Letter in support of trans athletes in the WFA

Hello WFA Board, 

We are writing to you to express our support of continuing to allow transgender athletes to play in the WFA. Despite the ruling to ban trans athletes this past February. We are hoping you'll reconsider .

We send this letter acknowledging the language of the Executive Order signed on February 5th, 2025 banning trans youth from participating in athletics in schools. This order was written specifically to exclude transgender youth from participating in sport in schools. As an organization that fosters and creates opportunities for adult women to play football, this Executive Order does not apply to us. Furthermore, this Executive Order violates rights and protections for transgender people that have been litigated at the State and Supreme Court levels, and that have been historically protected and upheld by the NCAA and the WFA. The national trans athlete ban also failed in the Senate signaling it won't be national law and motion to continue to repeal laws that have instated these bans are also underway. 

There are many arguments as to why transgender athletes have the right and deserve the protections that allow them to play sports. Some include the inherent variability of all athletic achievement. We all know that success on the football field is owed to preseason training, studying the game, genetic capability, overall health, and sometimes even luck. The argument that a transgender woman is “too good” at football reinforces the stereotype that women are weak - which is entirely antithetical to the mission of the WFA. 

We are hoping this letter in support of transgender athletes can help to empower you to continue to protect and celebrate all women who play football in our community. We urge you to consider the long standing refuge that the WFA has provided for women, queer women, and trans athletes. The WFA continuing to allow transgender athletes would provide a beacon of hope for all transgender youth who are no longer permitted to participate in school sports. This would continue the legacy of modeling athleticism, sportsmanship, allyship, and inclusion for girls everywhere.