WASHINGTON — Today, the anti-equality majority in the U.S. House used their razor-thin advantage to narrowly advance H.R. 734, legislation that would impose a nationwide ban on transgender, nonbinary and intersex youth from participating in school sports on teams that match their gender identity. In response, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — slammed the vote as an empty exercise intended to attack marginalized youths because it riles up Republican extremists. Every Democrat voted against the bill. Meanwhile, urgent concerns like the epidemic of gun violence in schools, bullying, racial and economic disparities, declining test scores and teacher shortages are neglected.

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson released the following statement:

“Rather than focus their energy on doing literally anything to improve the lives of children, House Republicans have prioritized attacking transgender youth purely as a political ploy. They know this bill will not become law because President Biden has already signaled his intention to veto it, so this is purely a waste of time at the expense of an already marginalized population. All kids — including transgender, nonbinary and intersex kids — have the right to enjoy the benefits of camaraderie, teamwork, self-discipline and sportsmanship that come from playing school sports. Instead, anti-equality extremists just don’t want to let kids play. We know that attacking trans kids didn’t work in the 2022 election, and it won’t work in 2024 either.”

This month, a group of 40 prominent athletes, including Megan Rapinoe, CeCe Telfer and Chris Mosier, signed a letter opposing a federal anti-transgender sports ban. “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,” they wrote.

In recent months, notable female athletes such as Alex Morgan, Becky Saurbrunn and Brianna Turner each stated publicly that they support transgender inclusion in sports.

The nation’s leading child health and welfare groups oppose sports bans. Groups representing more than 7 million youth-serving professionals and more than 1,000 child welfare organizations released an open letter calling for lawmakers in states across the country to oppose dozens of bills that target LGBTQ+ people, and transgender children in particular.

Almost 550 college athletes demanded that the NCAA revoke sports championships from states that have passed anti-trans sports legislation and relocate them to states with more inclusive policies.

To Learn More:

• Get the Facts about Transgender & Non-Binary Athletes

• Let Us Play: Kids want to play sports for the same reasons: to be part of a team, to learn discipline, and above all, to have fun with their friends.

• Meet the girl who lawmakers want to ban from playing sports

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.