The bills’ negative effects are already well-documented. Shoshana K. Goldberg is a professor and researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Illinois at Chicago whose work focuses on LGBT health and adolescent health. Her report with the Center of American Progress on the importance of trans youth’s participation in sports details how trans sports bans put trans athletes — who are already a vulnerable group — at an even greater risk of bullying, mental illness, and suicidal ideation. “The problem is fake, but the impact is real,” she tells Teen Vogue. According to Goldberg, the actual forces that are harming girls’ sports — budget cuts, financial inaccessibility, sexist stereotyping, fewer opportunities, and pay inequity at the professional level — will not be solved (and could actually be exacerbated by) the proposed bans.
The bills don’t pose an immediate existential threat to roller derby, but the community has reacted with strong concern and resistance. Vanstone describes the slippery slope of precedence set by the new laws: “If [lawmakers] find success [in scholastic sports], they can try to push even further up the chain.’”
Vanstone sees inclusion and equity as an ongoing process; the WFTDA is continuing to engage its leaders and members in educational initiatives with the goal of improving policy implementation at the league level. For example, roller derby is an overwhelmingly white sport despite the distinctly Black history of roller skating, and calls to action by Black skaters and teams have led to initiatives such as the Anti-Racism Team Project. Roller derby’s tradition of do-it-yourself, player-led initiatives is alive and well in skaters like Bianic, who helped to draft a letter to the Kansas City Roller Warriors community, encouraging members to contact their representatives and support trans youth. “At least if their states do them wrong right now,” they say, “derby will be there for them if they want it.”
*Name withheld due to privacy concerns
CREDITS
Photographer: Brendan Carroll
Videographer: Joey Hunt
AC: Brian Molloy
Video Editors: Leila Lorenz and Katie Ladd
Production: Halo House
Art Director: Emily Zirimis
Visual Editor: Louisiana Gelpi
Film Lab: Lago Vista Film Lab
Photo Assistant: Adam Gestwicki