PHOENIX, Ariz. – Lawmakers in Arizona have proposed invasive legislation that would target transgender youth and limit their ability to participate in sports. House Bill 2706 is a dangerous and discriminatory bill that would single out transgender student athletes and force unnecessary medical examinations, including invasive examinations of their genitals, blood tests and genetic testing.
“Transgender girls are girls, and transgender boys are boys. Transgender students participate in sports for the same reasons that other students do. They want enjoy the activities, challenge themselves and be a part of a team,” Amanda Parris, policy counsel for the ACLU of Arizona. “Participation in sports has been shown to lead to better grades, better academic performance and improved self-esteem. We should not allow politicians to deny students opportunities to follow their passion and to compete. Transgender students deserve our support, not baseless attacks because of who they are as people.”
Arizona joins a growing list of states where transgender people and their ability to fully participate in life is being attacked. Bills that single out students who are transgender for discrimination violate state and federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection.
The National Women’s Law Center, the Women’s Sports Foundation, Women Leaders in College Sports and others support trans-inclusive policies and oppose efforts to exclude transgender students from participating in sports.
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