YWCA Minneapolis Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Allowing States to Exclude Transgender Athletes

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowing states to exclude transgender students from school athletics is a painful reminder that the promise of belonging is not yet extended to everyone. When we tell a young person they cannot participate because of who they are, we diminish not only their opportunity, but our collective humanity.

Importantly, this ruling does not change the protections currently in place for transgender students in Minnesota. Under the Minnesota State High School League's longstanding policy, transgender students may continue to participate in school athletics consistent with their gender identity, and protections against discrimination based on gender identity remain in place through the Minnesota Human Rights Act. While this decision does not alter those protections today, legal experts expect continued challenges to Minnesota's inclusive policies, and the future of these protections will continue to be shaped in the courts.

This conversation extends beyond athletics. Sports, clubs and extracurricular activities are where young people discover confidence, build friendships, learn resilience and find their place in a community. The questions raised by this decision reach beyond the playing field and into the broader promise that every child deserves to participate fully in school and public life with dignity, safety and respect.

At YWCA Minneapolis, that promise is reflected in our Identity Affirming Policy. In our athletics programs, participants have the right to participate in a manner consistent with their gender identity, even when that differs from the sex listed on their registration records or birth certificate. Across all of our programs, we recognize and respect each person's self-identified gender and are committed to creating welcoming, affirming environments for every participant.

Moments like this remind us that protecting civil rights requires more than responding to a single court decision. It requires strengthening the laws and institutions that safeguard equity for generations to come. As conversations continue around the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment and other efforts to protect civil rights, YWCA Minneapolis will continue advocating for policies that affirm the dignity and humanity of every person.

Our values remain unchanged. We will continue listening, educating, partnering with our community, and advocating for a Minnesota where each youth has the opportunity to participate, to be welcomed for who they are, and to experience the joy, connection, and possibility that every child deserves.