On March 1, 2022, Senators Morgan and Lombardo introduced a bill,  S  2501, that would ban transgender girls from playing sports at any public school in Rhode Island. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

We have seen these cookie cutter bills in states across the country. We need to let members of the Judiciary Committee know that Rhode Island does not need or want this bill and will not support excluding transgender kids.

To submit testimony in opposition to this bill, contact Polly Crozier, Senior Staff Attorney at GLAD, at pcrozier@glad.org

Rhode Island schools, supported by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, have for years established successful participation policies that are inclusive, support the goals of school sports programs, and ensure a level playing field. This bill undermines those efforts.

Transgender kids want the opportunity to play sports for the same reason other kids do: to be a part of a team where they feel like they belong. To ban girls from playing because they’re transgender denies these kids this vital important childhood experience and all the lessons it teaches.

Kids learn a lot of important life lessons in sports: leadership, confidence, self-respect, and what it means to be part of a team. This bill would shut transgender youth out of those opportunities and encourage harassment of vulnerable kids in our state. Rhode Island leaders should be focusing on what matters —bolstering the economy, helping families, and ensuring all students can learn in a safe and healthy environment – not excluding transgender kids.

Check out our fact sheet.