Melania Trump says she supports both LGBTQ+ community and trans sports ban
Melania Trump (Getty Images)
FLOTUS Melania Trump has said that she supports the LGBTQ+ community… while also backing the Supreme Court’s trans student athletes ban.
On 30 June, the Supreme Court upheld two state laws barring transgender girls and women from female sports teams. In a decision handed down this week, the court sided with West Virginia and Idaho in two closely watched cases, West Virginia v B.P.J. and Little v Hecox.
The ruling protects similar bans in 27 states, and affects transgender athletes competing in school and college sports nationwide.
Melania Trump reacted to the news via her X account following the announcement. “As many of you may know, I fully support the LGBTQIA+ community. But we must also ensure that our female athletes are protected and respected,” she wrote, quoting her own 2024 coffee table memoir Melania.
“The U.S. Supreme Court has now legally confirmed this opinion: ‘Under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, may schools maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females? … The answer is yes,’” she continued in the post.
“America, we can support the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and also protect opportunities for female athletes. Respect everyone and keep girls’ sports fair. Both ideals are essential.”
The First Lady received criticism for her message from all sides, including LGBTQ+ allies, anti-trans campaigners and anti-LGBTQ+ right-wingers.
“‘As many of you know.’ No, we don’t know, particularly since your family is actively working to strip LGBTQ people of basic civil rights,” quoted one X user.
“For the first time, I’m in disagreement with you,” wrote another in the comments. “As Catholics, we do not ‘support’ those who fall outside the teachings of the Bible. We pray for them. Support lends to condoning their sinful activity. Just saying, with respect.”
“You don’t support them, you just wanna make sure them book sales don’t fizzle,” said a third user. “Trump gonna make you erase this post by Saturday.”
“It’s f****** unbelievable that you would use the liberal framing on this topic. I am p***** off,” wrote another.
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