Youth's Lives Every Day
Implementation of anti-transgender state laws, such as those in these cases, have been shown to increase suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth
January 13, 2026 – Today, The Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, two cases that center on challenges brought by transgender students against state laws that prohibit transgender women and girls from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity.
The Trevor Project’s CEO, Jaymes Black, released the following statement in response:
“Like all young people in this country, transgender youth deserve the opportunity to play sports at school, if they want to. Fewer than one in three adults in the United States say they personally know someone who is transgender, so it is understandable to have questions about transgender people and topics, including participation in sports. However, denying all transgender students the ability to play sports with their classmates and friends is unacceptable – and it only serves to send a message to trans youth that they don’t belong.
“These one-size fits-all bans treat every sport, age group, and level of competition the same, and they are largely based on stereotypes and misinformation. The harm they cause is real; in states where anti-transgender laws – like those at the center of these cases – were enacted, transgender and nonbinary youth reported up to a 72% increase in past-year suicide attempts, compared to those living in states without such laws.
“Thoughtful discussion about rules and regulations to ensure safety and fairness is one thing, but banning an entire group of young people from any participation whatsoever is discrimination, plain and simple. These bans are not about fairness or safety; they are about isolating and rejecting transgender and nonbinary youth for political gain. We urge the Supreme Court justices to reject these sweeping bans. No matter what they decide, The Trevor Project will continue fighting for a world where transgender and nonbinary youth feel safe, seen, and accepted exactly as they are.”
Relevant research:
- The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People found that 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. The survey also found:
- 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said recent politics negatively impacted their well-being, and nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth reported their families have considered moving to a different state because of LGBTQ+ politics and laws.
- Transgender and nonbinary youth living in states where anti-transgender state laws were enacted reported up to a 72% increase in past-year suicide attempts, compared to those living in states without such laws.
- Less than one in three LGBTQ young people reported participating in sports, with many citing anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, or fear of discrimination, as barriers.
- LGBTQ youth who participated in sports reported nearly 20% lower rates of depressive symptoms compared to those who did not.
- A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that many transgender high school girls who reported an interest in playing sports cited concerns around harassment, stigma, and gendered spaces.
- According to The Trevor Project’s polling, 86% of transgender and nonbinary youth say recent debates about state laws restricting the rights of transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health.
- When asked about new policies that would ban transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams and transgender boys from playing on boys’ sports teams, 64% of transgender and nonbinary youth said it made them feel angry, 44% felt sad, 39% felt stressed, and 1 in 4 felt scared.
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org, or by texting START to 678678.
