FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS STATEMENT
CONTACT: media@aprnetwork.org
July 2, 2026 – Dr. Andrea Abrams, Executive Director of American Pride Rises, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s Decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J. & Little v. Hecox:
The Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J. & Little v. Hecox allowing states to exclude transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams is a deeply troubling step backward in the fight for equality and an alarming reminder of the continued attacks facing LGBTQ+ communities across the country.
Every person deserves the freedom, dignity, and opportunity to participate fully in American life. Yet transgender Americans — particularly transgender youth — have become the target of a coordinated campaign rooted in fear, misinformation, and discrimination. Policies that single out transgender people do not protect communities; they create barriers, deny opportunity, and send a harmful message that some Americans deserve fewer rights and protections than others.
This decision comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration and its allies to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ people, undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion, and weaken the systems designed to ensure that all people can thrive. These attacks rely on a dangerous playbook: identifying vulnerable communities as targets, using fear to divide people, and using the law to strip away the guarantee of equal treatment.
The fight for LGBTQ+ equality has always been connected to the broader fight for democracy. When any community’s rights are threatened, the rights and freedoms of all Americans are placed at risk. History shows that discrimination against one group can become a pathway toward weakening protections for others. We acknowledge that the complexity of this conversation means we have more work to do – in education, exposure and understanding. But none of that justifies the blatant transphobia validated by the Court’s ruling.
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, we must recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of building a more perfect union – of, by and for the people – all people. American Pride Rises will continue defending the freedom, opportunity, and belonging of every person — because our democracy is strongest when all people have the ability to participate, thrive, and achieve their dreams.
About American Pride Rises:
American Pride Rises (APR) is an initiative committed to protecting pathways to the American Dream by fighting for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive America for all.