1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I strongly oppose Assembly Bill 89, the trans sports ban. Every kid deserves the right to play with their friends regardless of their identities. The push to ban transgender women from sports is based in transphobia and misogyny, with little credible scientific evidence backing up the claim that transgender women have a competitive advantage.  For kids, it’s about playing with friends, developing skills, challenging themselves, being physically active, and learning life lessons. These opportunities should not be denied to kids because they are trans. Paired with the appropriate medical care, any perception of a physical advantage is erased. Perception is exactly what it is. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that transgender athletes could be at a physical disadvantage compared to their cisgender counterparts.  This all comes down to a plan to inspect the genitals of kids and young adults. In a world where sexual assault and coercion are the true threats to youth  and women’s sports, giving adults in power more access to intimate contact with kids is the wrong move. Banning trans athletes will open the door to harass any girl or woman who does not present sufficiently feminine. The IOC stopped chromosome testing because some cis athletes found out their chromosomes don’t align with their biological reality. Even IF there were a physical advantage, that’s what high level sports are. The higher level one reaches, the more it becomes about pairing any advantages with the needed skills. Should we ban tall folks from playing basketball?  Trans women make up a small percentage of the population and a smaller percentage of competitive athletes. This is a non-existent problem. I hope representatives in the State Legislature side with all kids being able to play with their friends and stand in opposition to this bill.