During a hearing yesterday about a bill to ban trans athletes from sports S.B. 375A transgender teenager named Maëlle Jacques gave a powerful speech that focused on the impact of bills like this on transgender people.
Jacques said that she would not choose to join boys' teams because of bullying and threats, and because it would be emotionally difficult for her to pretend to be someone she is not.
She talked about how being able to join girls' sports teams has been important in her life since she came out as trans at a young age.
She mentioned that being allowed to join the girls' teams when she transitioned in sixth grade helped her avoid being socially isolated and she was accepted for who she truly is.
She explained that the reason she joins girls' sports teams is not to dominate or threaten, but simply to be part of the team and compete with her peers.
She clarified that she did not join sports to dominate or be better than others, and that no one would go through the difficulties of transitioning just to win at sports. She joined because she is passionate about it and enjoys it.
When asked if she faced criticism from opposing teams, Jacques said that she received support from all the other teams and never had any problems.
She mentioned that she only faced negativity from outside sources like the media, not from other teams, coaches, or players.
Maëlle Jacques stayed strong despite facing a lot of negative attention from right-wing media and anti-trans advocate Riley Gaines.
S.B. 375 was defeated in the House Education Committee with a 19-1 vote. However, a similar bill passed the state’s House in March and could still be passed in the state senate. These bills are part of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which is supported by anti-trans individuals and began in Idaho. HB1205New Hampshire Rep. David Luneau (D) stated that the bill has no place in New Hampshire and that the feedback from nearly 40 people showed that kids just want to play and be part of the team.
No one would go through the bullying and self-hatred of transition just to win at sports, she said. PinkNews, “We think [the bill] doesn’t have any place, doesn’t have any business in New Hampshire,” he said. “And frankly, what we heard from almost 40 people yesterday that, hey, these kids just want to play and be part of the team.”
