Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s rulings in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, which upheld state-level bans on transgender athletes who wished to participate in sports matching their gender identity.
“As we mark the end of Pride Month, a time rooted in the historic, intersectional struggle for dignity, visibility, and fundamental human rights, the Supreme Court has delivered a heartbreaking and dangerous rollback of civil liberties for transgender athletes. By upholding these cruel, sweeping bans in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the Court has chosen to institutionalize state-sponsored discrimination, slamming the door on dedicated transgender athletes who only want to experience the commitment, teamwork, camaraderie, and joy of sports. This is a dark day for equity, and my heart breaks especially for our Latinx trans youth, who already navigate a world rife with intersecting barriers to health, safety, and acceptance.
Make no mistake: this ruling is not an isolated decision about athletic fairness. It is a highly strategic, carefully coordinated piece of a much larger puzzle designed to unravel the entire fabric of LGBTQ+ human rights in America.
We are watching a terrifying trajectory unfold in real-time. This decision builds on the Court’s shameful ruling in Chiles v. Salazar this past March, which protected the torturous practice of conversion therapy under the guise of free speech. Piece by piece, extremist lawmakers and judicial activists are attempting to push our society backward.
To our transgender community, and particularly our youth: you are not alone, and your humanity is not up for debate. Hispanic Federation was built on the principle that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. This loss will not silence us; it will fuel us. We will double down on our work supporting grassroots organizations and advocate with our partners to defeat this broader crusade against our dignity. We need our communities to see that targeted communities are not alone in this fight.
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
