Trans Student Suing Trump Admin. Over Trans Sports Ban: ‘I Just Want to Continue to Do One of the Things I Love Most in My Life’

RAMOS: “We’re also joined by Chris Erchull, an attorney who is representing both teens and their families. Thank you all so much for joining me. I really appreciate it. Parker, I’m going to start with you, Parker, because I know that you love soccer. From what I’ve seen online, you’re a really good soccer player. But I also understand, Parker, that a federal judge has temporarily allowed you not to keep playing on your high school team. So people understand, what does soccer mean to you, Parker?”
TIRRELL: “It pretty much means the world to me. I’ve been playing for 12 years. It’s just really important.”
RAMOS: “For you, Parker, what was — what’s the sort of motivation behind this lawsuit? What does that mean to you?”
TIRRELL: “The motivation behind it was just me wanting to continue to do one of the things that I love most in my life.”
RAMOS: “And Iris, just like Parker, I know that you have the intention of playing tennis. You want to try out track and field. How would this potential ban impact the rest of your high school experience, Iris?”
TURMELLE: “I would not be able to try out for tennis, for track and field. I would not be able to try new things. I would be stuck doing things that I might necessarily not like the next year. I could be stuck in the same thing over and over.”
RAMOS: “Let me ask you, do you have any preference so far between a tennis or track and field, one way or the other?”
TURMELLE: “Yeah, I haven’t — the season hasn’t started for what I want to do for track and field, and tennis hasn’t started yet.”
RAMOS: “Okay, so that remains to be seen. We’ll see. And, Chris, what is it — what does all of this mean to you? Now, here you are representing two high school students in a lawsuit against the president of the United States, who essentially does not see their humanity. What does this mean to you?”
ERCHULL: “So, transgender girls play both sports for the same reasons as any other students. Sports are essential to education. For so many young people, sports is where they develop life skills like leadership, teamwork, self-discipline, confidence. These are skills that Parker and Iris are going to need when they’re adults. The current administration has launched a targeted and sustained attack aimed at making it impossible for transgender people to function in society. It’s employment, it’s housing, it’s travel, medical care, education. What we’ve seen in the last four weeks since the inauguration has been dehumanizing, and it’s been chilling. And the targeting of vulnerable transgender children is just beyond the pale. I’m so grateful and I’m so proud that Parker and Iris are willing to stand up and fight for their rights.”
RAMOS: “I know, Parker, I mean, it it takes a lot of courage. What’s been the response from your schoolmates and your friends around this lawsuit? Have they been supportive? Like, how are you dealing with that?”
TIRRELL: “All of, if not most, are — yeah, all of my friends have been very supportive. They agree with me that it’s just kind of stupid to single me out for no particular reason.”
RAMOS: “On that note, Iris, since, again, what you’re doing is extremely courageous, there’s a lot of other trans girls that are observing what you both are doing and that are paying attention. Some may feel scared, others are feeling inspired. What message would you give to other transgender people in the country right now?”
TURMELLE: “Stay — stay strong. Keep fighting. We’re out here. We exist and we will not stop fighting.”