“Stop playing politics with my kid:” Thematic analysis of a trans-exclusionary sports legislation hearing in Texas

Abstract

Background In recent years, legislation targeting transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people has proliferated in the United States, particularly legislation focused on TGD youth and on athletic inclusion. One such law, Texas House Bill 25 (HB25), focused on prohibiting TGD youth from participating in school sports in Texas. Aims In this study, we identified common themes from the public testimony on Texas HB25 to further understand the arguments and rhetoric used in such legislation. Method We used a modified version of reflexive thematic analysis to examine the content of the HB25 legislative hearing. Results We established four main themes: The Political Smokescreen: Vilifying TGD People and Re-Writing Narratives about Cisgender Girls and Women; Pleading from the Perspectives of Equity and Justice; Appeals to Power: Using Money, Reputation, and Religion; and Provable Harm: Anti-TGD Legislation Leads to Documented Harms. Discussion This hearing and the subsequently passed bill have profound implications for TGD youth in Texas by restricting them from participating in regular activities with their cisgender peers. In addition, many people testified that the very introduction of the bill was harmful because of how dehumanizing it was to have their rights attacked. Analyzing the arguments and rhetoric used in these types of hearings can add to our understanding of anti-trans legislative initiatives.