PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2021
Salt Lake City, UT – Today, lawmakers on the Health and Human Services Interim Committee discussed the ability of trans girls to participate in school sports. According to the Utah High School Activities Association, there are currently no trans girls participating in school sports in Utah.
Lauren Simpson, policy director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement:
“This is a solution in search of a problem. Instead of continuing to push this discriminatory and harmful effort forward, lawmakers should address issues that would actually support women in Utah. Meanwhile, the culture-war rhetoric harms trans kids who are already among some of the most vulnerable in our state. Everyone, especially kids, should be able to live happy, healthy lives as their authentic selves, free from attacks by politicians.
“Nationally, Utah is ranked one of the worst for women because of issues like representation in the workplace and the wage gap. For years, lawmakers have declined to guarantee paid parental leave and address Utah’s childcare crisis. Meanwhile, they have repeatedly pushed medically-unnecessary bills that would limit a woman’s right to make choices for her own body. Lawmakers should spend less time fighting culture wars, and more time passing laws which uplift all women and reflect our family and kid friendly state.”
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Alliance for a Better Utah is a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies that make Utah an even better place. The organization improves the lives of all Utahns through advocacy, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.