Everyone is welcome on our team, no matter what. Following the US Supreme Court’s decision yesterday, we want to be as clear as possible: skaters of any marginalized gender — especially trans women — are welcome in and encouraged to join Jersey Shore Roller Derby.
It is important to note the decision in West Virginia v. BPJ only pertains to the 27 states that currently ban trans athletes from playing school sports in line with their gender.
As such, it does not affect either New Jersey’s laws and policies protecting the rights of trans athletes and students to play on the correct teams nor WFTDA’s expansive gender-inclusion policy. Both NJ and WFTDA have long allowed trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse athletes to compete without issue.
However, we know the mental and emotional damage of this decision will not be confined to the states with these bans. Trans people, athletes or otherwise, need to hear they have a place in our communities and broader public life. Roller derby is one such source of camaraderie, friendship, and support for so many people cast aside elsewhere by society. We are grateful that our league can provide that space for so many down the shore, skaters and non-skaters alike.
We will never stop being loud and proud about including and empowering our trans teammates.
In solidarity,
JSRD