The highest court in the United States is poised to make a landmark ruling that could reshape the landscape of school sports for transgender youth across the nation. On Tuesday, the US Supreme Court began considering state laws from West Virginia and Idaho that bar transgender girls from competing on girls' sports teams. The outcome of these cases, brought by the students themselves, carries profound implications for LGBTQ+ rights, setting a precedent as 27 states have enacted similar sports bans while over 20 maintain inclusive policies.
The Personal Cost of a National Debate
Amidst this legal maelstrom, five transgender students and their families from California—a state with long-standing trans-inclusive policies—shared their experiences with The Guardian. They described athletics as a fundamental source of joy, community, and identity. For them, sports are about team-building, socialising, and exercise, just as they are for countless other young people. Yet, their participation has become entangled in a fraught national debate over "fairness," which they say overlooks their basic right to belong and access the same opportunities as their peers.
Lina Haaga, a 14-year-old from Pasadena who has played sports since she was four, finds solace on the field. "Sports was always a place where I could find a reprieve," she explains. However, the political climate has poisoned that sanctuary. "I’ve had to now worry every time I step on the track or the court that somebody might disagree with my participation. That’s been really scary, because it’s started to steal something that’s precious for me." She believes that for trans kids, simply playing sports is "in its own beautiful way an act of resistance."
Defiance and Determination in the Face of Hostility
The hostility often manifests at the highest levels. AB Hernandez, a 17-year-old track and field star from Jurupa Valley, experienced this firsthand after winning multiple events at the California state finals in May. Former President Donald Trump targeted her in a social media post, calling her participation "TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN." AB, now a high school senior, learned to focus on her identity and her achievements. "Victory meant a lot, especially after all the internet drama," she said. Reflecting on the support she received, she realised her defiance had impact: "I defied the president, in a way."
Her mother, Neredya Hernandez, vows to continue the fight. "My message to other parents is: support your kids and be louder," she urged, emphasising the unseen community of support.
While rhetoric often centres on trans girls, trans boys are equally affected. The mother of a 13-year-old trans boy in the Bay Area, who we are calling Jennifer to protect her son's identity, said the toxic climate is distressing. Her son, who plays soccer, basketball, and baseball, finally found belonging on boys' teams after coming out. Jennifer stated starkly that if he were barred from sports, "we would have to leave the country." She fears the Supreme Court case is a foundational issue: "Once you take the position that trans girls are not girls for the purposes of sports, you have now dehumanised them."
A Chilling Precedent and a Plea for Empathy
Other students voiced deep anxiety about the legal battle's wider consequences. Lily Norcross, a 17-year-old track athlete, has grown accustomed to slurs and death threats stemming from news coverage. She feels a duty to speak up for those in less supportive states. "I’m speaking up for people in places like Texas, Ohio or Florida who don’t have these opportunities," she said, criticising what she sees as tepid support from some Democratic leaders.
Leonard, a 17-year-old Bay Area swimmer and fencer, shared a sense of hopelessness. "I don’t like this Supreme Court and I don’t think they’re going to support trans people’s ability to play sports," he said. For him, competing on the boys' team was a powerful affirmation: "It proved to everyone and myself that I am, in fact, a boy and this is where I’m supposed to be."
The students' collective message is a plea for understanding and humanity. They are not seeking an advantage but simply the chance to play, connect, and be themselves. As the Supreme Court deliberates, the fundamental question remains: whether the joy of sport and the right to belong will be protected for all young Americans, regardless of their gender identity.
