Thread by @cmclymer

It breaks my heart to bring your attention to this.

With more than 520,000 deaths in the U.S. and tens of millions struggling financially, it appears Senate Republicans are attempting to weaponize the COVID relief package to ban trans kids from sports.

#LetKidsPlay

(thread)

I really wish it weren't true, but there's a rumored amendment being brought forward by Senate Republicans to ban trans kids from playing in sports at every level from K-12 right up through college. They will attempt to tie-in COVID relief in an attack on trans children.

As you already know, Senate Republicans rejected the $15/hr minimum wage amend that would help struggling families. They forced the reduction of stimulus checks for Americans in need. But somehow, they're managing to find space to harm trans kids in this COVID relief legislation.

So, let me offer a few reminders:

1. Women athletes from @BillieJeanKing to @mPinoe to @Candace_Parker to @WomensSportsFdn have already made it clear they stand beside trans kids in sports at every level: athleteally.org/amicus-trans-a…

2. Every major medical authority, from the American Medical Association to the American Academy of Pediatrics to World Health Organization, supports affirming trans kids in their authentic gender.

3. Scientifically, for trans children receiving appropriate gender-affirming health care, there is no advantage over cis children in sports. Medical studies have made this clear. It is an incredibly destructive and harmful myth to suggest otherwise. It exploits fear and bigotry.

4. Trans athletes at the college level see any unfair advantages they may have had over cis athletes before transitioning evaporate after an appropriate period receiving gender-affirming health care. This has been established in medical studies.

5. There is no record of openly-trans women athletes being offered college athletic scholarships. There shouldn't be a problem with that anyway given that appropriate gender-affirming health care removes any supposed advantages. But number of reported athletic scholarships? Zero.

Simply put: trans kids in sports and trans athletes generally hold no unfair advantages when they receive appropriate gender-affirming care in consultation with medical providers.

This is yet another instance of Senate Republicans attacking marginalized communities.

And for Senate Republicans to use the COVID relief legislation to do this, when our country is struggling to get through a deadly and destructive health care crisis, is beyond unconscionable. It's abhorrent. These people care more about harming trans kids than getting you relief.

So, make it absolutely clear to your Senators today that you stand with trans kids in sports and that COVID relief should be passed as intended: to help struggling families get through this crisis.

Use the hashtag #LetKidsPlay. Let's get it trending.