U.S. Women’s Hockey Players Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation

Three big names in American professional women's hockey signed an open letter opposing anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Some of the biggest names in American sports together penned and signed an open letter opposing USA Federal bill H.R. 734. The proposed bill would alter rules surrounding Title IX compliance to require a ban of transgender and intersex girls and women from playing college sports.

Three American born hockey players were among the list of signees including Olympians Meghan Duggan and Erika Lawler, and PHF all-star Madison Packer.

The letter states that the group of noted athletes “believe that every child deserves to have their life changed for the better by being able to participate in the sport that they love.”

“Right now, transgender and intersex human rights are under attack, with politicians in Washington D.C. pushing forward H.R. 734, the so-called “Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act”, which would stipulate that Title IX compliance requires banning transgender and intersex girls and women from participating in sports,” the letter continues.

“If this bill passes, transgender and intersex girls and women throughout the country will be forced to sit on the sidelines, away from their peers and their communities. Furthermore, the policing of who can and cannot play school sports will very likely lead to the policing of the bodies of all girls, including cisgender girls. This will deter girls from participating in sports and create additional barriers.”

Other notable athletes involved include Megan Rapinoe (soccer) and Sue Bird (basketball), who are considered two of the best players in the world in their sports.

The letter, which pleads for legislators to oppose bill H.R. 734, concludes by stating “Our deepest hope is that transgender and intersex kids will never have to feel the isolation, exclusion and othering that H.R. 734 is seeking to enshrine into law.”

Title IX was first passed into law in 1972 banning any sex-based discrimination in any school or education program receiving federal funding. Three years later in 1975, specific provisions were described applying Title IX to college sports. The resulting impact was the inclusion of thousands of women into college and high school sports in the United States.