LGBTQ+ Youth Deserve Safe and Inclusive Sport Opportunities

Each year for the past several years, many states have introduced (and some have passed) laws banning transgender youth from participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity. These laws go hand-in-hand with other laws that seek to criminalize gender affirming health care and force educators to out students to their parents. These laws are not backed by research, and in fact go against recommendations from many major medical and mental health organizations.

Here is what we know.

• Participating in youth sports brings countless positive benefits to millions of children and teenagers each year - including mental health benefits.

• LGBTQ+ youth face high rates of bullying, harassment, discrimination, and abuse; they are also at extremely high risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts, as well as other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

• Sports can serve as a protective factor for LGBTQ+ youth, especially when the sport environment is affirming and inclusive. Participating in sports has been associated with increased mental health and connectedness for LGBTQ+ youth.

• Straight and cisgender students are not harmed when they have LGBTQ+ youth on their teams. In fact, an inclusive environment benefits everyone.

LGBTQ+ youth deserve the same positive benefits from sports as their straight and cisgender peers.

If you live in a state where legislation and policies are being introduced to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, speak out against them.

And if you are a youth coach or sport administrator, work to make your space safe for LGBTQ+ youth. Even if you live in a state that has passed laws that restrict trans and nonbinary youth participation, there are still actions you can take to help them. Take my free online course filled with concrete actions to help make sports more inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth.