Transgender High School Athlete Testifies Against Sports Ban Bill in New Hampshire

Maelle Jacques, a transgender high school athlete in New Hampshire, testified at a state hearing on April 22, 2024 regarding Senate Bill 375, which would ban transgender girls from competing on sports teams aligning with their gender identity. Jacques, who was born male and previously won a girls' high jump state championship, insisted she did not join female sports to win outright.

"Sports have been an integral part of my life and being part of the team allowed me to be seen as normal," Jacques stated in her testimony. Despite dominating the high jump competition, Jacques finished well below the boys' division record.

The Education Committee voted against SB 375 by a margin of 19-1, effectively killing the bill. However, a similar bill, HB 1205, is still alive in the New Hampshire legislature. The issue has been divisive, with critics arguing that going through male puberty gives transgender women biological advantages that make it impossible for biological women to compete against them.

Why this matters: The debate over the participation of transgender athletes in sports has become a contentious issue across the United States. The outcome of bills like SB 375 and HB 1205 in New Hampshire could set a precedent for how other states handle this complex and sensitive topic.

Jacques, a 16-year-old student at Kearsarge Regional High School, participates in soccer and track. She has faced backlash and criticism for her participation in girls' sports, but argues that she is "just a kid who wants to play and have fun." Jacques believes a compromise solution, similar to the NCAA's policy allowing transgender women to compete after undergoing testosterone suppression treatment, would be better than an outright ban.

Currently, 24 states have passed laws banning transgender students from playing sports according to their gender identity. However, the issue is statistically quite rare, with an estimated 50 transgender women competing in NCAA sports out of roughly 200,000 women athletes. Advocates argue that bills like SB 375 would force school districts to engage in gender discrimination, violating Title IX.

Key Takeaways

• Transgender athlete Maelle Jacques testified against NH bill banning trans girls in sports.
• NH Education Committee voted 19-1 against the bill, but a similar bill is still pending.
• Critics argue male puberty gives trans women biological advantages over cis women.
• Transgender athletes are rare, with an estimated 50 in NCAA sports out of 200,000.
• Advocates say such bills violate Title IX by forcing gender discrimination in schools.