As a pediatrician, I know Blakeman's transgender sports ban puts vulnerable kids at risk

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman recently issued an order that bans teams with transgender girls from using any county sports facility. Blakeman felt this was necessary even though he said he had not heard of specific examples of transgender girls attempting to compete in women's sports in Nassau. This politically motivated act put political expediency ahead of the lives and well being of some of his most vulnerable constituents.

As pediatricians, we support our transgender patients in the challenges they face. Our patients are struggling through a mental health crisis. About half of transgender youth have considered suicide in the past year as they struggle to fit in. Those who are bullied are three times more likely to attempt suicide. Participation in extracurricular activities and living in accepting communities reduce this risk. In addition, regular exercise and participation in sports reduce anxiety and depression. Blakeman’s order effectively eliminates that positive outlet for transgender girls who stand to benefit greatly from the camaraderie, acceptance, and physical activity that come with being on a team.

The order is cloaked in the intent to protect women’s rights in sports. Proponents claim that having transgender girls on teams gives them an unfair advantage and poses a risk to other players.

As a former hockey and soccer mom, I know how hard female athletes work to achieve their goals and to seek scholarships. I also remember fearing injuries as I watched my daughter get checked on the ice or tackled as a soccer keeper.

It’s important, however, to understand a few factual points here. The number of highly competitive transgender athletes is so exceedingly small it makes much of the discussion surrounding the executive order almost theoretical.

There are approximately 300,000 transgender youth aged 13-17 in the U.S. Less than half identify as female. An estimated 12% of transgender youth choose to participate in sports compared to 68% of their counterparts. As with all youth athletes, only a very small percentage will advance to competitive levels.

Transgender grade school youth or those who initiate puberty blockers before or at puberty have no physical advantage over their peers. For those who have gone through puberty before transitioning, success in sports depends on many factors including tenacity, determination and time devoted to acquiring and perfecting skills.

In the rare instances of high-level competition, sports governing boards should be the ones to weigh in should concerns arise, rather than uninformed politicians.

As a result of Blakeman's order, transgender girls will be further stigmatized and undoubtedly become the target of hateful rhetoric or actions that will place their mental health and physical safety in peril. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics has joined with all other major health, child welfare and education organizations to oppose legislation that bans transgender youth from participating in sports.

If we truly care about public health and seek ways to allow all our youth to be successful and thrive, would we not strive to teach our children to be welcoming and inclusive? Rather than finding ways to further exclude and stigmatize already struggling and isolated youth, should we not work to create an atmosphere where more of our transgender youth feel comfortable participating in sports with all the benefits that would provide? Instead, the Nassau County executive has chosen to unnecessarily and carelessly put children’s lives at risk, children who will suffer in silence.

This guest essay reflects the views of Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief, a pediatrician from Centerport and legislative advocacy co-chair of the New York American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter 2.