The LGBTQ+ Center sent the following letter to members of the West Virginia House of Delegates Wednesday (March 24):
The LGBTQ+ Center, an academic and advocacy unit at WVU, provides supportive programming and academic resources to students, faculty, staff, and community members on issues pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community. We support educational and social justice efforts through trainings, classes, and advocacy on WVU’s campuses. Furthermore, we work throughout the state to improve understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues, bringing attention to inequalities and combatting homophobia, transphobia, racism and other issues that negatively impact the educational opportunities of our fellow West Virginians.
This statement is to share our concerns and strong opposition to House Bill 3293, a bill that proposes to ban transgender students from participating in single-sex sports in West Virginia’s secondary schools. As advocates for the transgender community, we are very concerned about the negative and harmful consequences that come from dangerous and unnecessary legislation like House Bill 3293.
West Virginia has the highest percentage of transgender youth in the nation – the Williams Institute estimates that 1.04 percent of West Virginians 13- to 17-years-old identify as transgender. Many of these youths face numerous challenges already, including all-too-frequently being harassed, bullied, and persecuted because of their identity. To restrict, limit, or ban their participation in sports, is one more unfair hurdle in their lives which would ostracize young transgender people from their peers, when many of them already feel unsafe at school.
The NCAA, International Olympic Committee, and more than a dozen states already allow trans athletes to participate in school sports without negative consequences or imbalances in outcomes. There is absolutely no evidence supporting a claim that transgender athletes or teams with transgender athletes have any sort of competitive advantage over other programs.
If passed, House Bill 3293 would also negatively affect the benefits of interscholastic sports – programs which help students learn discipline, teamwork, and self-confidence and provide exercise and health benefits. No student should be denied these opportunities.
On these grounds, we urge those who oppose House Bill 3293 to contact your representatives. Our students, including our transgender youth, deserve our support and respect. Making it harder for them to be a kid, to participate in activities with their classmates, and to enjoy fair and equal treatment in school activities is the wrong choice and could jeopardize efforts to attract population and economic growth and demonstrate our welcoming and caring nature.
Those who may wish to share their thoughts on the proposed legislation may do so by contacting House members via email or phone.