Green Bay Representative will vote against all bills that infringe on the identities of trans youth.

MADISON - The State Assembly resumed regular floor session today to take action on various bills, including multiple pieces of legislation that aims to separate trans children and control the access that Wisconsin youth have to sports. On this bill and others’ passage today, Representative Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay) offered the following statement:

“The mere introduction of Assembly Bill 377 is harmful to LGBTQ+ individuals across the state of Wisconsin. We will not allow the authors of this bill to use kids as political pawns to drive a manufactured crisis under the guise of supporting girls and women’s sports. In the state of Wisconsin, through the WIAA, we have existing policies that successfully answer concerns about trans youth in sports in an inclusive manner.

“Separating trans youth from the sport that aligns with who they are fosters inequality and prejudice. Youth sports are about teaching resilience, grit, leadership, adversity, perseverance, hard work, and compromise. To truly champion girls and women’s sports, we must work to provide equitable opportunities to all students regardless of identity.

“To the LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly the trans youth, across Wisconsin, I want you to know that you are supported, loved, and have a right to access any sport that matches your identity.

“To protect the dignity and rights of the constituents I have pledged to serve, I have voted against all bills that infringe on the identities of trans youth so that we can simply let kids play.”