The BPR High School Program invites student writers from Providence-area public schools to research, draft, and edit a college-level opinion article over the course of a semester.
Rai Flynn is a sophomore at East Providence High School.
A special thank you to the editor on this piece, Evan Tao ‘27! All opinions expressed in this article are the author’s.
“Trans people don’t transition for athletics, we transition to be happy,” said Lia Thomas. While transgender participation in sports has always been a controversial topic, in recent years many anti-LGBTQ+ groups have worked to stop the participation of trans individuals in athletic competition, stoking the already hot fire that has grown between the LGBTQ+ community and the rest of the world. The disputed claim that transgender women have biological advantages over cis women has allowed many to push hateful and discriminatory opinions, hurting not only transgender women but also other minorities in the process.
Lia Thomas has been an inspiration for many. While she is not the first transgender woman to compete in the NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championship, her dominance has attracted widespread attention. Along with this attention, however, has come significant backlash, reigniting debates on whether transgender women should participate in sports. Despite this controversy, Lia has used her platform to advocate for inclusion and acceptance. Her passion for swimming is clear, and she shows that her goal isn’t just to win but to make a difference. As she said, “I just want to show trans kids and younger trans athletes that they’re not alone, they don’t have to choose between who they are and the sport they love.”
Concerns that transgender women have an advantage over cis women has been used to push right-wing transphobic agenda into legislation. The GOP has put forward many bills that discredit and strip the rights of transgender individuals. In 2023, Republican lawmakers in Kansas overrode Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a law that prohibits transgender participation in sports. As of 2024, 25 states have banned transgender individuals from competing in sports teams associated with their gender identity. The most recent action taken to prohibit the involvement of these trans individuals in sports is Trump’s executive order that sought to forbid transgender women and girls from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, as well as their use of women’s locker rooms. This order targeted educational institutions and professional athletic associations.
Many right-wing Christian thinkers and politicians base their opposition to transgender individuals on biblical interpretations, advocating for policies that align with their beliefs. A common argument is that people who transition are going “against God’s Will” or “His Divine Design.” As recently as 2023, West Virginia upheld a law that prevented transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports in public schools. This ruling helped illustrate how the decade-long campaign to restrict transgender rights continues to pose a threat to the well being of young transgender individuals. Anti-LGBTQ organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and Family Policy Alliance have led these efforts, despite the fact that many exports say the involvement in athletics and other activities are essential to the health of transgender kids. By advocating for policies rooted in religious beliefs, these groups have contributed to the systematic denial of transgender rights in sports and isolated the broader Christian community, making the majority appear intolerant in the eyes of the world.
These bills have been passed based on the idea that transgender girls, often framed as cisgender boys claiming to be girls, hold biological advantages in girls’ sports. Over the years, there has been significant research on this topic. For example, in 2021, a report by the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sports found that trans women do not have any biomedical advantage over cis women in sports. It has specifically shown there is little evidence of male puberty giving trans women an upper hand. It has also pointed out that trans women who have undergone testosterone suppression have no clear biological advantage.
The irony in this situation becomes evident when examining transgender males. Unlike transgender women, trangender males don’t spark the same level of controversy when the discussion of fairness and competition in sports arises. This lack of debate stems from the belief that transgender males don’t have a biological advantage over cis males. This stark contrast highlights the clear prejudice primarily directed towards female transgender athletes.
It is also necessary to point out how many female athletes have competed in male dominated sports and succeeded, emphasizing that success in sport cannot be reduced simply to gender. For example, Manon Rhéaume, the first ever women NHL player, shows that skills and talent transcended traditional gender roles. Another instance is when Fiona Kolbinger won the transcontinental race—a grueling cross continental cycling event—beating all her opponents, male and female. The false ideology that men traditionally are better than women across all sports has been proven to be untrue in many instances. It has also allowed many to put blame on others instead of admitting defeat, pointing out their inability to perform at a certain level. Gender and athletics aren’t one in the same.
There are many complex components involving the “gender” of any specific person. Scientific research has shown that gender is not strictly binary: variations in hormones, chromosomes, and the diversity of human biology all contribute to gender. Oxford Languages defines gender as the “Male sex or the female sex, especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones, or one of a range of other identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female.” It’s also important to bear in mind that just like cis athletes, transgender athletes’ athletic abilities vary. This fact helps to debunk the myth that all female transgender athletes are “automatically” better than cis athletes. While people can argue that “transgender females” have biological advantages over cis women, there are many instances where someone could just be more athletically capable than another.
It should also be noted that, antitransgender legislation that has been passed have not only affected the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, but also millions of black women who have faced discrimination for presenting as “too masculine.” This was shown in the 2023 Paris Olympics when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, a cisgender women boxer with elevated testosterone levels, was able to defeat her opponent, a white Italian boxer by the name Angela Carini, in just 46 seconds. While Khelif is not transgender, this issue sparked the debate surrounding trans women athletes who face prejudice in sports and have been accused of being “men masquerading as women.” This clearly highlights the unfair discrimination that is faced every day by minorities in sports, but more specifically, transgender women.
The Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution, ensures that all people, no matter their situation, should be treated equally under the law. This should include protection on the basis of race, gender, or religion. By allowing legislation banning transgender participation in sports, we are taking away fundamental rights granted to them through the United States’ foundational documents. Those who prioritize their status and wealth over the rights of marginalized communities should not have the authority to dictate who can and cannot participate in a sport.
Just as cisgender people do, transgender individuals play sports to improve their well-being, social inclusion, and for the chance to compete and excel. But not all transgender individuals play sports to be the best. They play them because they love the game and that should be the most important truth. Looking at the Declaration of Independence, one can see that the three main rights delegated to all human beings include “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” These unalienable rights should never be taken away by the United States government, yet it seems when the “happiness” of transgender athletes comes into conversation these protected rights don’t matter. The Founding Fathers could have just as easily kept the original values of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of property” but instead focused on the happiness of the citizens living in America. Then why is it that when these transgender athletes pursue their happiness through sports, it’s considered an “issue”? This highlights the blatant bigotry that continues to plague our nation, particularly against transgender individuals. Instead of finding ways to take these rights away, these officials should be finding ways to honor these unalienable rights delegated to the citizens of the United States.
To protect the rights of trangender people, we must take action. The best way to go about this is through communal support and fighting for the rights through local government. While fighting in the federal government is important, the current administration seems less likely to fight for the rights of transgender individuals. Grassroots action at the local level is also important. By taking initiatives through the community and creating a welcoming space for these individuals, we can help them feel supported and give them a shoulder to lean on in times of desperation. This is essential in creating an environment that fosters equal rights.
Another way to go about helping transgender athletes is to ask your senator to vote no on anti-transgender bills. Enforcing anti-discrimination laws such as the Equality Act that protects the actions on account of sexual orientation and gender identity, can also help. This law has allowed many people who identify with the LGBTQ+ community to feel more safe and protected in our government. By passing laws similar to these in your local government, you are slowly helping the transgender community gain access to their constitutional rights.
In recent years, trans people have seen their rights stripped from them. In order to bring about change, we must stand up and find ways to help these individuals, whether it be through passing new laws or making them feel secure and welcome in the community. Standing up to hate requires unity– it’s not something one person can do alone.