Oppose HB 63 and Protect Student Privacy and Dignity

I am writing to urge you to oppose HB 63, which would ban transgender girls from competing in girls' sports at the varsity and junior varsity high school levels. This bill creates serious risks to the privacy and dignity of all student athletes in Maryland while failing to address any documented problem. During the February 5 hearing before the Ways and Means Committee, the bill's fundamental flaws became clear. Delegate Kathy Szeliga could not explain how the bill would be enforced because HB 63 contains no enforcement language or guidance on how gender would be verified. When pressed by Delegate Joe Vogel, Szeliga suggested coaches would access students' medical records and referenced existing forms that include questions about menstrual cycles. This vague approach opens the door to invasive and humiliating procedures for any student whose gender is questioned. Vogel correctly warned that without clear enforcement mechanisms, Maryland risks following states like Ohio, where lawmakers proposed requiring internal and external genital exams when a student athlete's gender is questioned. As Vogel stated, this bill creates a system where the privacy and fairness of every single student athlete in Maryland will be violated. The bill also lacks scientific basis. When questioned by Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, who holds a master's degree in biology, Szeliga could not cite a single peer-reviewed study supporting her claims. Palakovich Carr referenced research from The British Journal of Sports Medicine showing no significant differences in physical fitness metrics between cisgender and transgender women athletes. Szeliga's testimony completely disregarded that transgender girls may receive hormone replacement therapy, which remains legal in Maryland. Most revealing was Szeliga's admission that the bill would not exclude cisgender girls with naturally higher testosterone levels, confirming this legislation targets transgender youth specifically rather than addressing competitive advantages. I urge you to oppose HB 63 and protect all Maryland students from discriminatory policies that threaten their privacy, dignity, and right to participate in school activities.