On December 4, after several hours of public discussion and testimony, the Minnesota State High School League overwhelmingly voted in favor of a policy to allow transgender student athletes to play on teams that match the gender they live ever day. Eighteen of the 20 board members voted yes; one member voted no and one abstained. 

Click here to read the policy, which will go into effect in the 2015-2016 school year. 

Thanks to everyone who attended the meetings and, a special thank you to the individuals who bravely spoke out in support of the policy. 

Hear the story from MPR. 

Watch the story from WCCO. 

Take a look at our photo album from Wednesday and Thursday. 

To learn more on how to be an ally to transgender people, click here. 

To get involved with OutFront’s work for trans justice, email Roxanne Anderson, Associate Director of Trans Organizing. 

If your school or district would like to create a policy for transgender students, here are our suggestions.

Background on the MSHSL’s Policy 

On October 2, after hearing from 40 speakers over the course of two days, attorneys for the Minnesota State High School League presented the League's board with a new proposed policy regarding transgender athletes. As a result, the board voted unanimously to table the proposed policy to gather input from stakeholders on the new approach. It is expected that the board will have a policy ready for approval at its next meeting on December 4. We look forward to continuing our work to get a policy passed and to deepening the public dialogue about equity for transgender people. 

The Star Tribune published an editorial in support of the High School League's policy: 

Transgender Kids Have Rights Too: High School League is Taking Appropriate Steps to Guide Members (which mentions Jae Bates, former OutFront intern) 

MSNBC: Monica Meyer and Zeam Porter, a trans* gender queer student (who spoke at the MSHSL yesterday) appeared live on MSNBC.

The story went international: The Guardian (UK)

Commentary by Monica Meyer and Roxanne Anderson that appeared in Minnpost

The Colu.mn - Story By Andy Birkey

Most of the speakers in opposition were affiliated with the Minnesota Family Council, MNCPL completely lied about at least one aspect of the proposed policy, and there were a lot of brave people who showed up to testify in support of transgender youth! 

In addition, in the past several days, the Star Tribune and The St. Paul Pioneer Press have both run several positive stories about transgender student athletes: 

Star Tribune – High School League Plans Vote Thursday on Guidelines for Transgender Athletes 

Star Tribune – High School League Proposal On Transgender Athlete Draws Impassioned Pleas 

Pioneer Press – Minnesota State High School League Debates Policy for Transgender Student Athletes 

Thank you to every trans/gender nonconforming person who shared their story and for family members and friends who spoke up in support of trans folks they love. Special thanks to Zeam Porter and Jae Bates. 

On September 25, 2014 Minneapolis held the first-ever Trans Equity Summit at the Humphrey School of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota. Watch the video here.