Former American women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe and WNBA great Sue Bird were among the current and former athletes who signed Athlete Ally’s letter to the NCAA, urging the organization to refuse to enact a policy that would bar trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. Will stop.
The letter from the LGBTQ advocacy group came as more than a dozen House Republican lawmakers urged NCAA President Charlie Baker to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. follow a set policy Earlier this month by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Lawmakers cited Lia Thomas’s national championship in 2022, which marked Thomas as the first trans woman to win an NCAA national title.
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Megan Rapinoe, left, and Sue Bird attend Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on February 10, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“We, the signatories below, call on the NCAA, a governing body that serves athletes and our well-being, to ensure that the life-saving power of sport is accessible to all athletes who attend NCAA-member institutions and “Transgender athletes have the opportunity to be who they are, access the sport they love, and reap the proven mental and physical health benefits of sport,” the letter read. Depriving this fundamental right is against the principles of the NCAA Constitution.
“By barring transgender athletes, you will severely limit the ability of your member institutions to protect and support their athletes. Furthermore, you will be actively ostracizing transgender athletes – the same athletes you sought to protect.” When you were elected, you agreed to serve on the board. Governor.”
The letter cites South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley’s support of transgender athletes outkick asked About the topic.
The letter states that the real issues in the fight for fairness in women’s sports are “unequal pay, failure to uphold Title IX, rampant sexual exploitation and harassment of women and girl athletes, and equal treatment for men’s and women’s teams. “Lack of resources” are missing.
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Soccer legend and A Touch More co-founder Megan Rapinoe speaks during the Business of Women Sports Summit presented by Deep Blue Sports and Axios at the Chelsea Factory on April 23, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Riley Goins was also targeted in the letter, blaming her for “inciting transphobic hatred and policy” on the media, while hundreds of swimmers expressed their support for transgender athletes, along with medical, athletic and human rights professionals. Expertise was supported. Who helped shape the IOC’s inclusive policy.”
The letter did not mention the testimony of Gaines and Paula Scanlan. gave to congress About the NCAA allowing Thomas to change clothes in the women’s locker room.
“As athletes, we know firsthand that sports has the power to change lives. Allowing transgender athletes within the NCAA to participate in the sports they truly love alongside their peers is the true embodiment of Olympism. Fulfills the spirit that sport should never be for the select few and affirms that sport truly belongs to all of us. NCAA should not ban transgender women from women’s sports.
American women’s soccer stars Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams joined Rapinoe, as well as WNBA players Brianna Turner and Leshia Clarendon. Olympic silver medalist swimmer Brooke Ford was among the swimmers who signed the letter.
Thomas did not sign the letter.
Lia Thomas watches from behind the blocks for the women’s 500 yard freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta. (Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
“Now is the time for the NCAA and the athletic community nationwide to speak up and affirm that sports should be for everyone, including transgender athletes,” Rapinoe said in a statement via Athlete Ally.
“To my fellow cis female athletes: The time is now to say loud and clear that bans against trans athletes in the form of ‘protecting women’s sports’ do not speak for us, and do something to protect us. Don’t. Trans athletes fear they might be sidelined from the sport they love: I see you and I hear you and I’m with you.”
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The NCAA told NBC News, “College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America and the NCAA will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition for all student-athletes at all NCAA championships.” Will make sure.”
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