kids now, to know the government does not accept you and that they are passing bills everyday against you , to hear the president say you don’t exist, to know there are people everyday wanting to put restrictions on you. Kids shouldn’t deal with that. Trans kids are just kids, they are worried about their future, they would love to play sports like any other kid, but even if you don’t let them play, it won’t stop them from being trans, it will only hurt them. They will survive but trans kids deserve more than to just survive. Protecting trans rights will protect all  human rights. 

Cis athletes often face the same struggles in sports: the need to train, to push harder, to strive for excellence. But when trans athletes like myself are prevented from competing, it's not about protecting someone else—it's about fearing our success. The truth is, it's not a fair game if we're not allowed to play in the first place. We deserve the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, to celebrate our victories and learn from our defeats.

Banning trans athletes from school sports sends a damaging message to all young athletes about who gets to participate. We need to foster an environment that encourages hard work and dedication from everyone, not just those who fit into traditional categories. It's time we focus on talent and effort, rather than on exclusion.

Trans athletes have the right to compete in a safe and welcoming environment, like any other athlete. By limiting our participation, these bans only seek to restrict our freedom and rights, setting a dangerous precedent for further inequality.

Join me in calling for an end to these discriminatory bans. Stand up for inclusion and fairness in school sports across the United States. Sign this petition to protect the rights and futures of trans athletes today. Let's ensure that everyone has the opportunity to compete and excel in sports, free from bias and barriers.