1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to continue rallying against the recent legislation banning transgender people from participating in sports according to their gender identity. Your vote against this bill was the right decision, and now I ask you to use your platform to set an example for other members of Congress by speaking out forcefully against this dangerous precedent. The legislation that passed with 218 votes creates an enforcement nightmare that threatens every child in America. By mandating that sex be recognized based solely on reproductive biology and genetics at birth, the bill opens the door to invasive investigations of any student accused of being transgender. This already happened in Utah where a cisgender girl was investigated after members of a losing team questioned her gender identity. Representative Sarah Jacobs highlighted this case to show how the bill puts all women and girls at risk of sexual abuse in the name of policing youth sports. The near-unanimous Democratic opposition, with only two members voting in favor, demonstrates clear party unity on protecting transgender youth. This stands in stark contrast to the 81 Democrats who supported the NDAA bill containing provisions banning Tricare coverage for gender-affirming care for military families. Your consistency matters, but vocal leadership matters even more. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez captured the core issue when she noted that many legislators claiming to protect women have voted against the Violence Against Women Act and reproductive rights. Opening the door to genital inspections of children is not protection but government intrusion into the most private aspects of young people's lives. As this bill moves to the Senate, I urge you to rally your colleagues and make public statements condemning this legislation. Set an example by holding press conferences, writing op-eds, and using every tool available to demonstrate that attacks on vulnerable students will be met with fierce opposition. Your leadership can inspire others and protect children from legislation that solves no real problem while creating genuine harm.