Transgender youth are under aggressive attack across the country. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce just marked up and passed through committee legislation to prevent trans youth from taking part in school sports activities on teams that match their gender identity. It's telling that while our nation’s schools face threats from funding cuts, gun violence, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic including a teacher shortage, the first markup of the House Committee on Education focused instead on discriminatory and damaging legislation that is profoundly harmful to transgender youth.

To be clear, the intent of this bill is not to protect women’s sports. It is to further sow bigotry and enflame prejudice toward transgender people. LGBTQ+ youth already face increased harassment and bullying. It is appalling that the House Committee on Education would move forward a type of ban widely opposed by child welfare organizations to inflict more harm upon vulnerable youth.

As a community of faithful we see and affirm the agency and rights of transgender youth. We celebrate them and believe that they have the right to live lives protected from cruelty and discrimination. We owe our children space to grow in safety and a secure knowledge at their core that they are all beloved, created beautifully in the image of God.

Please join us and contact your Member of Congress asking them to fully oppose this legislation, and any like it, that would cause harm to our transgender siblings. Ask them to listen to their constituents who speak to the immense damage these bills have on transgender youth. As people of faith, it’s critical we add our voices to the chorus of others saying transgender people are loved wholly and without reservation.