Veto SB 354 in Arkansas

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I urge you to Veto SB 354

Dear [Decision Maker],

I'm writing to urge you to veto SB 354.

Kids learn a lot of important lessons in sports: leadership, confidence, self-discipline, self-respect, and what it means to be part of a team. When we tell transgender girls that they can't play girls' sports--or transgender boys that they can't play boys' sports--they miss out on this important childhood experience and all the lessons it teaches.

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Transgender youth want the opportunity to play sports for the same reason other kids do: to be a part of a team where they feel like they belong. We shouldn't ban them from playing simply because they're transgender.

This bill is also in conflict with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) non-discrimination policies and puts Arkansas at risk of losing NCAA championship events. When the Idaho legislature was debating a similar transgender youth sports ban, the NCAA publicly condemned it emphasizing that such laws are "harmful to transgender student-athletes and conflicts with the NCAA's core values of inclusivity, respect and the equitable treatment of all individuals. Further, Board of Governors policy requires host sites to demonstrate how they will provide an environment that is safe, healthy, and free of discrimination, plus safeguards the dignity of everyone involved in the event."

SB 354 intentionally excludes transgender youth from sports. Arkansas should not have blanket policies that discriminate against kids and ban them from playing simply because they're transgender. Like any student, transgender youth thrive when they are treated with dignity and respect.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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[Your Email]