Pro, Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Sign Open Letter Against HR734
April 10, 2023 — Today, elite professional, Olympic and Paralympic athletes signed onto an open letter opposing Federal bill H.R. 734, which would stipulate that Title IX compliance requires a federal ban of transgender & intersex girls and women from participating in sports. The letter was sent to House of Representatives legislative directors and was covered by Sports Illustrated. The letter in full can be found below:
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We, the undersigned athletes, believe that every child deserves to have their life changed for the better by being able to participate in the sport that they love.
As professional, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, we have dedicated our lives to sports. Sports have given us our greatest friends, taught us incredible life lessons, and given us the confidence and drive to succeed in the world. Those of us who love sport know that its value goes far beyond the playing field, to developing a sense of self and identity, and reflecting what we value as a community. Sport is a tremendous outlet for physical and mental health, teaches valuable lessons on teamwork and discipline, and has brought us lifelong community. Every single child should have access to the lifesaving power of sports.
Right now, transgender and intersex human rights are under attack, with politicians in Washington D.C. pushing forward H.R. 734, the so-called “Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act”, which would stipulate that Title IX compliance requires banning transgender and intersex girls and women from participating in sports. If this bill passes, transgender and intersex girls and women throughout the country will be forced to sit on the sidelines, away from their peers and their communities. Furthermore, the policing of who can and cannot play school sports will very likely lead to the policing of the bodies of all girls, including cisgender girls. This will deter girls from participating in sports and create additional barriers. Denying children access to a place where they can gain significant mental and physical health benefits, and learn lifelong lessons that come from being part of a team and working hard towards your goals does not protect women in sports.
We believe that gender equity in sport is critical, which is why we urge policymakers to turn their attention and effort to the causes women athletes have been fighting for decades, including equal pay, an end to abuse and mistreatment, uneven implementation of Title IX, and a lack of access and equity for girls of color and girls with disabilities, to name only a few.
Our deepest hope is that transgender and intersex kids will never have to feel the isolation, exclusion and othering that H.R. 734 is seeking to enshrine into law.
Signed,
Abby Dunkin, Paralympic Gold medalist, Wheelchair Basketball, Team USA
Alison Desir, Founder, Harlem Run and Co-Chair, Running Industry Diversity Coalition
Angela Hucles, Former Professional and Olympic Soccer Player, Team USA/NWSL; Former President of the Women’s Sports Foundation
Becky Sauerbrunn, Olympic Gold Medalist, Soccer, Team USA/NWSL
Bella Bixby, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Brad Stuver, Professional Soccer Player, MLS
Caitlin Cosme, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Carly Nelson, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Carrie Sheinberg, Former Olympic Alpine Skier, Team USA
CeCe Telfer, NCAA National Champion
Celia Jiménez, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL and Spanish National Team
Chris Mosier, Triathlete & Duathlete, 6-time Team USA and Founder of TransAthlete.Com
Devin Ibanez, Professional Rugby Player, Major League Rugby
Emily Menges, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Erika Lawler, Olympic Ice Hockey Player, Team USA
Esther Lofgren, Olympic Rower, Team USA
Grete Eliassen, Professional Freestyle Skier
Gwen Berry, Olympic Track and Field athlete, Team USA
Imani Dorsey, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
JayCee Cooper, Powerlifter
Jessica Mendoza, Former Olympic Softball Player, Team USA
Johnny Stanton, Professional Football Player, NFL
Kaiya McCullough, Former Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Kaylie Collins, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Kendall Chase, Olympic Rower, Team USA
Layshia Clarendon, Professional Basketball Player, WNBA
Lori Lindsey, Former Olympic and Professional Soccer Player, Team USA/NWSL
Madison Packer, Professional Ice Hockey Player, Premier Hockey Federation
Meaghan Nally, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic and Professional Soccer Player, Team USA/NWSL
Meghan Duggan, Former Olympic Ice Hockey Player, Team USA
Meghan Klingenberg, Olympic and Professional Soccer Player, Team USA/NWSL
Meghan O’Leary, Olympic Rower, Team USA
Mikey Lopez, Professional Soccer Player, USL Championship
Naya Tapper, Olympic Rugby Player, Team USA
Pam Boteler, Former Team USA Sprint Canoeist
Patricio Manuel, Professional Boxer
Sophia Herzog-Gibb, Paralympic Swimmer, Team USA
Sue Bird, Olympic and Professional Basketball Player, Team USA/WNBA
Tziarra King, Professional Soccer Player, NWSL
Photo by Wheaton Simis on Unsplash