You Can Play Statement on Harmful NAIA Decision

You Can Play strongly disagrees with NAIA’s recent decision to effectively ban transathletes, and the misinformed stereotypes it supports.

It is clear from this decision that further education and understanding regarding gender-affirming care and trans athletes is needed. Projecting only the most extreme examples is not constructive and serves to distort the reality for many trans athletes.

Policies allowing trans athletes to “participate” only in practices, workouts or team events serves only to highlight their exclusion. We support policies that include athletes in their chosen sport, and yes, to play when it counts,not exclude based on hasty, poorly-researched, and ideologically-motivated decisions. 

We are committed to working with all stakeholders in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all student-athletes can thrive and compete on a level playing field, and we invite the NAIA to reach out to us to find solutions that include more of our 2SLGBTQ+ community members, instead of pushing them out. 

We are disappointed the conversation did not happen prior.