To the editor:

I want to voice my opposition to a mean-spirited bill under consideration by the Kansas Senate. SB 484 would exclude trans youth from participating in school sports. The bill is transphobic; it devalues and demeans trans youth by excluding them from the social life of their school. Trans youth who decide to live authentically are already in danger of being rejected and harassed by their peers. School is often not a safe place for them, but sports can provide a place to belong. Being on a sports team allows students to find a community and create a support system that makes high school safer and more enjoyable. By excluding trans youth from sports teams, this bill deprives them of the opportunity to develop these connections.

I also believe the bill unfairly discriminates against coaches by forcing them to exclude student athletes from participating in sports, regardless of the coach’s stance on this issue. Coaches are mentors who support their athletes in many ways. For some students, their coach is one of the most trusted adults in their lives. Having just one trusted adult can mean the difference between life and death for a teenager who is struggling with depression, exclusion, bullying or a difficult home life–an unfortunate reality for many trans students. The lack of protection and respect for trans youth already results in tragic and preventable loss of life every year. This bill will only make the situation worse.

Becky Eason,

Lawrence