Dear Governor Justice,
HB 3293 is a mean-spirited bill that if enacted would violate federal law.
This cruel piece of legislation singles out an already vulnerable population, young trans people. Studies show this type of legislation is directly linked with increases in self-harm and even suicide among this community.
Though proponents of this bill claim that it is designed to protect women's rights and women's sports, every major women's rights and women's sports organization opposes legislation of this kind.
Reputable medical organizations including the WV State Medical Association, the WV Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the WV Psychological Association, and the WV School Psychologist Association all oppose this bill.
In your many years of coaching, you've seen that participation in sports prepares young people for success in life. Taking this opportunity away from one group just because they're different is cruel. It's also a violation of Title IX and the Constitution, and will invite costly lawsuits that the state will lose.
We urge you to do the right thing and veto HB 3293.
