30: The Supreme Court Ruled on Transgender Athletes: Here's Who Got Left Out of the Story
On June 30th, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that states can bar transgender girls and women from competing on girls' and women's teams. Six to three. It's now the law in over half the country.
And however you feel about that ruling, here's what we noticed in the days after it came down: almost none of the coverage actually talked to a transgender kid, or the parent raising one.
It was all policy. All abstraction. It is a decision that, on paper, is about Title IX and biological sex and constitutional interpretation.
But underneath all that legal language is something much more personal: real kids, real families, real teams, and real decisions about who gets to belong. And let’s not forget: argued by people who've never sat across from an eight-year-old who already knows she's going to be treated differently
So we went back into our archive. A while back, we sat down with a remarkable mom, Jaime, raising a transgender daughter in Florida. And more recently, we talked with Schuyler - you might know him as Pink Manta Ray - a multiethnic Korean American trans educator, the first transgender Division 1 athlete on a men’s team while at Harvard, and author of He, She, They:
How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters.
We're combining pieces of both conversations into one episode, because we think you need both things right now: Jaime's story, to feel it - and Schuyler's clarity, to know what to actually say and not say when it comes up in your own life.
These aren’t talking points. These are ways to simply see the humanity in each other. Please listen, and share widely.
What to listen for:
Intersectionality, and Schuyler’s own experience growing up biracial
The importance of exploring why you are who you are – for ALL of us – when it comes to gender
The quick takedown of the arguments from people working to push trans women out of women’s sports
A bullet-pointed list of what NOT to say to transgender folks
How to remind yourself of joy and a sense of thriving in the world, when it gets rough
What Schuyler wants cisgender, heterosexual women to do differently, once you listen to the episode
About Schuyler:
Schuyler Bailar (he/him) is an educator, advocate, and bestselling author who made history as the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. Originally recruited to swim for the Harvard women’s team, Schuyler made the difficult choice to transition while potentially giving up the prospect of being a women’s NCAA Champion. His story has appeared everywhere from 60 Minutes to The Washington Post and The Ellen Show. Schuyler’s tireless advocacy has earned him numerous honors, including Forbes 30 Under 30
and the Out 100. In 2023, Schuyler’s critically acclaimed nonfiction bestseller became the preeminent resource on trans inclusion: He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters. Schuyler’s works include his middle-grade novel Obie Is Man Enough, his online gender literacy training LaneChanger.com, and his hit podcast Dear Schuyler, including exclusive interviews with trans icons and allies like Lia Thomos, Dylan Mulvaney, Rafael de la Fuente, and many more.
Follow Schuyler on Instagram @pinkmantaray
About Jaime:
Jaime Jara is a woman who wears many hats. A native New Yorker, she navigates daily life in Florida with her husband, 3 kids, and a plethora of furbabies. She lends her voice and perspective as a parent of a transgender child to shed light on the challenges faced by the trans community. Jaime is an active member of the national LGBTQ organizations that aim to empower and support parents of LGBTQ children. After a long stint in corporate America, Jaime is putting her graduate degree to good use by starting her second career as an educator. She has been a guest speaker at schools, participated in panels and research studies, and appeared on television to advocate for transgender acceptance and inclusion. She has penned numerous essays about her journey with her trans child. Jaime aspires to be signing copies of her bestselling novel one day, when she finally slows down enough to write it.
You can follow her journey with her family on Instagram@Jaidonna19.
Resources:
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)
Trans Lifeline - 1-877-565-8860
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
Trevor Project Lifeline - 1-866-488-7386
“I can’t even get my kids to eat vegetables, let alone change genders…” - Jaime Jara