Supreme Court Must Protect Inclusion at School and in Sports
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in West Virginia v. BPJ and Little v. Hecox, two cases challenging laws in Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender youth from playing sports with their peers.
In response, Debra Hauser, President of the national youth activism and reproductive health organization Advocates for Youth, issued the following statement:
“Today, the Supreme Court will hear two cases brought by incredibly brave young people who should never have had to fight so hard for the basic right to play and to grow alongside their peers.
School sports are about much more than competition. Every student deserves the chance to learn about teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship in an affirming and supportive environment. By denying transgender students the opportunity to gain these skills, lawmakers hurt every young person and help no one. We cannot let extremists play politics with students’ lives and wellbeing.
Transgender young people deserve joy, peace, inclusion, and power, and we will work alongside them to make sure they get it. We urge the Supreme Court to decide in favor of young people and reject hateful attacks on all of our civil rights.”
At a rally outside the Supreme Court today, youth activist Marlin (he/him), stated:
“I was once so scared of rejection and judgment that I couldn’t participate in any extracurricular activities. Even opportunities I desperately wanted to pursue felt impossible because I knew that my accomplishments wouldn’t be credited to a name I could truly call my own.
Every kid should be able to feel safe and welcomed in all schools. We live in incredibly scary and uncertain times, and for many trans youth, schools are the only places where they can find hope and be themselves. Excluding trans people from school sports teams and from civil rights protections more broadly is deliberate and malicious. Laws targeting trans youth hurt ALL young people and undermine civil rights for all of us.”
Advocates are available for interviews to discuss how young people and adult allies will continue to mobilize for trans rights, joy, and freedom.
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Advocates for Youth is a 501(c)3 organization that champions efforts that help young people make informed decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates for Youth boldly advocates for a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health, focusing its work on young people ages 14-24 in the U.S. and around the globe.
For Immediate Release: January 12, 2026
Contact: Eleanor Naiman, [email protected]