The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments from Idaho and West Virginia claiming that transgender kids shouldn’t be allowed to play on sports teams that align with who they are.
Let’s be honest about what this is really about.
Across the entire country, we’re talking about fewer than ten transgender youth athletes. Fewer than ten. Sit with that for a moment.
So no—this isn’t about fairness in sports, and it certainly isn’t about protecting women and girls. This is about control. Control over our bodies, our joy, our hobbies, how we express ourselves, and who is allowed to exist openly in public spaces.
The states of Idaho and West Virginia are spending thousands of taxpayer dollars to argue in the courts over fewer than ten people. In a year where food, housing, and basic needs feel out of reach for so many, how has this become the priority?
On the surface, these bans are framed as common sense or “competitive balance.” But that framing falls apart almost immediately. If policing bodies is the goal, what happens next? When a cis girl is too tall? Too muscular? Too fast? Who gets scrutinized, tested, or excluded next?
That’s why queer liberation is for everyone—cis and trans, straight, gay, bisexual. When lawmakers start drawing lines around who “belongs,” those lines never stay where they start.
As a trans athlete myself, sports are my safe haven. Basketball is a gift in a world that so often insists on taking from me and my community. Sports build confidence, connection, and belonging. Being able to play isn’t a luxury—it’s essential to my mental health and to the well-being of trans people everywhere.
That’s why, now more than ever, we have to show up.
Tonight, I’m hosting Ball Out for Trans Youth, in partnership with the ACLU—an affirming basketball event that gives LGBTQ+ athletes a space to play, compete, and be celebrated for exactly who they are.
Who: Everyone is invited. We need folks to pack the stands and cheer our players on.
When: Tonight, January 14, from 6:00–8:00 PM
Where: For safety reasons, the location will be shared after you RSVP. RSVP is required for attendance.
RSVP here: https://forms.gle/hRUwHWCvBKZoCwKdA
Why: Because trans athletes deserve to know they are loved, welcomed, and supported—loudly and publicly.
More background on the Supreme Court cases
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
In 2021, more than 75 anti-trans bills were introduced nationwide. One of them, West Virginia’s HB 3293, bans transgender girls from participating in school sports. The law was signed despite state officials being unable to name a single transgender athlete affected by it. The case was brought on behalf of 15-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson, who simply wants to run cross-country and track with her friends. The ban is opposed by women athletes, women’s sports organizations, and medical experts.
Little v. Hecox
This case challenges Idaho’s 2020 ban on transgender athletes and its requirement for invasive sex testing. The plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU, the ACLU of Idaho, Legal Voice, and Cooley LLP.
What the Supreme Court will decide
The Court will determine whether blanket bans on transgender girls and women in school sports violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and Title IX. Extremist politicians hope these cases will open the door to broader discrimination—pushing transgender people out of sports, civil rights protections, and public life altogether.
These cases didn’t come out of nowhere. Lower courts repeatedly blocked these bans for violating students’ rights. Now, opponents are asking the Supreme Court to undo those protections.
This is bigger than sports. It’s about who gets to belong.
And tonight, we show up—for trans youth, for joy, and for the simple right to play.
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