CONTACT:
Thea Hillman, Keshet, Chief Communications Officer
thea.hillman@keshetonline.org

Boston, MA — February 6, 2025 — We are outraged that the Administration would use National Girls & Women in Sports Day to announce an attack on women and girls in sports. Yesterday, the Trump administration released yet another executive order targeting the transgender community, this time singling out transgender girls and transgender women in an illegal attempt to ban women from women’s sports.

Keshet believes that everyone should have equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports — no exceptions. Transgender girls are girls, and transgender women are women — and fully belong in women’s sports. Access to sports benefits all people: participation can bring a sense of wellbeing, teamwork, pride, inclusion, and community. Attempting to deny these benefits to transgender girls and women is fundamentally unfair and does nothing to promote “fairness” or equity in sports.

Along with the other executive orders targeting transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth and adults, this executive order is actively spreading disinformation about non-existent risks to scare the public into supporting anti-transgender policies. To truly protect women and children and promote fair play for women and girls, get the facts:

• Get the Facts about Bans on Sports Participation By Transgender & Non-Binary Students – Human Rights Campaign
• Understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQ+ people in sports and how to build inclusive communities on teams or within organizations – Athletic Ally

While many of the policies the President is promoting are illegal and will not be enforceable, we know the words themselves harm LGBTQ+ people, youth, and their families, even if their legal impact remains limited. The gross attempt to target the transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-diverse community, and the singling out of transgender women and girls is immoral and harmful to us all. As Jewish people who come from a tradition that sees each one of us as created in the divine image, we recognize these actions as defaming God and betraying the preciousness of life. We see them as motivated by people in power seeking to create a world in their narrow image — certainty not God’s. 

Keshet is urging people to contact your members of Congress and tell them to uphold their duty and stand up for ALL women and ALL girls. 

To our LGBTQ+ community, especially trans and nonbinary youth: we see you. Keshet offers a variety of affirming spaces designed to help us navigate this moment together. Learn more about those at keshetonline.org.

** Keshet spokespeople are available for comment, including transgender adults and professionals who work directly with LGBTQ+ youth **

ABOUT KESHET

Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. By strengthening Jewish communities and equipping Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge they need to make all LGBTQ+ Jews feel welcome, we work to ensure the full equality of all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families in Jewish life. We also create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued and advance LGBTQ+ rights nationwide. Visit keshetonline.org to join us.

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